English strengthens position as first foreign language in Finnish schools
Fewer schools offering elective foreign language
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The position of English as the first foreign language taught at Finnish schools has strengthened at the expense of others since 2000. More than 90 percent of pupils in comprehensive school take English as their "A-language".
According to recent statistics, 90 percent of Finnish municipalities offered English as the only A-language; the option of French, German, or Russian was available only in the largest cities.
Only pupils in Helsinki, Turku, and Lahti have a full choice of German, French, the second domestic language (Swedish for Finnish-speakers and Finnish for Swedish-speakers), English or Russian.
Swedish was available as the first language in 21 municipalities, German in just 13, and French in eight.
Numbers of pupils taking an elective A-language have also declined in recent years.
The possibility for a second A-language beginning in the fifth grade was introduced to the comprehensive school curriculum in 1984. Four years later up to 37 percent of pupils at the fifth grade level studied an elective language, but by 2004 the proportion had dropped to less than 30 percent.
Meanwhile, the number of municipalities offering the A2-language elective fell to less than half. In 1999 the proportion had been 61 percent.
The most popular elective A2 language is German, which was nevertheless dropped by nearly 100 municipalities in 200-2004. In 2004 alone, 38 local authorities dropped German from the curriculum.
The Federation of Foreign Language Teachers in Finland (SUKOL) has studied regional differences in teaching A-languages in schools in 428 municipalities.
Anneli Kangasvieri of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities does not believe that money was the only issue that led to a narrowing of the choice of languages. She says that a new distribution of school hours, and the reduction in the choice of languages have also had an effect.
The number of teaching hours of the second A-language has been increased somewhat, which has made for difficult arrangements in situations in which pupils taking the elective language have to be transported to another school for the lessons.
Professor Emeritus Kari Sajavaara sees the situation as worrying, considering that it comes in the wake of intentions to increase the diversity of Finns’ language skills. Sajavaara notes that Finns tend to know English reasonably well, but that knowledge of Swedish has declined, and there are relatively few people who can speak German, French, or Russian.
A working group headed by Sajavaara is currently considering proposals for changes in the foreign language curriculum of Finnish schools. Proposals are expected in about a year.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 9.2.2006 - TODAY |
 English strengthens position as first foreign language in Finnish schools
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