Training for teachers of slow-progressing S2 groups and adult literacy, 12 credits

December 2023 – September 2024

Target group

The training is suitable for all Finnish as a second language (S2) teachers whose groups have challenges with literacy, reading speed or reading comprehension. The target group includes teachers in liberal adult education, vocational adult education and integration training, as well as other teachers who teach or are about to start teaching slow-progressing groups or literacy groups. Participants must have a teacher’s qualification (class teacher, special needs teacher, subject teacher of languages or equivalent degree). Experience of teaching adult immigrants is an advantage.

Those who have studied outside Finland must have an equivalent teacher’s qualification from their home country, recognised as equivalent in Finland, and Finnish language skills at level C1.

Aims and content

The aim is to strengthen teachers’ awareness of basic skills and to give them the skills to teach literacy, multiliteracy and weak readers. The training strengthens didactic skills, cultural sensitivity, a language-aware approach and the ability to recognise possible learning difficulties.

Studies

The training includes eight days of contact teaching and online work. The contact teaching is streamed, so you can also take part from where you live. Each topic includes an assignment, and participants also keep a learning journal. The training takes an estimated 324 hours, so it is worth taking this into account when planning your time.

Key content: didactics, active learning methods, assessment, educational technology, cultural knowledge and information on learning difficulties and trauma.

You can take part in the contact teaching on site or from home, but the lectures are not recorded. Contact teaching days (8): 14 December 2023, 19 January 2024, 15 February, 15 March, 18 April, 16 May, 22 August and 19 September.

The contact teaching is held at Helsingin aikuisopisto, Runeberginkatu 22–24, 00100 Helsinki, always at 16.30–19.45.

The training is worth 12 credits. All assignments must be completed by 20 October 2024 to receive a certificate.

Please note that the training is in Finnish.

Trainers

Minna Intke-Hernandez, Sanna Markkanen, Aivi Hämäläinen, Anu Arvonen, Ferdinand Garoff, Heidi Hussa, Réka Aarnos, Pertti Pyhtilä and Johanna Heimonen.

Fees and cancellation terms

The training is in-service training for education staff funded by the Finnish National Agency for Education and is free of charge for participants. Participants pay any travel, accommodation, meal and substitute costs themselves. A fee of €50 is charged for cancelling after the last registration date. A fee of €100 is charged for dropping out of the course without a valid reason.

More information

Nuppu Tuononen, Head of Finnish Language, Writing and Open University Studies, +358 50 421 0894, nuppu.tuononen@helao.fi