Last day.

Today was our last day at school. Can't believe it. Time has gone so fast, we're going to miss everyone in that class, that's for sure. I almost cried when it was time to leave; the children have become so close for us.

"Official" group photo...

...and not so formal!

Children had brought some delicious cookies and delicacies for us and Dannika, of course, because it was her birthday as well!

We're going to miss our days here, wish we had had more time to spend with the class. This has been such a great opportunity and experience for us, we'll never forget this! Miss you all!

Finnish sisu and difficult language.

Finnish sisu was explained more clearly today. We showed a video about a young, former Finnish pro skier, who lost his ability to walk and speech after a major accident but he hasn't give up, and he's walking again - even sooner than the doctors predicted. That's what Finnish sisu is - never give up!

Today it was time to practice some Finnish sentences. Finnish is a very difficult language but children pronounced it very well!

Can't believe that tomorrow is already our last day at South Range Elementary School. It's going to be hard to say goodbye for everyone.

Seasons and sports.

Finnish seasons were briefly introduced today. Finnish sports and famous athletes were also presented. We watched video clips from those and also some crazy Finnish sports like eukonkanto (wife carrying competition) and suojalkapallo (swamp soccer).

Children's drawings about Finland.

Eliza had a cool t-shirt ;)

Finnish cuisine.

We presented traditional Finnish foods today, and children informed us about American foods as well. Finnish vispipuuro, whipped porridge, was children's favourite - mostly because it's pink (because of lingonberries). We also had a look at Finnish language, how long words they have and how original language it really is.

Last twenty minutes we watched another episode of The Moomins - they are just so good! Because three students were missing last Friday (the Finnish candy day), we brought them some Finnish liquorice and chocolate.

What we know.

In the beginning of the lessons, we watched the pictures and videos from Friday, when we were tasting the Finnish candies. Then, children had to draw whatever comes up to their minds about Finland, from what they have learned.

Last half an hour we were at the gym, playing floorball again. You really get good exercise with that game!

Salmiakki time!

It was such a funny day! First we had presentations of the Finnish animals we researched yesterday, and then... it was time to taste some tasty Finnish candies! Salty liquorice, salmiakki, is one the most famous candies in Finland, but... not here. Here are children's faces while tasting salmiakki:

Last group was the most brave one.

After the salmiakki, it was time for liquorice and chocolate. The chocolate, Fazerin sininen (Fazer blue) is the other classical Finnish candy. That one children loved and wanted some more!

But then, it was time for Fazer's Turkish pepper, even more stronger candy than salmiakki (Turkish pepper is made of strong liquorice candy flavored with salmiakki and pepper). Suprisingly, children liked it better than pure salmiakki! Well, they didn't like it either, but found it not-so-disgusting.

Research task: Finnish animals.

Some Finnish words were learned again and we noticed that children pronounced those words very well! We also watched one episode of The Moomins today, and again, it was wonderful to see that children really liked the show. These days, children's tv-series are full of action, lights and colours, but the Moomins are the opposite.

We started to get known to Finnish animals. Children were divided into pairs and they searched information about Eurasian lynx, Saimaa ringed seal and Western capercaillie, for example. Tomorrow we'll have presentations of all those sixteen animals.

Finnish language and TV6...

First, we heared more Finnish music. Children liked Finnish pop singer Jenni Vartiainen but hated young teen pop star Robin, who is very famous among young children and teens in Finland.

Jenni Vartiainen - Suru on kunniavieras

Robin - Frontside Ollie

Today we learned some Finnish words through a website called Digital dialects - Finnish language. The website is a really good place to learn some Finnish words and phrases because you can hear recordings of the words.

Also, TV 6 was with us today, interviewing and filming us, both teachers and students, for local news! To read the news, click here.

Back to business!

We had a loooong weekend because of easter and last Thursday's snow day. Today we had a look at traditional Finnish days like Shrove Tuesday and Christmas. We also started to go through the most famous Finnish musicians and listened songs of theirs.

