Learn to speak Finnish or Swedish

Lead-in paragraph

Finland has two official languages: Finnish and Swedish. It is important that you learn to speak one of these languages. This will make it easier for you to manage your daily life, study, and work in Finland. If you want to apply for Finnish citizenship someday, you will need to know how to speak Finnish or Swedish. The City of Helsinki offers various language courses.

If the language courses are included in your integration plan, most of the courses are free of charge

If Finnish or Swedish language courses are written down in your integration plan, they are part of your integration services. In this case, the language courses are free for you. When you make an integration plan with a specialist, you choose the courses that are best for you.

If language courses are not written down in your integration plan, you can sign up for Finnish or Swedish courses on your own. In this case, you will have to pay for the courses yourself.

You can choose to integrate in either Finnish or Swedish. This means you can choose language classes only in Finnish or Swedish based on your choice. In Helsinki, about 5 per cent of the population speaks Swedish.

Learn more about the city’s Integration Services

Finnish as a second language (S2) courses

In the Finnish as a second language courses, called S2, you learn to speak and write Finnish. During the course, you learn to use the language well enough to manage simple things in your daily life. You must know the Latin alphabet before you can join a S2 course.

Learn more about S2 courses(Link leads to external service)

Swedish for immigrants (SFI) courses

In the Swedish for immigrants courses, called SFI, you learn to speak and write Swedish. During the course, you learn to use the language well enough to manage simple things in your daily life. You must know the Latin alphabet before you can join a SFI course.

Learn more about SFI courses(Link leads to external service)

Finnish language courses for parents and guardians of small children (KOTIVA)

Are you taking care of small children at home? If this makes it difficult for you to join a Finnish language course, a KOTIVA course is for you!

In a KOTIVA course, trained adults take care of your children while you study the Finnish language. This childcare during the course is free. Your child must be at least 10 months old and younger than 3 years old when the course starts.

Learn more about KOTIVA courses(Link leads to external service)

Swedish language courses for parents and guardians of small children (HEMPE)

Are you taking care of small children at home? If this makes it difficult for you to join a Swedish language course, a HEMPE course is for you!

In a HEMPE course, trained adults take care of your children while you study the Swedish language. This childcare during the course is free. Your child must be at least 10 months old when the course starts.

Learn more about HEMPE courses(Link leads to external service)

Literacy training

Do you have trouble reading or writing? In Literacy training, you learn to read and write Finnish using the Latin alphabet. After you learn the alphabet, you can go to study in the Finnish as a second language (S2) course.

Learn more about Literacy training

Find Finnish or Swedish language courses

Looking for a suitable Finnish or Swedish course? The Finnishcourses.fi website lists all the language courses that are available in the Helsinki area. Most of the courses have a fee.

Visit Finnishcourses.fi website

Practice the language together with others

The City of Helsinki has free language cafes and discussion groups all over the city. Come join in and meet other people learning the language!