The brand new “Language Buddy - Kielikaveri” programme invites students and staff to study a language the informal way. Together with a native-speaking partner you enter right into a language’s colloquial use.

“Puoli tuntia on mennyt!” Lisa Muszynski looks triumphantly at her watch, then smirks over at Opri Salminen: “Time for you to speak English!” A hearty chuckle can be heard from the back of the empty Paprika restaurant. It is 9:30 in the morning and the American-Finnish ‘language buddy’ team Lisa and Opri have joined for their weekly conversation. “We meet here because there is coffee and sandwiches and we can laugh hysterically without disturbing anyone!”

Both women have busy work schedules, one being a development manager in the university administration, the other one being an English-language revisor and historiography researcher. “Still, we take time for this every single Thursday”, stresses Opri.

A small idea grows big

It all began with a telephone call in the spring of 2011. Head of Language Training Leena Evesti from the university’s Language Services was asked by a Finnish member of staff whether the university offered any possibilities for a language tandem with a native English speaker. Leena spontaneously decided to team her Finnish colleague up with another member of university staff, English-language revisor Julie Uusinarkaus.

“When other language revisors heard about it, they suddenly became interested, too”, remembers Leena, “and the idea to turn this into something really big has been bubbling in our heads ever since.”

Who dares wins

For Lisa, although having moved to Finland already in 1990, it was the buddy meetings that finally encouraged her to talk to her neighbor in Finnish, rather than in English. “And it was when Opri and I stopped meeting for half a year that I noticed how hard it suddenly became again to use Finnish”, Lisa emphasizes.

Opri and Lisa agree that their meetings are more effective than any language course: “because you need to embody a language in order to learn it; you need to put new vocabulary right in your mouth to remember it!”

Language is not the only thing the two buddies learn from each other. “I am very interested to hear about Lisa’s research as it is so different from the kind of work that I do”, explains Opri. “And for me it is the opportunity to really get to know a Finnish person – somebody who goes to a ‘mökki’ on the weekend”, smiles Lisa. “So far I’ve had mostly only international friends and Opri is a person I probably would not otherwise have as a friend.”

How to join?

The Language Buddy noticeboard can be easily accessed with the university account password. “You may either search for people with matching skills or fill in a form to find a matching language buddy”, explains Leena Evesti, “and later you are invited to use the chat board and give feedback.”

Leena is proud that her long-cherished wish has finally come true: “This programme offers learning a language through genuine exchange. You are not just the receiver but you really have to take responsibility for your partner’s learning as well!”

Those interested in joining the programme may now register on Moodle.

Text: Claudia Gorr