Training: Strengthening adult learners’ literacy, 12 credits

Training for teachers of Finnish as a second language (S2) to adults

Target group

The training is suitable for all teachers of Finnish as a second language (S2) to adults 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.

The teaching is streamed, so you can also take part from where you live.

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 nine teaching days and online work. The training is worth 12 credits.

Each topic includes an assignment, and participants also keep a learning journal.

Key content: didactics, active learning methods, language-aware teaching, assessment, educational technology, cultural knowledge, information on learning difficulties and trauma, getting to know curricula and the opportunity to observe teaching.

The training takes an estimated 324 hours, so it is worth taking this into account when planning your time.

The lectures are not recorded, so attendance is important.

Please note that the training is in Finnish.

Schedule and delivery

17 December 2024, 21 January 2025, 11 February, 11 March, 8 April, 13 May, 26 August, 9 September and 30 September, always at 16.30–19.45. The teaching is streamed online.

In addition, three sections are completed entirely online.

All assignments must be completed by 20 October 2025 to receive a certificate.

Trainers

Minna Intke-Hernandez, Nuppu Tuononen, 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.

Registration for the training has closed

More information

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