Click this to return to the main page.
Pre-Assignments
Please complete these pre-assignments before your arrival to Finland to ensure you get the most out your time here. During the study tour you will also take part in the Fulbright Finland Foundation Orientation for U.S. Grantees, which is divided into different modules, each including learning objectives, short pre-assignments, and other resources to help you to gain the best understanding of the different themes important to you.
MODULE 1: Fulbright Program in Finland
Learning objectives:
- To get acquainted with the unique features of the Fulbright Finland Foundation as a private Finnish non-profit organization so as to be able to talk knowledgeably about the Foundation and its mission and programs both in Finland and in the United States.
- To learn the key facts about the global Fulbright Program with over 160 participating countries, and to understand how this provides all of the Foundation’s grantees a direct access to the Foundation’s worldwide collaboration and alumni network.
- To understand the multiple and diverse roles that the Foundation’s programs can have, and to begin to think about as well as shape your own role as a grantee and citizen diplomat.
- To become familiar with some of the key concepts related to the Foundation's programs, such as citizen diplomacy, science diplomacy, knowledge diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and public diplomacy.
Learn about the Fulbright Finland Foundation and Its Global Network
- Read a brief description of the Fulbright program in the SAGE Encyclopedia of Higher Education: www.fulbright.fi/serve/fulbright-program-sage-encyclopedia-higher-education (2020) (reading time 2 mins)
- Watch the remarks by the Foundation’s CEO Terhi Mölsä addressing “The Global Fulbright Program at 75: Current Challenges and Opportunities”. (Opening Plenary of the 44th Annual Conference of the U.S. Fulbright Association, October 2021.) (13 mins)
- Players in the Fulbright Community (reading time 1 min)
Learn about the Fulbright Finland Foundation:
- Read about the Foundation's vision, mission, and brand promise.
- Check out the Year in Focus page
Learn about your role as the Foundation's grantee:
- Read article "Citizens and Science Diplomacy" (Fulbright Finland News 1/2021) (reading time 3 mins)
- Watch "What Is Science Diplomacy for Addressing Global Challenges?" on YouTube (3 mins 20 sec).
- Read interview "Seeking Solutions for Global Challenges" (Fulbright Finland News 1/2020) (reading time 5 mins)
MODULE 2: Your Role in Publicity and Outreach
Learning objective: To understand your role in the Foundation's publicity and outreach efforts, and as an ambassador for your own country and home institution, and also for the Fulbright Finland Foundation and Finland. We want to showcase your program to our partners in the U.S. and Finland!
- Watch a short video about your role in the Foundation's publicity and outreach and tips for social media (the video is in a Dropbox folder, length 3 minutes 46 seconds).
- Instructions for blog posts
- Fulbright Finland News Magazine
- Follow the Fulbright Finland Foundation on social media that you use:
- Fulbright Finland Ambassadors resources (incl. logo, program flyers, PowerPoint presentation templates)
- Read the "Fulbright Finland Foundation in a Nutshell" (reading time 2 minutes)
- Get to know your fellow Fulbrighters!
- Add a line about your Fulbright Finland grant to your signature line:
Sample signature:
Name
Fulbright Grant Name and Year, e.g. Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools Fellow 2023-24
(please see grantee list to see your grant program's name: www.fulbright.fi/about-us/grantees)
Acknowledging the Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools partners:
The Fulbright Leaders for Global Schools Program (FLGS) is funded by the U.S. Department of State, and administered by IREX in the United States and by the Fulbright Finland Foundation in Finland. We hope you proudly acknowledge the program partners when communicating about your FLGS experience.
MODULE 3: Your Support Network in Finland
Learning objective: Ensure the health and safety of the Fulbrighters, and to ensure you know what to do and who to contact if something happens to you.
Pre-assignments:
- Download the Suomi 112 app. More information about the app: https://112.fi/en/112-suomi-application
- In case of medical emergency, use the app or dial 112.
- Sign up for the STEP program: Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (state.gov)
MODULE 4: Finnish Language and Living in Finland
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.
- Read about languages of Finland on the Institute for the Languages of Finland (KOTUS) website.
- 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.
Please see the bottom of the page if you are interested in learning Finnish, or reading more about Finnish society and culture.
MODULE 5: This is Finland
Learning objective: Get to know Finnish history, economy, and foreign policy.
- History:
- Foreign Policy
- Interview with Ambassador Mikko Hautala: The Russia Whisperer (Foreign Policy 2022)
- The Sámi
- Read about the Sámi in Finland
MODULE 6: Education System
Learning objective: To learn about Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences, how they differ, and how they operate.
Additional Resources
If you have time and you are interested in learning more, here are additional resources:
Module 1:
- Read article "Knowledge Diplomacy vs. Soft Power" by Dr. Jane Knight, International higher eduation researcher and Fulbright alumna
- History Unlike Any Other page on the Foundation’s website
- The Fulbright Paradox (Foreign Affairs, July/August 2021)
- Science Diplomacy & ‘Together Shaping the Future’ by Dr. Anita Wagner, 2022-23 Fulbright-Tampere University Scholar Award
- Science Diplomacy in the European framework
- Pages 6-13 of the policy report for British Council on knowledge diplomacy compiled by Dr. Jane Knight, International higher education researcher and Fulbright alumna
Module 4:
Learn Finnish Online
- Duolingo - is the world's most-downloaded education app and with it you can practice speaking, reading, listening, and writing to build up your Finnish language vocabulary and grammar skills. You can download the app to your phone, or play online, and learn Finnish!
- Aalto OpenLearning organized an Introductory Finnish Online course
- Real Finnish – Supisuomea - A course in Finnish language and culture for foreigners
- Euromobil - Multimedia language training and information programs promoting student mobility
- University of Helsinki - Open online course for basic Finnish
- Digital Dialects: Finnish
- FinnishPod101
- Finnish Grammar
- Finnish verb conjugation
- Random Finnish Lesson blog
- Tavataan taas! Finnish for Foreigners
- Intermediate-level everyday Finnish for transactions
A few recommendations from an alum:
- Study with Sisu - "This page provides a good survey of Finnish and many links for resources for studying the language."
- "I have become a believer in Stephen Krashen's theory of language acquisition which emphasises comprehensible input (the way we all learn our first language). A couple of my favorite Youtube sites that use this approach are: www.youtube.com/@finnished, and www.youtube.com/@EasyFinnish. The producer of the Finnished blog offers an introductory course for 150 euros. Both of these resources provide a lot of short videos speaking puhekieli (spoken language)."
If you want to read more about Finnish society and culture, here are some book recommendations:
- Richard Lewis: Finland, Cultural Lone Wolf
- Anu Partanen: The Nordic Theory of Everything
For lighter reading:
- Karoliina Korhonen: Finnish Nightmares
- Michael Booth: The Almost Nearly Perfect People