International Summer School 2011 in Turku - Students' Experiences
It is wonderful to see how the Summer School offers an ideal opportunity for people from different backgrounds to study together Finnish language and culture.
Here are some experiences from Summer School 2011 students.
Name: Nancy Commins
Interviewer: Paula Ollilainen
Personal background
Profession: Ph.D in Education, Second Language learners in English
(Fulbright Scholar in University of Turku 2011-2012)
Age: 56
Nationality: American
Previous experiences of Finland
Personal connections? I do not have any personal connections to Finland. All the connections have been professional.
Previous visits: I have been in Finland two times before the Summer School. My first visit to Finland was in March 2010 and the second in November 2010. Both times I have been here because of work.
International Summer School 2011
How did you find out about the Summer School? I got the information about the Summer School from the people I will work with for my Fulbright.
What courses did you have during the Summer School? I had the Finnish language courses.
How did you like the courses? As a language teacher myself, it was interesting to learn Finnish. The courses were great. The connections between the lessons were very helpful.
Can you tell us something you learned? I was reminded again of how challenging and rewarding it can be to learn a second language. In the first week I could understand one of a thousand words but now I can understand on of a hundred!
What are the benefits of studying the Finnish language? I think that learning any language is good for your brain. I think it's arrogant not to learn the language of the country you live in! You can add that to the interview, hah!
What was your International Summer School experience like otherwise? Did you enjoy the social programme? Fantastic! To be learning Finnish and its culture, but also about the other cultures of the other students from all over the world has been amazing. It has been easier to settle into life here because of the Summer School. Turku is my home now!
Did you wish there had been something else in the course contents or the social programme? I would have like to have more teaching in pronunciation and dictation. There could not have been any better social programme!
What was the most memorable experience you had in the International Summer School and during your stay in Turku? As a language teacher, it has been overwhelmingly positive. This month has helped me to settle into Turku. The trip to Seili Island was one of the most memorable experiences in the social programme. I also enjoyed playing Finnish baseball and cooking Finnish food.
Did you make new friends? Yes. I became friends with some of the people in my class and some of the interns and tutors from the programme. It has also helped that my husband has been here with me.
What are your plans for the future? Have you thought of returning to Finland or staying here? I will be here the whole year as a Fulbright Scholar. My husband is staying here the whole year with me and we have planned to travel in Finland and in the other countries in Europe as well. I do not know about the future, but we are open to anything that happens in life.
To whom would you recommend the International Summer School? I would recommend it to anybody and everybody. But especially to all the exchange students who come to Finland.
What regards would you send to those that plan to come here next year? Don't think twice, sign up now!
Name: Georgios Moukazis
Interviewer: Paula Ollilainen
Personal background
Studies: Master of Philosophy in Law
Age: 25
Nationality: Greek
Previous experiences of Finland
Personal connections: I met some Finns in Greece and we became friends. We had a great time together! They wanted to pay back for our hospitality and I was invited to Finland in October 2010.
Previous visits: For the first time in October 2010 and the second time in December 2010.
International Summer School 2011
How did you find out about the Summer School? I found the information on the internet. I chose Turku because my Finnish friends live in Raisio. Besides, I had heard about the magnificent archipelago of Turku and I wanted to see that with my own eyes!
What courses did you have during the Summer School? I just had the Finnish language courses.
How did you like the courses? I did like the Finnish courses. Teaching was in Finnish which I liked too because I have studied Finnish in Greece. I think that we learned lots of grammar. The consonant gradation (astevaihtelu in Finnish) was difficult and I woud have liked to learn it earlier. I think that we learned lots of grammar and tons of vocabulary of everyday use.
Can you tell us something you learned? I did like that our teacher played lots of Finnish music to us which has made me listen to Finnish music more! I think that the whole group has learned to speak something in Finnish which is great!
What are the benefits of studying the Finnish language? It enables to you to access a different civilization compared to the rest of the Europe. Nordic countries are a unique category. It also gives you a chance to live or work in Finland.
What was your International Summer School experience like otherwise? Did you enjoy the social programme? I loved the evening in Rauhala and also the trip to Kuhankuono National Park. Those were the best moments. It was nice to experience something even my Finnish friends haven't done!
