Speaking English in Finland... ?

Question

I am fifteen, and when I am about twenty, I plan to move to Finland, as I have Finnish in my blood.

I was, for the most part, raised in America though, and currently speak only simple words from most Scandinavian languages. But I mainly speak only English. I plan to atleast try to learn as much of the Finnish language as I possibly can, but I fear the part that if I cannot learn it perfectly it may be a challenge to live there.

I have read on quite a few websites that over 70% of the people in Finland speak English fluently, usually every day. I have also read it is used by most people in Finland more than their own native language in some parts.

But, if anyone could provide me with any other words of guidance, I would truly appreciate it.

Thanks.

Answer 1

If you read here in the resolved questions, (search on Finnish or Finland) you can read that while most of the people speak English, to live there and fit in, you should speak the local language.

There might be a few people in Finland who speak more English than Finnish, and there are still a few people who speak Swedish as their first language, but if you want to live there your should learn the language as good as you can.

If you search in your area you might find one native speaker of Finnish, or someone who has learned Finnish from parents or grand parents. That person can teach you or help you to learn the language with help from a correspondence course.

At 15 you are still the right age to learn to speak the language perfect. (When you wait till you can live there you will be that much older making it that much harder.)

You know that unless you hold a Finnish passport (or an other European one) you need to apply for visa and work permits before you will be able to live in Finland (and the same goes for any country in Europe.)

Often it is possible to do (part of) your university studies in a foreign country, it is mostly easier to get visa for that and when you have studied in a country you can often stay there for a longer time.

Speaking the local language is a good step towards it.

Answer 2

You will do fine with English in Finland. But I encourage you to grab the opportunity to learn also Finnish while here.

By the way, did you know that we do NOT dub our TV programs? All foreign programs have Finnish subtitles and original sound, so you won't have difficulties in following your favourite series on Finnish TV (and there are loads of foreign channels, as well).