Sano se suomeksi was a joint campaign arranged by Aalto University and AYY. The campaign was held on Aalto campuses for the first time in January-March 2014. The purpose of the campaign was to encourage international students to speak Finnish in everyday situations – and to remind the campus staff about the students’ opportunity to practise Finnish. Students were able to participate in the campaign at the Student Service Desks (OOP), libraries, student cafeterias, AYY’s services points and Unisport centres. International students collected signatures to their Sano se suomeksi passports from the organisations that participated in the campaign after speaking Finnish in everyday situations.
The Director of the Language Centre Heidi Rontu says the campaign was a successful step towards increasing encounters on campus. ”International students are bold to study Finnish, but the Finns also need to be bold and speak Finnish with our international students in order to develop their language skills”, Rontu suggests. Inkeri Lehtimaja, Coordinator of the Finnish language teaching at the Language Centre, says that the purpose of the campaign, on one hand, was to encourage international students to practise Finnish outside the classroom. On the other hand, the aim was to increase awareness of the possibility to speak Finnish with international students.
The campaign received positive feedback both from students and the organisations which participated in the campaign. Lyubov Milakhina, who received an honorable mention in the campaign, says that she felt she exceeded herself after having a long discussion on the effects of different vitamins at Otaniemi pharmacy – in Finnish. International students were satisfied with the open and patient attitude, by which they were approached in the campaign. The participating services also reported about good experiences. Täffä student restaurant signed several passports, and discussions progressed to small talk about the weather when making lunch orders.
”During the campaign, many international students could be found at AYY’s service desk getting a stamp on their passport. We have made a big effort to encourage them to speak Finnish, and most of them have in fact tried to do so. Some have pronounced a few words but some of them have been able to say a couple of long sentences. I remember one Polish man who knew 2 sentences in Finnish: I cannot speak Finnish and I am good-looking – and he if anyone did earn his stamp!”, explains Karita Nohrström at the AYY’s Otaniemi Service Desk.
On Mikael Agricola Day, i.e. the Finnish Language Day on 9 Apr 2014, the most distinguished students in the campaign were awarded. Indian Gaurav Das won the contest, who had not only filled his passport with signatures but also with useful phrases he had learned during the campaign.
”This fun campaign motivated me in the middle of the job application process during the darkest moments of the winter, when my job applications were rejected day after day. Now I have found a summer job and in my job interview I was able to demonstrate that I have eagerly studied Finnish”, Gaurav says. In the viewpoint of international students, Finnish language studies are important not only for understanding the surrounding culture and people, but also for their future career in Finland. Employers appreciate the Finnish language studies of international students, even if fluent language skills developed slowly.
”It has been easier to make Finnish friends along with the campaign. They have wanted to help me to fill my passport and they have been enthusiastic to tell me about the specialities of the Finnish language”, Gaurav praises the campaign and will continue the Finnish language studies.
Honorary mentions were awarded to the following students: Kseniia Belenestceva, Lyubov Milakkina, Dmitry Buiskikh, Tetsuya Kudoh and Vikram Kamath.
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