Having moved to Finland from Chile, Pedro Vilaplana works in an international environment where you can get by just fine in English. But for him, that is not enough: Pedro wants to be able to use Finnish with people outside work, too, and gradually make the language part of his everyday life.
Studying Finnish helps break out of the English-speaking bubble
Pedro could manage everyday life and work in Finland perfectly well in English. However, the Finnish language offers him opportunities to deepen personal relationships and take part in the conversations around him.
“At work, English is the main language I use, but Finnish helps me connect with colleagues in a different way. At lunchtime, for example, I sometimes ask them to speak to me only in Finnish,” says Pedro.
Having a shared language has also brought Pedro closer to his Finnish spouse’s family and friends. For him, the most important thing is not to reach a certain level of proficiency, but to better understand the Finland around him.
“I don’t want to stay in an English-speaking bubble. I want Finnish to be a language I can actually live in, rather than just a language I’m studying,” he says.
Small successes make the language part of everyday life
After studying Finnish for over a year and a half, Pedro estimates that he has progressed from the basics to around A2 level.
He can already see his progress in everyday life: when shopping, collecting parcels and having unexpected conversations, he no longer automatically switches to English. Pedro also says he understands signs, notices, messages and menus better than before.
For a native Spanish speaker, the structure of Finnish feels very different, and there is still much to learn, particularly when it comes to spoken Finnish and spontaneous conversations.
“Finnish initially felt like a completely different way of organising thoughts. With its grammatical cases, extensive inflections and flexible word order, I often feel like I have to think carefully about what I want to say before I start speaking. It can feel a little like verbal programming,” says Pedro, who works in the technology sector.
Next, he would like to learn how to cope with more complex conversations in Finnish.
“Chatting one-on-one is much easier, but I’d love to be able to sit with Finnish friends or family and participate in the conversation without everyone having to switch to English because I’m there.”
Just 5–15 minutes of study fits easily into everyday life
Pedro fits his Finnish studies around work and other everyday activities. He uses WordDive for 5–15 minutes at a time, for example on the bus or before going to bed. The short exercises make it easy to keep learning without having to set aside large blocks of time.
“I appreciate WordDive’s clear structure and progressive difficulty. Finnish can feel overwhelming when you look at everything you still have to learn, so having a system that breaks the language into achievable steps helps me stay consistent and motivated,” he explains.
In addition to using WordDive, Pedro studied Finnish on adult education courses. He also tries to learn as much as possible from everyday situations by listening to people speak, reading signs and figuring out the meanings of expressions he comes across.
“Those little moments are amazing, when something I’ve learned suddenly makes sense in everyday life.”
Don’t wait until your Finnish is perfect
Using Finnish in everyday situations sometimes takes a little courage, especially when you could easily get by in English. You don’t need to aim for perfect Finnish from day one.
“Consistency matters more than trying to progress too quickly. Don’t wait until you feel ‘ready’ to use Finnish. In Finland, it’s very easy to switch to English, so you have to make a conscious effort to step outside that English bubble,” says Pedro.
He encourages other Finnish learners to recognise progress in the little things. Understanding a single sentence in a shop may not seem like much, but over time, these experiences add up.
Small successes build confidence, making it easier to use Finnish in a wider range of situations. At the same time, the language you’re learning gradually becomes a natural part of your everyday life in Finland.
