Finnish or Swedish as a second language in basic education
Instruction of Finnish as a second language (S2) is available in all comprehensive schools according to pupils’ needs. S2 instruction is available in separate teaching groups or during the Finnish language and literature lessons of your child’s class.
Your child can study the Finnish as a second language and literature syllabus if:
- their basic Finnish language skills are still developing, or
- their language skills are not in all respects sufficient to study the Finnish language and literature syllabus. The teachers responsible for instruction will jointly determine the appropriate syllabus for your child. However, it is always the parent who decides on the choice of syllabus.
The instruction differs from mother-tongue instruction in terms of its objectives and content. It is often referred to by the abbreviation S2/R2.
The aim of instruction in Finnish or Swedish as a second language is for the student to acquire the basic language skills needed to function and study in the surrounding linguistic community on an equal footing with others, and to possess the linguistic capabilities required for further studies. The goal is for the student to transition from the "Finnish as a second language and literature" syllabus to the "Finnish language and literature" syllabus once they have achieved sufficient proficiency in Finnish across various areas of language competence (with no significant gaps) and in the general language used across different fields of study.
In Lappeenranta, Swedish cannot be studied as a second language, as the teaching language in all comprehensive schools is Finnish. If your child’s mother tongue is Swedish, you can enrol them in mother tongue instruction that complements basic education.
Instructions
Contact your school’s headmaster for more information. The contact information is available on the school’s website.