https://www.youtube.com/embed/9keulYPsgKM The dreary, freezing Finnish winters are not without their joys! In Finland, like many other countries around the world, the winter season also means the arrival of seasonal fun and heartwarming holidays. St. Lucy’s Day is one such holiday, acting as a symbolic light in the dark for the country. In this article, you’ll learn about the origins of this holiday, how it’s celebrated today, and more fun facts.  Are you ready? Let’s get started. 1. What is Saint Lucy’s Day? In Finland, St. Lucia’s Day is a Catholic holiday that takes place each year on December 13.  It’s observed in commemoration of Saint Lucy, a fourth-century Christian martyr often associated with... Show more

Have you ever been confused by other people’s body language on a trip abroad? Have you perhaps caused a few raised eyebrows yourself by using a hand gesture that was interpreted in an unexpected way? While there is a lot of overlap in how different physical gestures and expressions are interpreted around the world, there are also many cultural differences. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to do a bit of research if you’re planning to travel to a new country, including Finland! Of course, avoiding inadvertently offending someone is not the only benefit of learning Finnish hand gestures and body postures. You’ll also be able to communicate more effectively with Finnish people and feel more confident, whatever level your verbal language... Show more

One of the exciting parts of learning a new language is gaining the ability to look at the world through a different lens. This is especially true when it comes to untranslatable words: they are intricately linked to the culture that gave rise to them. Therefore, learning untranslatable Finnish words and expressions will deepen your understanding of Finland and Finnish people. You will also sound more fluent when you begin to use these unique Finnish words! Of course, ‘untranslatable’ is a slight misnomer: any Finnish word can be translated into English if you use enough words. What we’re talking about here are Finnish words with no English equivalent that gets the exact same idea across in one word. We’ve picked 12 contemporary... Show more

Get the popcorn ready! It’s time to relax, sit back, and boost your Finnish studies by watching some great movies. Watching Finnish movies is arguably the best way to immerse yourself in the language and culture of Finland (after traveling to the country and interacting with Finns in real life, of course). How come?  1. It’s fun! You can almost forget that you’re learning while you’re enjoying a movie.  2. You’ll train your ear to listen to different dialects of spoken Finnish and can test your Finnish listening comprehension skills in a relaxed environment.   3. You’ll pick up new words and reinforce the vocabulary, key phrases, and sentence patterns that you’ve already learned.  4. You can always put... Show more

Watching TV is a fun way to pick up a new language. While English learners probably have it easier than anyone else due to the massive popularity of shows like The Simpsons and The Game of Thrones, there’s no reason Finnish learners need to miss out! Some of the best Finnish TV series can be streamed online, and whether you’re into romantic comedies or police dramas, you’re sure to find something interesting to watch in our Finnish TV guide. Table of Contents How to Improve Your Finnish by Watching TV Shows Where to Find Great Finnish TV Shows to Watch Top Finnish Comedy Shows Top Finnish Crime Shows Top Finnish TV Shows for Kids, Teens, and the Young at Heart Top Finnish Sketch Comedies How... Show more

So, you want to work in Finland? Stay optimistic, but prepare yourself for a challenge too! Job hunting in a new country can be absolutely daunting. There’s paperwork to consider, a potential language barrier to overcome, and a whole new work culture to wrap your head around. And where do you even start to look for vacancies? These unique challenges aside, working abroad is incredibly rewarding and we commend you for your interest! We’ve written this guide on finding jobs in Finland to make the process less stressful for you. We’ll cover essential information about working in Finland as a foreigner, explore different avenues for job searching, and look at some alternatives to traditional employment. Let the job hunt begin! ... Show more

Johan Ludvig Runeberg was Swedish-Finnish and is known for his writing and poetry. He was born on February 5, 1804 and died on May 6, 1877. Runeberg rose to the status of Finland's national poet during his lifetime, due to his work being very “patriotic,” or isänmaallinen. Runeberg has received numerous awards for his work and is highly honored in Finnish culture. Thus, by learning about Runeberg Paiva you’ll get a nice look at Finland’s history and its values. It’s our wish at FinnishPod101.com to help you learn all you need to know about Finnish culture, and this famous Finnish poet is no exception. So, who was Runeberg and what is Runeberg Paiva? 1. What is the Day of J.L. Runeberg? Runeberg's best-known work is “The... Show more

So you’ve decided to learn Finnish. At first the idea seemed exciting. You bought a phrasebook, dictionary, and a subscription to FinnishPod101, ready to dive head first into the language. For the first day or two all was well. You gained ground quickly, learning a few basic phrases and words. A week before learning Finnish was only a dream, now you were actually do it. Then the third and fourth day roll around. The excitement wears off. You encouraged yourself and continue, but then another week or two goes by. Suddenly Finnish doesn’t fill you with excitement anymore...now it feels more like dread. You start to realize how difficult learning a foreign language (and Finnish in particular) really is. Sometimes it feels like you're... Show more

Hey Listeners! Guess what? Your language learning goals just got a little easier! As you’ve probably realized by now, there have been some major improvements made to your dashboard! These updates have been designed to improve your overall experience with the website and help keep you organized and on-track! Here are a few of the changes: Your progress is now tracked right, smack in the middle of the page to keep you motivated and organized. A new, sleek and easy to navigate design allows you to worry less about where to click and more on learning Finnish! An enlarged profile picture that gives your dashboard a unique and more personal feel. A new layout for the “Latest News” feed to keep you informed on all of the most... Show more

Are you currently debating whether or not to learn Finnish? You aren't alone. Learning a new language requires a huge investment of time, and often money as well. That's why so many people are hesitant to spend the amount of effort required to become fluent in another language. However, learning a new language can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life and there are a number of reasons why you should start studying one... and start studying now! Click Here And Start Learning Finnish With A FREE Account! More Opportunities That's right. It's not rocket science. A new language can open up many new doors. You're able to work in countries other than your own, leading to a world of new opportunities. It can also qualify... Show more