Basic Finnish (S2) · IWG Institute · Courses

Basic Finnish for International Employees (S2). Finnish fundamentals for everyday life and work.

IWG Institute's S2 Basic Course is a practical Finnish language course for employees who have no prior knowledge of Finnish or whose language skills are only at the very beginning stage. The course practises the basic vocabulary, most common expressions, and simple interaction situations needed in everyday life and at the workplace. The aim is to help participants understand simple instructions and requests, talk about themselves and their work, and manage ordinary everyday situations more independently than before. At the same time, a solid foundation is built for further Finnish studies and progress toward language proficiency levels A1–A2. The training can be delivered as company-specific group training or as personal 1:1 coaching online, at the company's own premises, or in a hybrid format.

Finnish 🇫🇮 · Taught in English 🇬🇧
International employees No prior Finnish required International & multilingual teams Foundation toward A1–A2
Professional language training online and onsite across Finland — including Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä, Vaasa, Kuopio, Lahti and Pori.
45+
Years of experience
4.9/5
Trainer rating
3
Delivery formats
The Challenge

When a shared language is still being built

A foreign employee may handle their own work excellently, but insufficient Finnish language skills can still make everyday interaction difficult. Understanding instructions at the workplace, asking for help, talking with colleagues, or writing a simple message can feel challenging if there is not yet a shared language.

Using English can ease the initial stage, but it is not always enough in every work community or everyday situation. Basic Finnish skills help an employee participate in the work community, understand the communication happening around them, and act more independently outside the workplace as well.

In the S2 Basic Course, Finnish is learned through practical situations. The course practises the language participants need during the workday and in ordinary everyday life. The goal is not to master everything at once, but to steadily build a usable foundation on which language skills can later be developed.

The content of the training can be adapted to participants' job duties and the organisation's operating environment. Exercises may use, for example, the most common workplace instructions, vocabulary, and interaction situations.

The course practises, among other things:

  • •introducing oneself and sharing basic information about oneself
  • •the most common greetings, questions, and everyday expressions
  • •starting short conversations and responding to them
  • •understanding simple work instructions, requests, and questions
  • •asking for help and checking unclear matters
  • •writing short messages
  • •managing everyday transactions such as shopping, meals, healthcare services, and transportation
  • •key basic grammar, such as basic verb forms, present tense, the most common case forms, and simple sentence structures

Teaching is based on participants' starting level and real everyday and workplace situations. The pace of progress and content are adapted to the group's needs. The course builds a foundation for A1-level language proficiency and further progress toward A2 level.

Who is the training suitable for?

International employees starting Finnish language studies

Employees with no prior knowledge of Finnish
Employees whose Finnish language skills are only at the very beginning stage
International professionals who have recently moved to Finland
Employees working short-term in Finland who need Finnish in everyday situations
Employees working longer-term in Finland who want to begin systematic language studies
International teams who need shared basic Finnish language skills

The training is suitable for employees who want to learn to use Finnish in simple everyday and work-life situations. No prior knowledge of Finnish is required.

The course is suitable both for short-term practical communication needs and as the first stage of a longer Finnish language training program. If needed, participants' starting level can be assessed before the training begins.

See also: Intermediate Finnish for International Employees (S2) — the next level, for employees who already manage everyday situations in Finnish and want to take part more actively at work.→
Benefits of the Training

What do participants get from the training?

Readiness to introduce themselves and talk simply about their background
Key vocabulary and useful expressions for common everyday and workplace situations
The courage to start short conversations and use Finnish in the work community
The ability to ask simple questions and answer them briefly
Readiness to understand the most common work instructions, requests, and announcements
The ability to ask for help, check their own understanding, and say when something is unclear
Readiness to write short and simple messages
The ability to manage common situations such as shopping, eating, transportation, and healthcare services
Basic skills to talk about their workday and the most common work tasks
Key basic structures of the Finnish language and a foundation for further studies
Implementation

Flexibly, according to your organisation's needs

Company-specific group training

A practical group course in Finnish for international employees. Content and vocabulary are adapted to the organisation's industry, participants' job duties, and the situations in which employees need Finnish.

Personal 1:1 coaching

Individual training for an employee who wants to study at their own pace or needs Finnish for specific job tasks and everyday situations. Content, pace, and exercises are planned according to the participant's needs.

Online, at the company's premises, or as hybrid training

The training can be organized online, at the company's own premises, or as a hybrid combining both. The schedule and number of sessions are adapted to participants' work shifts and the organisation's practical needs.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does the course require any prior knowledge of Finnish?+
No. The S2 Basic Course is designed for employees who have no prior knowledge of Finnish, as well as for those whose Finnish is only at the very beginning stage. Teaching starts from the basics — the most common expressions, simple questions and answers, and the everyday vocabulary needed at work and outside it. If needed, participants' starting level can be assessed before the training begins so that the pace and content fit the group.
What language is the course taught in?+
The course is taught in English. Participants need no Finnish at all to begin — instructions, explanations and grammar points are given in English, while the Finnish being learned is practised from the first session onwards. This makes the course accessible to international employees who have just arrived in Finland and share no common language with the workplace yet.
What level will participants reach?+
The course builds a foundation for A1-level language proficiency and further progress toward A2 level. The pace of progress depends on the group's starting level, the number of sessions, and how much participants are able to use Finnish between sessions, so the course is designed as a foundation to build on rather than as a guaranteed level certificate. Participants who want to continue can move on to the next stage of Finnish studies.
Does the course cover everyday life outside the workplace as well?+
Yes. Alongside workplace language, the course practises the everyday transactions international employees deal with in Finland — shopping, meals, healthcare services, and transportation. For employees who have recently moved to Finland, these situations are often where basic Finnish makes the most immediate difference.
Is grammar taught on the course?+
Yes, but always in the service of use. The course covers the key basic grammar needed to form simple, correct sentences: basic verb forms, the present tense, the most common case forms, and simple sentence structures. Grammar is practised through the everyday and workplace situations participants actually encounter rather than as a separate theoretical subject.
Can the content be adapted to our industry and our employees' job duties?+
Yes. The content of the training can be adapted to participants' job duties and the organisation's operating environment. Exercises may use, for example, the most common workplace instructions, vocabulary, and interaction situations from your own workplace. This is what makes a company-specific group course more useful than a general-purpose beginner course.
Is the course suitable for employees who are in Finland only short-term?+
Yes. The course is suitable both for short-term practical communication needs and as the first stage of a longer Finnish language training program. Employees working in Finland for a limited period gain the basic Finnish they need to manage everyday situations and understand what is happening around them at work, without committing to a long study path.
Is training available online or only in person?+
The training can be organized online, at the company's own premises, or as a hybrid combining both. The schedule and number of sessions are adapted to participants' work shifts and the organisation's practical needs. Onsite training is available across Finland, including Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä, Vaasa, Kuopio, Lahti and Pori.
How do we get a quote for our team?+
Contact Maria Kunz, Director of Studies, directly at +358 (0) 40 5877 142 or via the contact form on this website. She will arrange a brief discovery call to understand your employees' starting levels, the number of participants, and your preferred schedule and format. A tailored proposal is typically delivered within 3–5 working days. There is no obligation, and the initial consultation is free.

Interested in Basic Finnish for International Employees (S2) training?

Language training is not the goal. Professional impact is.

Get in Touch →

Maria Kunz · Director of Studies · +358 (0) 40 5877 142 · iwginstitute.com