Finnish

Finnish 1A and Finnish 1B (new numbering)

These courses are taught twice a week (3 hours total).

If you are not a currently registered student, you can enroll in a Finnish language class via Concurrent Enrollment, UC Berkeley Extension. Please note that the Concurrent Enrollment application has to be approved by the department. Approval is based on availability of space in the class; enrolled UC students on a waitlist have priority.

With questions, please consult the Finnish lecturer, Dr. Lotta Weckstrom. She is also the contact when requesting an internal placement test for a Finnish course that is NOT the beginning language course (1A) or when requesting a Finnish language assessment for external use.

For study abroad, there is no UC Education Abroad Program for Finland, but many Finnish universities and colleges offer summer courses in Finnish language and culture. Also CIMO offers courses for university students who are studying Finnish at a foreign university. Interested students should contact the universities in Finland directly. The Finnish Studies coordinator will also answer any questions regarding study opportunities in Finland.

Scandinavian 100A: Intermediate Nordic Languages

L&S Breadth: Arts & Literature

This course teaches intermediate Finnish. Students will further their communicative competence in all four foreign language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) within a cultural context. We will also explore Finnish society and popular culture by watching films and reading newspapers and magazines, to further students’ abilities to interact with cultural competence and understanding, and we will discuss how Finnish language skills can be used beyond the classroom.

Prerequisites: Passing grade in Finnish 1B or placement exam.

Scandinavian 100B: Intermediate Nordic Languages

L&S Breadth: Arts & Literature

This course teaches intermediate Finnish. Students will further their communicative competence in all four foreign language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) within a cultural context. We will also explore Finnish society and popular culture by watching films and reading newspapers and magazines, to further students’ abilities to interact with cultural competence and understanding, and we will discuss how Finnish language skills can be used beyond the classroom.

Prerequisites: Passing grade in Scandinavian 100A or placement exam.

In Scandinavian 100A and 100B, you must enroll in both the Wednesday lecture and the target language section to fulfill course requirements.

Continuing students of Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish enrolling in Scandinavian 100A will meet together for one hour of lecture per week (W 11-12) to read and interpret literary and nonliterary texts about inter-Scandinavian communication, linguistics, and language history. In addition to this one-hour combined lecture, students will meet two additional hours per week (in discussion sections with a language instructor) to be instructed in their particular target languages.

SECTION 101 = Danish

SECTION 102 = Finnish

SECTION 103 = Norwegian

SECTION 104 = Swedish

You must enroll in both parts in order to fully enroll in the course. If you experience a scheduling problem it is essential that you consult the language coordinator.

Placement: Students with prior experience in a Scandinavian language should contact the language coordinator for a placement exam.  The placement test must be taken prior to or within the first week of instruction.
Language coordinator: Dr. Lotta Weckstrom, lotta.weckstrom@berkeley.edu.

Texts:  Currently, the first year Finnish classes follow the textbook, SUN SUOMI. In the Advanced Finnish courses, textbooks are chosen after meeting with students, according to the students’ skills and level.