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.

I recently came across a quiz to determine your Creative Type! I thought it’d be fun to share because it’s my belief that: 1) Learning a language is a creative endeavour and, 2) we’re all creative in different ways. Take the test here!

Around a year ago, I found myself in an internal tug of war:

• I wanted to be more intentional about the things I did and the direction my life was headed in.
• But writing my intentions down felt incredibly scary. What if I’d disappoint myself?
• Then again, how would I ever know if I didn’t try? (Round and round, I went.)

Here’s what happened next and why I’m sharing this with you…

In this post, I share the 3 missing links at the root of the vast majority of why people struggle to learn Finnish (or other languages). I’ve built my entire career around helping educate people and support them in integrating these 3 missing pieces into their approaches to learning Finnish. This is the 1st time I talk about these in this way, so I’d love to hear your insights, questions and reactions in the comments below!

My name is Irina Pravet and I’m a language and cultural transitions coach. I help people tap into their inborn ability to learn Finnish, and feel at home in their lives abroad.

My work brings together the threads that have run deep throughout my life: transitions, adaptation and belonging (between languages and cultures).

Why does this matter so much to me and why do I believe this work is essential? Well to answer this question, I’d have to start at the beginning…

Sometimes when I talk about how learning Finnish can be joyful, awe-inspiring, fun, people look at me as if I’m an alien with 3 heads. I stand by it because observing how my brain has adapted to Finnish, has been one of my most awe-inspiring life experiences.

But if you’re reading this and thinking: “Yeah okay but what if this reality feels far off for me?” Here’s what I want you to know…

Do you struggle from one of the five most common Finnish struggles? You’re not alone! These are so common, but so seldom discussed, they’re mainstream! Here they are, along with a new perspective to consider…

I recently met an Italian woman who asked me what I do for a living.
“I help people learn Finnish.”
“Oh, so you’re a Finnish teacher?”
“Sort of, not exactly. I teach people the process of learning Finnish.”
She looked at me quizzically, “But why would I need the process? I can go to classes to learn Finnish.”
In an ideal world, you would go to Finnish class and – voila! You’d speak Finnish.
If that were the case, you wouldn’t be reading this…

Compassion allows us to take things lightly. It leaves room for play and allowing our natural abilities to bubble up to the surface effortlessly. We are wired for language, after all! Once you recognize the importance of compassion (hey, awareness is half the battle) then it’s a matter of actually putting it to use when you need it. But how? What can we do when we recognize we need more self-compassion in the moment? I’ve boiled it down to 3 ingredients: