A big part of what I do is challenge people to think differently about language (& language learning). This is mainly because, when I talk about language and how languages are learned, I see a world of possibility, unity and inclusion that seems to go unnoticed by so many. Yet it’s sitting here in plain sight, waiting to be perceived by all who wish to do so. (Yes, even when it comes to the Finnish language.)

If the idea of learning Finnish as a joyful experience is a foreign concept to you, please read on.

In this article, I’m speaking specifically to learning Finnish in Finland (where it is spoken as an official language) because it’s a very different experience than learning it elsewhere just for fun. In Finland, Finnish could be the key to many things in your life, even if “everyone speaks English.” I think we can agree that speaking Finnish in Finland is a different experience from not speaking Finnish in Finland.

I believe that learning language is our birthright as human beings. I do not believe that some are ‘talented’ at learning languages, while others hopeless (even though it sometimes feels this way).

When we look closer though, we’ll see that…

Our Finnish journeys are as unique as we are! Every learner has a unique set of criteria that’ll either enable learning. Here are just a few examples: …

A few months back, I heard a cry for help.

I was heading home from downtown when I passed a man on the street. He was very agitated, locked eyes with me and said: “APUA! Minä tarvitsen apua.”

I froze…

Much of what I do is these days is inspired by the cycles of nature, so I thought I’d share with you what this time of year means to me… and what cold, crisp air, lmited energy and huddled warmth has to teach us.
Honestly, it took me a couple of years of living in the north to really appreciate the rhythm of the seasons. Every ebb has its flow…

I’ve come to find that the best way to keep the process of learning rolling is to touch base with other learners, who share a passion for the process. So I reached out to Lindsay in the hopes that an interview could capture the positive energy, insatiable curiosity and growth mindset I’ve come to know her for…And did it ever!

Lindsay’s openness to so many languages makes her a great person to speak up on behalf of the value that languages have to offer at any stage of the journey.

“The grass is always greener on the other side…” I notice the tendency in myself and others to overrate what we don’t have. It seems we’re waiting for external conditions to fall into place (things we achieve, own, become…time and the weather!) so we can feel better on the inside. It seems that the grass really is greener on the other side, until we realize: it can’t work both ways! It can’t actually be greener.

It’s exciting to see lately is much more attention given towards diversity, inclusion and equality in the Finnish media. Yet this isn’t one of those “sit back and watch things change” scenarios though. We have an opportunity – yes, and we have a role to play. So if you want to advance the discussion in small but tangible ways, I invite you to participate in the 3 following ways…

Over the past 10+ years of living in Finland, I’ve found nature’s ability to adapt and flow with the cycles to be the most inspiring teacher there is in my own transition abroad. Whether for you it’s the plasticity required to adapt to another language or the fluidity that other cultures ask of us – or both at once – nature has lessons to help us navigate the terrain with more grace. Here’s what summer has to teach us…

It’s a pretty simple idea: an invitation to learn how to put together simple sentences in Finnish. We’ll explore from the beginning, but with a twist!