Studies in Lärkkulla in weeks 8, 9 and 10
Три последние недели я занимался финским языком, но пока не чувствую существенного прогресса. Я решил почаще отводить время для культуры и посмотрел недавно три хороших финских фильма.
The group of Finnish in Lärkkulla
In week 8 we were free from classes, because it was a "sport holiday" (Swedish: sportlov) or "skiing holiday" (Finnish: hiitoloma). I did not go skiing - I have no skis. I went jogging and lifted the barbell, as usual. Most of the students were away, and there were no meals in the school. I spent time studying Finnish.
During three days that week the school held a religions seminar in mission work for young people. Once I went to participate in a workshop on cultural diversity, but it was not particularly interesting, since it also dealt with religious issues.
In weeks 9 and 10 we had classes, as before. On Monday, in the first day after the holidays, we wrote a test. My result was good. On Friday we went through corrections, which I think took too long.
We also practiced listening comprehension parts of the national test (YKI-testi) for levels 1 and 2. We studied the present and past passive, read a couple of chapters in the textbook Kuulosta hyvältä and did exercises.
In general I think that the course is going slowly. I do not feel substantial progress.
On my own I studied the textbook Finnish for Foreigners Book 2, but then I put it off, because the grammar notes there are much too detailed. In the following weeks I studied two other books - Kuulosta hyvältä and Suomea paremmin - which are more suitable for test preparation. I also read news and a book on Finnish history in simplified language.
From March I have decided to spend more time on culture, because the library I have picked up a grid where one can fill in cultural activities for each day of the year. Thirty minutes of a cultural activity, such as seeing a film or reading a book, is enough to get a point for the day. There is more information on www.kulturkondis.fi (in Swedish and Finnish).
For the start I have seen three Finnish films:
- Lupaus (Promise) about Finnish women's Lotta Service who were at the front during the Second World War;
- Valkoinen kaupunki (Frozen City) about family in Helsinki going through a divorce; and
- Sudan vuosi (The Year of the Wolf) about love of a middle-aged university professor and a young female student afflicted by epilepsy.
I liked all of the films, especially Frozen City.
The group of Finnish in Lärkkulla
In week 8 we were free from classes, because it was a "sport holiday" (Swedish: sportlov) or "skiing holiday" (Finnish: hiitoloma). I did not go skiing - I have no skis. I went jogging and lifted the barbell, as usual. Most of the students were away, and there were no meals in the school. I spent time studying Finnish.
During three days that week the school held a religions seminar in mission work for young people. Once I went to participate in a workshop on cultural diversity, but it was not particularly interesting, since it also dealt with religious issues.
In weeks 9 and 10 we had classes, as before. On Monday, in the first day after the holidays, we wrote a test. My result was good. On Friday we went through corrections, which I think took too long.
We also practiced listening comprehension parts of the national test (YKI-testi) for levels 1 and 2. We studied the present and past passive, read a couple of chapters in the textbook Kuulosta hyvältä and did exercises.
In general I think that the course is going slowly. I do not feel substantial progress.
On my own I studied the textbook Finnish for Foreigners Book 2, but then I put it off, because the grammar notes there are much too detailed. In the following weeks I studied two other books - Kuulosta hyvältä and Suomea paremmin - which are more suitable for test preparation. I also read news and a book on Finnish history in simplified language.
From March I have decided to spend more time on culture, because the library I have picked up a grid where one can fill in cultural activities for each day of the year. Thirty minutes of a cultural activity, such as seeing a film or reading a book, is enough to get a point for the day. There is more information on www.kulturkondis.fi (in Swedish and Finnish).
For the start I have seen three Finnish films:
- Lupaus (Promise) about Finnish women's Lotta Service who were at the front during the Second World War;
- Valkoinen kaupunki (Frozen City) about family in Helsinki going through a divorce; and
- Sudan vuosi (The Year of the Wolf) about love of a middle-aged university professor and a young female student afflicted by epilepsy.
I liked all of the films, especially Frozen City.