This paper deals with the English language in Finnish education and business. Furthermore, it shows how success and language skills are linked to each other, especially under the aspect of intercultural communication. Some examples show what kind of communication problems might emerge, when Finns communicate with native English speakers.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Curriculum and historic approach
2. Language teaching in Finnish primary and secondary schools
2.1. The growing importance of English
2.2 Content and Language Integrated learning
2.3 Languages in vocational training
3. Conclusion as regards education
4. The use of English for business purposes
4.1 English as a company language
4.2 English within the Finnish industry
5. Conclusions and discussion of the findings
6. A Finnish variety of English?
7. Recommendation
Research Objective and Key Themes
This paper investigates the status of English within the Finnish educational system and the business sector, analyzing how its prevalence influences language learning priorities and professional communication in a globalized economy.
- Educational policy and language curricula in Finland
- The shifting preference for English over other foreign languages
- Integration of English in Finnish corporate communications
- Intercultural challenges arising from specific Finnish English-speaking patterns
Excerpts from the Book
6. A Finnish variety of English?
Crystal (2003: 142) suggests that if Standard English, either the British or American variety, is established in a country and studied by many people who use the language regularly, then an own mesolect variety of English will emerge. That has already happened in many outer circle countries, such as the Caribbean isles or South-East Asia. In Finland such a development has not taken place yet as the language is not widely used as a lingua franca in everyday life within the country boundaries. However, Finns tend to speak English in a distinctive way, which reflects their own language. As the use of “please” is not common in Finnish, many Finns skip that word, when asking someone to do something as well as often formulating these appeals in an imperative form. (Swallow, 2003: 21)
To native speakers of English, who are not familiar with these peculiarities and their origins this manner of speaking must seem very rude and thus the use of English is sometimes not as beneficial as suggested earlier in this paper. Native speakers might even restrain from conducting business or give necessary information if approached in such a way which according to Huhta (1998:12) was also a major concern of company managers.
Furthermore the author herself is aware of a case where important information was not given to a Finnish businessman, because the Irish counterpart felt offended by the way he was asked about the matter. These examples show that although the English language has helped Finland to gain access to many markets around the world there are still obstacles to overcome in order to make the most out of the benefit of speaking it. However, these problems emerge frequently when speaking any foreign language without taking cultural issues into consideration.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the research regarding the standing of English in Finland, focusing on its role in education and business while acknowledging the role of the Swedish language.
1.1 Curriculum and historic approach: Discusses the standardized national curriculum and the historical classification of Finland within the expanding circle of English-speaking countries.
2. Language teaching in Finnish primary and secondary schools: Details the national emphasis on foreign language proficiency and the mandatory study requirements for students.
2.1. The growing importance of English: Analyzes statistical trends showing the decline of other foreign languages in favor of English as the primary choice for students.
2.2 Content and Language Integrated learning: Examines the implementation of CLIL programs in Finnish schools as a means to enhance vocabulary and communicative naturalness.
2.3 Languages in vocational training: Explores the mandatory language requirements for university and polytechnic students to prepare them for the modern economy.
3. Conclusion as regards education: Summarizes the effectiveness of the Finnish system in providing students with a high level of English proficiency.
4. The use of English for business purposes: Highlights the necessity of English as a lingua franca for Finnish firms operating internationally.
4.1 English as a company language: Illustrates how major Finnish corporations adopt English as their official working language to streamline global operations.
4.2 English within the Finnish industry: Discusses the correlation between national trade partners and the strategic importance of business language skills.
5. Conclusions and discussion of the findings: Reviews how the dominance of English has benefited the Finnish economy and the impact on the prioritization of other languages.
6. A Finnish variety of English?: Investigates the emergence of linguistic peculiarities in Finnish English and the potential for cross-cultural misunderstandings in professional contexts.
7. Recommendation: Advocates for the inclusion of intercultural competence in language education to mitigate potential friction between Finnish speakers and native English speakers.
Keywords
English in Finland, Language Policy, Finnish Education, Business English, CLIL, Foreign Language Learning, International Business, Corporate Language, Intercultural Communication, Language Statistics, Linguistic Variety, Globalized Economy, Vocational Training
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper investigates the current standing and perceived value of the English language within the Finnish educational system and its practical application in the Finnish business sector.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
Key areas include national curriculum requirements, language teaching methodologies (such as CLIL), statistics on foreign language choices in schools, and the adoption of English as a corporate language in Finnish industry.
What is the main objective of this study?
The primary goal is to assess how the spread of English influences the educational landscape and to understand the impact of language skills on the international success of Finnish businesses.
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The author utilizes a descriptive analysis of existing national educational statistics, pedagogical curriculum guidelines, and reports from industry surveys to synthesize the trends in language usage.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body examines historical trends in schooling, the shift toward English as a primary foreign language, the implementation of content-integrated learning, and the necessity of English for global trade operations.
Which keywords best characterize this document?
The core keywords include: English in Finland, Language Policy, Finnish Education, Business English, CLIL, and Intercultural Communication.
How does the educational system in Finland prioritize languages?
The system highly values foreign language proficiency, requiring all students to study at least one modern foreign language and the second national language (Swedish), though English has become the dominant first choice.
Why might Finnish speakers of English face challenges in business?
The research notes that specific, culture-bound ways of speaking—such as omitting "please" or using direct imperatives—can be misinterpreted by native English speakers as rude, potentially creating friction in professional relationships.
- Quote paper
- Vera Metzen (Author), 2008, English in Finland , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/120866
