How does one obtain proficiency in a language that is cited as “difficult”? Although there are many ways to approach a “difficult” language, I have found in my 20 years studying Finnish that the number one quality one must have in order to obtain a working proficiency is: sisu. Sisu is, of course, a Finnish word described as “extraordinary determination, courage and resoluteness in the face of extreme adversity. An action mindset which enables individuals to reach beyond their present limitations, take action against all odds and transform barriers into frontiers. An integral element of Finnish culture and also a universal capacity which we all share.” (SISUlab)

If you do not think that it takes at least a little sisu to learn Finnish as a second language, then you probably have not tried to learn it yet. Let me break it down for you:

Extraordinary Determination + Resoluteness

One must commit to learning Finnish. One does not simply “learn Finnish.” One cannot learn Finnish through short bursts of intense language study for a week to a month at a time. It is a process that will take years, no matter what, especially for native English speakers. Unlike some languages where there are a lot of cognates allowing for meaning to be gleaned from a sentence, Finnish is not so obvious. Sure there are a few words like banaani, bussi and baari, but there are also many other words like tietokone, taika, and tervetuloa. In order to come to know what words mean and remember them, there is no other way around the process other than to take the time to memorize and then apply them in conversation.

Then we get to the grammar. Knowing vocabulary words is essential for starting down the path of Finnish competency, but without the grammar the true meaning cannot be conveyed with any accuracy. The grammar is the part of the Finnish language that makes it so different and challenging. There are many cases and rules that are unlike most other world languages. Grammar is the difference between knowing that “Tavataan taas!” means “Let’s meet again!” and “Tapetaan taas!” means “Let’s kill again!” and knowing to listen for the difference! It is knowing that there is no future verb tense in Finnish. 

The deeper understanding of Finnish is the third tier of proficiency. It is understanding that sometimes saying less is actually saying more. It is knowing that of course there would be two distinct words for steam depending on where the steam is being created (in sauna vs. out of sauna). And the list goes on. And on.

In the face of extreme adversity + reaching beyond present limitations

Finnish is not spoken by many people outside of Finland. Because of this, it can be hard to learn the language. Without (m)any to practice with, you start to wonder why indeed you are learning the language at all, as the general main purpose of language study is to be able to communicate. There are very few places in which one can formally study Finnish outside of Finland. In Minnesota, for example, there is a sequence at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and a small program run by Concordia College, but other more formal and credential-bearing programs are few and far between. The more informal, non-credential bearing options range from befriending either an expat or senior to taking class from Minnesotan Suomi-Koulu (the Finnish Language School of MN) or some other cultural club to muddling through various language learning apps and even reading some grammar books. Yes indeed, one must reach past their environmental limitations to get to a place where they can make Finnish study and practice more regular. As they say, practice makes progress! 

Courage

Once individuals have become acquainted with how to use the language in words and phrases, then comes a vital part: courage! Yes, one must be brave enough to open their mouth to use the language in order for it to take root in any significant way. To the uninitiated, bravery and courage might seem like hyperbole when it comes to language study, but let me assure you that they are not! It can be extremely anxiety-inducing to take the risk needed to communicate in a language you did not grow up speaking, especially if the receiving party of your second-language speaker Finnish does not too endeavor to understand you and what you are trying to say. One must risk making a mistake in how they say something and risk miscommunication. Unfortunately the risk is part of the process. If one never chooses to use it, they will not only not remember it, but they will also be squandering an opportunity for communication with at least 5 million others out there in the big world. 

Transform barriers into frontiers

The reason many (but not so many) Americans choose to learn Finnish is because of ancestry. Somewhere (sometimes way way) back great grandma or great great grandpa spoke Finnish. Somewhere along the way they chose not to speak it. Some were forced not to speak it. There are entire generations in the Finnish-American community where Finnish was not spoken in the home or in public. This is a major barrier!  

I decided to learn Finnish because my grandma and mom wanted me to. Parental pressure does not always go well for a young person, but luckily they decided to get to me before I was a teenager. Of course, I could have chosen to walk away from the study of Finnish at any time, but by the time I was done with the first week of study, I was hooked! I did not learn it in order to speak it with my great grandmother -- the only one left in my extended family at the time to know how to speak the language. I stuck with learning it in order to communicate with the world, well, Finland (with a population of about 5 million) at least! As I learned more and more it appeared that the next logical step was to live and study in Finland. Gustavus Adolphus College, where I had been studying at the time, did not have any arrangements for studying in Finland. Sure, I could go to Sweden or even Norway or hundreds of other universities around the world, but I was determined to go to Finland. Where else could I use Finnish daily in community? I set out to write a proposal to the administration so that I could study at the University of Tampere for fall semester in 2011, and it was accepted! With that work, I was off to live for my first time out of the country and in a culture that was not my own, where it would behoove me to not always operate in international English. More about that, in subsequent blog posts!

If you speak some Finnish, how did you learn it? How do you use it, in order to maintain it? What are your limitations?

If Finnish seems like a challenge you would be interested in undertaking or maybe you have and would like to keep going with it, I invite you to join in our new free and open Keskustelutunti (Finnish conversation hour) on Tuesday evenings from 7-8p (MN time) for a guided conversation focusing on building practical communication skills. Please email luumuabc@gmail.com to be added to the communications list about this new community group. Sisu does not mean you have to struggle alone, sometimes sisu looks like asking for some help. I certainly did not learn Finnish on my own!

-- Elizabeth “Helvi” Brauer

luumuabc@gmail.com

@luumuabc (for Nordic/Finnish lifestyle, Finnish food, and culture insights)

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