MODULE 5: This is Finland

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Learning objective: Learn about Finnish culture and language, and to learn some useful phrases in Finnish, to get inspired to use them or study more. Get to know Finnish history, economy, and foreign policy.

Languages and People

• See the Guide for information on Finnish Language and Courses
  • Read about languages of Finland on the Institute for the Languages of Finland (KOTUS) website.

The Sámi

• Read about the Sámi in Finland

Culture

• Learn about sisu and sauna. You can watch e.g. these two videos about sauna culture in Finland:
  • Saunaperinne Suomessa - Sauna Culture in Finland (length 9 minute and 45 seconds). Finnish sauna was added to UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage List in December 2020. The video is the candidature film for the nomination file on "Sauna culture in Finland" to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. For English subtitles, click the "CC" on the bottom of the video.
• Learn about recycling in Finland:
  • Culture Shock: Sorting 'Garbage', a blog post by Adam M. Taylor, 2022-23 Fulbright-Saastamoinen Foundation Grant in Health and Environmental Sciences.
  • Circular Economy Success: Finland's Recycling Programme Keeps Bottles and Cans off the Streets, This is Finland (2021)
  • Waste and Recycling, InfoFinland 

If you want to read more about Finnish society and culture, here are some book recommendations: 

• Anu Partanen: The Nordic Theory of Everything

For lighter reading:

• Karoliina Korhonen: Finnish Nightmares

History:

• See this poster on the History of Finland (a timeline to help follow the presentation at the orientation)
• History teacher Birger Holm's recommendation for videos about the history of Finland (pdf)

Foreign Policy

• “We all have a role in foreign policy. We all have agency in foreign policy.”
  Listen to the remarks by the President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb at the opening session of the Helsinki+50 Conference of the OSCE on July 31, 2025 (starting at 18 min 25 sec.): 
  https://www.youtube.com/live/qYbq8Ksya-E?si=Qvv_7NB7hbaYUxCG (13 min)
  • The remarks are also available in writing here: Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb in the Helsinki+50 Conference at the Finlandia Hall on 31 July 2025 - Presidentti
     

Optional: If you have time and you are interested in learning more, please consider viewing the following additional resources:

• Watch the documentary Inside the Most Prepared Country on Earth on YouTube (52 min 30 s)
• Read the interview with Ambassador Mikko Hautala: The Russia Whisperer (Foreign Policy 2022)

Please note that these pages are for the Fulbright Finland Foundation grantees only and not to be shared publicly.