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Finnish Suomi 1
Spring 2010, Helsinki University
Opettaja [Instructor] Pirkko Luoma
An Essay by Gary L. Wolfstone, J.D.
garywolfstone@gmail.com
 Studying the Finnish language was a delightful experience this Spring at the University of
Helsinki, and I recommend my teacher, Pirkko Luoma, FM, with great enthusiasm.
The class met for 90 minutes twice a week at two different locations on the University
campus, but the time spent in the classroom seemed more like 20 or 30 minutes ~ thanks to the
commanding performance of Pirkko Luoma who is incredibly bright and always entertaining!
Finnish is counterintuitive for most English-speaking people because there are neither
articles nor prepositons in constructing sentences. Instead, Finnish is characterized by
the use of a complex system of suffixes and 12 or 15 cases to boot! Finnish verbs are also
a complex maze when it comes to conjugation. Hence, the usual proviso: Finnish is a
difficult language to learn!
However, Pirkko Luoma constantly asserts that
Finnish is easy and logical ~ and she sets out to prove her point in each amazing class.
Pirkko Luoma was consistently kind and patient with her students. It was obvious that some
of my classmates had done little or nothing to prepare for a class, but Pirkko Luoma would
always pass over a poorly prepared student without comment. She would neither chastise nor
comfort the backbenchers who would come to class unprepared.
Occasionally, Pirkko Luoma neglects the value of repetition which is a valuable teaching tool,
and once in awhile she speaks Finnish too fast ~ the uninitiated have trouble keeping up or
finding their place in the course book. However, one does not criticize a great poet for making
mistakes in spelling. In the total context of the Finnish course, Pirkko was masterful. At the
conclusion of the course, I am more curious and more highly motivated than ever before to
continue my education in the use of the Finnish language. Pirkko also emphasizes pronunciation.
With Pirkko Luoma as your inspiration, you will soon be a contributor and participant in the
Finnish language! You will find yourself reminding Finns with whom you are interacting ~
Suomessa me puhumme suomea!
It is my great pleasure to compliment the University of Helsinki on its choice of
Pirkko Luoma to teach this course to the Ulkomaalainen (foreigner). Given people like
Pirkko, it is no wonder that the Finnish educational system is so highly rated and
respected. As long as I reside in Finland, I will strive to improve my written and
conversational Finnish. A new planet swims into my ken!
Iloista Opiskelua!
Gary L. Wolfstone
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