The Finnish language club coordinated by OSAO’s “Kotoa työelämään” project accelerates the integration of immigrants on parental leave into Finnish society. The project collaborates with OSAO’s practical nursing students, who gain valuable work experience from participating in the language club sessions.
OSAO’s language club promotes the integration of immigrant parents who stay at home with their children into Finnish society. Held twice a week and aimed at both children and parents, the language club allows parents to delve into the intricacies of the Finnish language while providing enjoyable activities for the children. The club is led by OSAO’s Finnish as a Second Language teacher, Tuire Leinonen.
“Parents attending the language club do not have access to any services and may not have other Finnish speakers at home. Their Finnish language skills might deteriorate if they have multiple children and are absent from the workforce or studies for an extended period,” explains Eija Kuha, the project manager.
Through the language club, parents become part of OSAO and society – part of the community.
“Women are predominantly the ones who stay at home with children during parental leave. The employment rate for immigrant women develops more slowly compared to native Finns. Therefore, a weak position in the labor market can be seen as the biggest obstacle to the integration of immigrant women,” Eija Kuha says.
Language learning in the club happens in a relaxed and creative manner.
“We study vocabulary, speaking, and listening comprehension needed in everyday life through activities like music and singing. Language learning happens through play and interaction with children, almost without noticing,” Eija Kuha says.
Confidence to Communicate
Wanpen Sisettakul, originally from Thailand, has lived in Finland for seven years. She heard about the language club after seeing an advertisement on the daycare noticeboard. She joined the language club to improve her Finnish language skills.
“You need to study the language constantly in order to improve. I previously studied Finnish in an integration course. In the language club, I can review my Finnish,” she says.
Wanpen Sisettakul, originally from Thailand, has lived in Finland for seven years. She heard about the language club after seeing an advertisement on the daycare noticeboard. She joined the language club to improve her Finnish language skills.
“You need to study the language constantly in order to improve. I previously studied Finnish in an integration course. In the language club, I can review my Finnish,” she says.
Wanpen says that attending the language club has helped her improve her language skills. She no longer fears speaking Finnish.
“Our teacher Tuire Leinonen encourages and motivates us to speak Finnish. It is really important to learn the language when you move to a new country. Learning Finnish makes life so much easier. Additionally, the children are happy and want to come to the language club every time.”
Eveliina Pöytäkangas, a student specializing in children and youth care in practical nursing, has participated as a volunteer in the language club meetings. The project collaborates with practical nursing students to provide them with valuable work experience in working with children of different ages.
“I gain confidence in working with children here. And since this happens alongside my studies, the knowledge gained from school and my observations of children in the language club are combined,” Eveliina explains.
The number of non-native children in the Oulu area is increasing. Eveliina says that working as a volunteer in the language club has given her the courage to communicate despite the language barrier.
“I speak English, and most of the language club participants try to speak Finnish. Sometimes I have also used a translator. Volunteering in the language club has given me the confidence to speak, even if I’m not immediately understood.”
Language Club in High Demand
The Kotoa työelämään project sees the language club as a low-threshold place to learn Finnish.
“Parents don’t, for example, need to attend an integration course first to learn Finnish, and they can come here with a low threshold. Here they learn and have fun at the same time. It’s a win-win situation for both parents and children,” says project expert Yulia Louckx.
Parents are offered the opportunity through the language club to participate in training provided by OSAO. During training the parents create a career plan and are introduced to different services provided for families with children. Project manager Eija Kuha says the project clearly has a positive impact on the daily lives and integration of language club participants.
“In the winter, mothers came to the language club in severe frost and heavy snowfall with strollers and several children, all the way from Haukipudas. This shows that our activities are interesting and meaningful. We are constantly getting new participants. People attending the language club have also networked with each other and are even studying Finnish together,” Eija Kuha rejoices.
The Kotoa työelämään project is coordinated and implemented by Educational Consotrtium OSAO (Koulutuskuntayhtymä OSAO). ESR+ funding for the project has been granted by the Häme Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.
Written in Finnish by Laura Lääveri-Uimonen, translated from Finnish by Laura Lääveri-Uimonen.
