Course Descriptions 2012
The International Summer School consists of course modules (2-3 ECTS credits each) and the maximum amount of credit for the Summer School is 10 ECTS credits.
You have an excellent possibility to study Finnish language and courses related to Finnish culture and society. The minimum number of students per course is five persons. All students who satisfactorily complete the programme will receive a Certificate of Attendance and a Transcript of Records.
FNSC1091 Development of Finnish National and Cultural Identity
(2 ECTS credits)
16 hours of teaching
Teacher: Markku Jokisipilä D. Soc.Sc. / Department of Contemporary History
Course description: National identity refers to the common features (real as well as imagined) among a group of people who see themselves belonging together and forming a nation. This course takes a look at those specific qualities and attributes that distinguish Finns from other nationalities. Because of Finland's geographical remoteness, lingual isolation and exceptional historical path, Finnish national identity and Finnish culture have developed into a unique mix of indigenous elements and cultural loans from outside. The aim of this course is to examine the make-up and evolution of Finnishness.
FNSC1111 Finland in Northern European Contemporary History
(3 ECTS credits)
20 hours of teaching + group presentation assignment
Teacher: Louis Clerc, PhD / Department of Political Science and Contemporary History
Aims: The course provides students with basic knowledge of various aspects of Finnish contemporary history. The course also aims at helping foreign students getting a sense of Turku's place in Finnish and Northern European History.
Contents: The series will deal with Finnish history from 1809 to 1995, going through the period of autonomy under Russian rule, the 1917 declaration of independence, the Civil War of 1918, the development of Finnish democracy and the Finnish welfare state model, Finland during World War II and the Cold War, and the 1995 accession of Finland to the European Union.
The last session of the lecture series will be dedicated to an oral exam, where the students will be invited to discuss various aspects of the lecture series.
Three books are recommanded for students to read ahead of the course. These are not compulsory, but they will provide students with some of the elements dealt with in the course:
Osmo Jussila, Pertti Hentilä, Jukka Nevakivi, From Grand Duchy to a Modern State: A Political History of Finland Since 1809, 1999
Jason Lavery, The History of Finland, 2009
And especially: Henrik Meinander, History of Finland, Hurst and Co, 2011
Students should also consider the following Wikipedia link ahead of the course: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Finland
FNSC9009 Survival Finnish
(3 ECTS credits) (CEF level A1)
36 hours of teaching including an examination
Teacher: Ms Elina Ahola MA/ University of Turku
Course description: The aim of the course is to offer the students basic knowledge of the Finnish language in order to help them cope in various everyday situations. The approach in the course is mainly functional, but the main aspects of Finnish grammar will also be thought. Due to the functional approach, most of the learning will happen through various tasks, which will be carried through both in pairs and in small groups. Pronunciation exercises, listening comprehension exercises, communication exercises and a small number of writing tasks are included.
FNSC9008 Finnish Society: sociological perspectives
(2 ECTS credits)16 hours of teaching + presentation(s)
Teacher: Professor Hannu Ruonavaara / Department of Sociology
Course description: The purpose of this course is to introduce aspects of Finnish society to foreign students through results of Finnish sociological research. Students are given a selection of sociological articles covering different aspects of Finnish society and culture ranging from generational differences to social capital and housing system. These will be discussed in the seminar. The students are to prepare a short introductory presentation of one or two of the articles. The assessment is based on the presentation(s) and activeness in the seminar discussions.
A book that gives good background information for the course is “Portraying Finland. Facts and insights" (Otava 2008), especially chapters 2-5. (The book is also available in several other languages than English: Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.)