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What better way to spend a winter weekday evening than learning a new skill, and embracing your ancestral roots? That’s what the staff at the Finnish American Heritage Center had in mind when they crafted this semester’s lineup of community enrichment programming.
This term’s lineup includes several language opportunities. These courses can be a continuation of last semester’s offerings, but are welcoming to first-time students as well.
All classes are $50 per student, per class. Advanced registration is encouraged, but not required. Students can sign up for any class at the first session.
Finnish I
Finnish I is designed for people with little or no background in the Finnish language. The class meets for 10 weeks on Tuesday evenings at 5:30, beginning February 2. The instructor for this course is Dr. Hilary Virtanen, who has roots in Toivola and is now leading Finlandia University’s Finnish Studies program. Virtanen has taught in the FAHC’s enrichment program for several semesters now, and always tailors her classes based on the interests and skill levels of the students.
Finnish II
Finnish II, or Intermediate Finnish, is a class intended for folks with some Finnish language skill. This group will meet on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. for 10 weeks, with the first class also on February 2. Randy Karpinen of Highway Location, near Calumet, is the instructor for this course. He studied Finnish at Suomi College (1983-84) and Oulu University (1984-85). He went on to study Russian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California and has also picked up German, Spanish and French over the years. Randy is passionate about languages and encourages everybody with an interest in learning to come give the courses a try.
Advanced Finnish Conversation and Grammar Group
Because of that passion, Karpinen is also offering an advanced Finnish conversation and grammar group. That group will also meet on Tuesdays, at 7 p.m., beginning February 2. This group is designed for those who are already somewhat fluent but want to sharpen their grammar and vocabulary skills. Prospective students may try either course to determine which group suits them best.
Swedish Language Instruction
Finnish won’t be the only language spoken at the FAHC this semester. Fulbright scholar Sam Knapp, an Iron River, Wisconsin native, will offer Swedish language instruction on Mondays at 5:30 p.m., beginning February 1. The class will meet for 10 weeks, with each session lasting about an hour. This class requires a minimum of eight students to be offered; it is designed for both beginning students and those with some Swedish language background.
About the Finnish American Heritage Center
The FAHC’s community enrichment programming is aligned with the center’s mission of preserving and promoting Finnish-American and Finnish culture in North America, and keeps with the roots of Finlandia University, which is the only existing institute of higher education in the U.S. founded by Finns. To register for any of the FAHC’s enrichment offerings, call (906) 487-7549 or (906) 487-7347.
