Reading Your Way into Finnish: Teacher Hanna Männikkölahti on Easy-Finnish Books

My name is Hanna Männikkölahti. I studied Finnish at university, and I've been teaching Finnish since 2001. After working as a teacher in a junior high school, at a university and at a vocational school, I decided to become self-employed and pursue entrepreneurship full-time.

I teach online private lessons and work on other projects, such as writing books in easy Finnish. I also teach in-person intensive courses at Jyväskylä Summer University.

One of the biggest challenges is finding time to study and sticking to a regular study routine. Another common challenge is not having enough opportunities to practise speaking Finnish for longer periods of time.

Reading books in easy Finnish is a great way to learn new vocabulary and practise basic grammar while enjoying an interesting story. If you choose an adapted book, you can read the same novel that your friends may have read in standard Finnish, just in an easier version.

Choosing a book written for adults is also a good way to learn vocabulary that is relevant to adult life. Children's picture books are cute and fun, too, but adult books offer a wider range of vocabulary for everyday situations.

If you read a book together with a friend, you can discuss the story, share your thoughts and motivate each other to keep reading. You can explore online previews before deciding which book to borrow or buy.

Be patient and kind to yourself. It can be difficult to find time to study and stay focused when you already have a busy schedule, especially if you're also looking for a job at the same time.

Try studying with other people. If you can't find a suitable group, ask a friend to be your study partner. You can encourage each other and help each other stay on track.

Try to find fun things to do in Finnish. You don't always have to challenge yourself with new and difficult things. You can also review what you already know and simply enjoy watching TV shows and movies, or following social media channels in Finnish. Lyricstranslate.com is a great resource if you want to understand the lyrics of Finnish songs.

Remember to be proud of how far you've already come. Learning a language takes time, and sometimes it's good to stop and reflect on how much you've already learned.

Hanna Männikkölahti has taught Finnish since 2001. She teaches private lessons online, adapts novels into easy Finnish, and teaches intensive courses at Jyväskylä Summer University.

• Books in easy Finnish adapted by Hanna: hannamannikkolahti.com
• Quiz: which of Hanna's adaptations suits you best?
• Private Finnish lessons: privatefinnishlessons.com
• All Hanna's Finnish-language projects: privatefinnishlessons.com/linkit