Did you wish there had been something else in the course contents or the social programme? I cannot add anything more. Or maybe some activies related to bikes. It's so easy to cycle in Turku!perasdpfa södkaök
What was the most memorable experience you had in the International Summer School and during your stay in Turku? I experienced on thing which really impressed me. I had an accident with my bike and one of my friends from the Summer School had his bike stolen. As we went to the Tentants' Association of TYS (The Student Foundation in Turku) and explained what had happened the personnel was so helpful and understanding. The feeling of trust was something I will never forget. I really do appreciate it that people trust to each other here in Finland. I also like that in Finland everything starts a bit earlier; things like school, work and luch. That suits to me better.
Did you make new friends? Yes! I became friends with the Finnish tutors and the whole Summer School group. I hope that we will keep contact in the future!
What are your plans for the future? Have you thought of returning to Finland or staying here? I would like to apply to a Master's degree programme in Finland (to the Faculty of Law). I leave from Finland with a feeling of satisfaction. I will miss Finland and this experience. I do hope to come back soon.
To whom would you recommend the International Summer School? To all those young people who want to study here, especially to all the exchange students! It is also a great choice for those who haven't travelled in Europe or those who haven't been abroad at all.
What regards would you send to those that plan to come here next year? I would say: If you want to experience something different, come to Finland! Finnish nature is just amazing and everything is so well-organized. Maybe Finland is not the most common choice for travel or study, but it is definitely a unique choice!
Name: Parisa Movahedi
Interviewer: Paula Ollilainen
Personal background
Studies: Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology
(Master Degree student in Information Technology in University of Turku)
Age: 24
Nationality: Iranian
Previous experiences of Finland
Personal connections: I have no personal connections to Finland except my few Finnish friends from Stockholm were my auntie lives. I found them very lovely people and as I have been in Sweden I got interested in Finland as well.
Previous visits: I haven't been in Finland before the Summer School. Well, I have been in the harbor of Turku about two hours if that counts!
International Summer School 2011
How did you find out about the Summer School? I found out about the Summer School via the coordinator of my Master's Degree programme. My coordinator recommended it and got me interested.
What courses did you have during the Summer School? I just had the Finnish language courses.
How did you like the courses? I really liked them. First it was difficult to me but now I'm so happy for all that I have learned. I liked it that the teacher played Finnish music to us in the end of every lesson and also the way he taught was great. We were walking around the classroom and spoke Finnish!
Can you tell us something you learned? Minä olen Parisa. Minä asun Turussa. Minulla on pieni perhe; isä, äiti ja veli (in English: I am Parisa. I live in Turku. I have a small family; father, mother and one brother).
What are the benefits of studying the Finnish language? Well, for me personally it is the fact that I'm going to live here the next two years. I do also think that Finnish is a beautiful language (which I did not think in the beginning, hah!). I do want to continue to study Finnish because I want to be able to understand the language which I hear and see around me.
What was your International Summer School experience like otherwise? Did you enjoy the social programme? It has been one of the best experiences I have ever had! This has been an amazing month and I have become friends with so many people from all over the world.
Did you wish there had been something else in the course contents or the social programme? I cannot really say that I would have added something else to the social programme, because there was everything; art, history, cuisine, nature, sports etc. What I would have hoped is more time to study together with the group. For instance it would have been great to gather to the library once or twice during the Summer School.
What was the most memorable experience you had in the International Summer School and during your stay in Turku? The evening at the Villa Rauhala is one of the best memories. We had everything there. We went to the sauna for the first time, went swimming in the sea, had a lovely barbecue and salads and the whole group was just getting to know each other. The atmosphere was just amazing!
Did you make new friends? I made at least twenty new friends. I'm so happy that I have new friends and I do not feel lonely at all. Before I moved here I was a bit worried about how other people react as I'm coming from a foreign country. Anyhow, now I am so relieved that people are so nice.
What are your plans for the future? Have you thought of returning to Finland or staying here? I'm staying here in Finland for the next two years and doing my Master's Degree in IT. I'm very ambitious and I love to study so I'm really looking forward to starting my studies. I would possibly like to apply to a Doctoral programme after my Master's. I like Finland very much so it is likely that I would stay here. But you never know what the future brings.
To whom would you recommend the International Summer School? To those people who want to learn different cultures and languages. I would recommend the Summer School particularly to people in my age, but it's a great opportunity for anyone!
What regards would you send to those that plan to come here next year? You will have one of the best experiences you will ever have! Definitely!