Here are some of the songs we listened:

Jean Sibelius - Finlandia
Hurriganes - Get On
Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki - Paratiisi
Rölli - Itsensäpelottamislaulu
Jari Sillanpää - Satulinna
Nightwish - Nemo
Darude - Sandstorm
Lauri Tähkä ja Elonkerjuu - Pauhaava sydän

While listening hard heavy metal band, Rotten Sound. Not so pretty music.

Presentations and gym.

At the first lesson the children presented their findings about Finnish towns. The other hour flew by at gym, where children had some games and floorball. Those were good exercise for them! We'll definitely play floorball again!

Children were fast! It was difficult to get clear photos.

Finnish towns.

Children searched information about Finnish towns via internet. Eight towns, Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Jyväskylä, Kuopio, Vaasa, Oulu and Kuusamo were under investigation. It was a bit hard for children to read text where Finnish words were included, but children were persistent and coped with the task very well! We had no time to present the results but we'll do it tomorrow.

Movie time.

The second week has started! Today we watched the movie Heinähattu ja Vilttitossu (Hayflower and Quiltshoe) and children liked it a lot. After the movie they had to answer to some questions:

1. What is similar or different in Finnish children's lives compared to yours?

    "They have different candy bars." 
    "Start a new school year in the fall just like 
     us."
    "They have teddy bears and we don't speak
     Finnish."
    "They have weird police cars."


2. How did Hayflower feel about going to school?

    "Sad for Quiltshoe."
    "I think she felt worried."
    "It's hard."
    "She's worried because her sister is going to be lonely."


3. Who was your favourite character in the movie? Why?

    "The dad because he kept thinking the potatoes." 
    "My favourite character is Quiltshoe because she is funny and cheats!"
    "Quiltshoe because she is always MAD."
    "I like Hayflower because she fought."
    "My favourite character is the fat lady because she gets stuck in the window."
    "The dad because he likes science and he's Finnish."
    "The police because they are silly."
    "Hayflower because she is just like me but I don't run away or rip up books."


4. How many stars (1-5) would you give to the movie?

     "Will give the movie 4 stars."
     "5 stars."
     "2 stars."
     "I loved that movie. 5 stars."

Exciting Kalevala and awesome cookie puddings!

Our lessons today were 2 x 45 minutes, the class had a whole schoolday scheduled like Finnish schoolday. Kids really liked it! (Well, of course, they had more recess time...) One theme we told about was the school system in Finland and we watched a video about it. Another theme was Kalevala, Finland's national epic. We read through the story and children kept it interesting and exciting.

We had a birthday girl today - Kiia (Kiana)! Her mother had brought some delicious cookie puddings and they were super good!

The Moomins!

Finnish art and literature were our themes today. We showed the most famous Finnish paintings and told about Finnish writers - even though we had to improvise because technology failed again... (We have had some problems with a memory stick.) But no worries, everything went okay! 

We also watched one episode of The Moomins, famous Finnish children's animation series. It was fun!

Mentality and outdoors.

It was time for exploring Finnish mentality, and we watched some video clips from YouTube; Conan O'Brien visiting Lapland and two taciturn Finns at Jimmy Kimmel Live! were hilarious and demonstrative examples.

We also went outdoors today. We played one kind of a relay race game with principle of biathlon.

Finnish names.

Basic information about Finland was handled today, as well Finland's history.The highlight of the day was when the children got new first names - Finnish names! Two past years have been successfull with name translations and this year wasn't a disappointment. Now our class has for example Raili, Kullervo, Kalle, Liina, Teppo and Oili. We played some rhythm game, where we had to remember everyone's name.

Preparations for rhythm game.

At recess.

The lessons have started!

Today our journey began! We Finnish teachers were more than nervous and excited before the lessons, but so did children! Students were anxious to know everything about Finland; what do we eat, do we have donkies or Walmart? 

Children introduced themselves and so did we. In the end of the lesson we got some ice cream and soda because it was Ashton's birthday. Naturally, we sang Happy Birthday song in Finnish - Paljon onnea vaan, Ashton!

Our class.