How I Learned Finnish (with Ohe)
An interview series about how people have learned Finnish to a high level. The host shares his own experience of pretending not to know English for a year in order to become fluent in Finnish, and interviews others about their methods. Episodes focus on practical ways to learn Finnish or any language, remove friction from language learning, and study efficiently.
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014: How Friendships and First Steps Built Ahmed’s Finnish Fluency
From Iraq to Fluent Finnish: Ahmed’s 10-Year Journey Through Immersion, Integration & MindsetIn this episode of How I Learned Finnish with Ohe, Ahmed El‑Rufai, a 29‑year‑old Iraqi software developer/IoT engineer and game developer, shares how he moved to Finland around age 19 as a refugee for safety and free education and built a life over the past decade. He explains that early miscommunicati
013: Living Fully In Finland Not Just Surviving: Learning Beyond Textbooks
In this episode, I sit down with Chloe Järvinen, a UK-born project manager in the social field who moved to Finland in 2015 after a music-inspired trip unexpectedly changed her life. What began as a fascination with Finnish rock led to marriage, relocation, and ultimately a deep commitment to learning the language.Chloe explains why mastering Finnish became non-negotiable for her independence and
012: Stand-Up Comedy as a Finnish Language Hack - with Jamie McDonald AKA HappeningFish
In this episode of 'How I Learned Finnish with Ohe,' I interview Jamie McDonald, a 48-year-old standup comedian and artist, about his journey of learning Finnish. Jamie, who performs under the stage name 'Happening Fish,' discusses the challenges and motivations in learning a language spoken by only a few million people. He shares insights into his methods, from taking classes and integrating into
011: How Immersion, Emotions, and 3,000 Words Made Matthias Fluent - Finnish Language Journey
Starting even before he moved to Finland, Mathias discusses how he memorized 3000 Finnish words from a vocabulary book and immersed himself in the language. He explains his methods, such as focusing on grammar, practicing speaking with native Finnish speakers, and integrating into Finnish culture through activities like joining choirs. Mathias also reveals unconventional approaches, including cond
010: The Moment I Stopped Resisting: Learning by lifestyle - Hamed
In this engaging discussion, Hamed, a 43-year-old software engineer originally from Iran, recounts his experiences adapting to life in Finland. Hamed shares his journey of learning Finnish, which was initially challenging due to his temporary mindset and resistance to the language. Eventually, his perspective shifted as he accepted Finland as his new home. Hamed highlights the role of making Finni
009: "This One Shift Made Me Fluent in Finnish"
In this episode of 'How I Learned Finnish with Ohe,' we sit down with a special guest, Kseniia, a 27-year-old musician and singer originally from St. Petersburg. Kseniia shares her raw and inspiring journey of moving to Finland at 18 and the challenges she faced in learning Finnish. From her initial struggle with speaking Finnish and the discomfort in everyday interactions to her persistence and t
008: From Hallway Listener to Fluent Finnish Speaker - Jojo's Story
In this episode, we dive into the life story of Jojo Pratt, a 37-year-old nurse originally from Ghana. Jojo shares his unique experiences and challenges of learning Finnish, from his early days in a Finnish refugee camp to becoming fluent and integrated into Finnish society. Join us as Jojo recounts the creative and relentless methods he used, the cultural and societal barriers he overcame, and th
007: I Didn't Wait To Be Included, I Learned The Language To Belong - Magdalene
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Magdalene Awahnde, a nursing manager in Finland. In this episode, Magdalene shares her journey from Cameroon to Finland, her challenges and triumphs in learning the Finnish language, and her rise in the healthcare sector. Discover her key strategies for overcoming language barriers, her motivational tips for aspiring immigrants, and how her determination
006: "Stop Saying It's Too Hard, That's Why You're Stuck" - Emily
Meet Emily, an entrepreneur and hairdresser who shares her unique strategies, challenges, and experiences that shaped her language-learning process. In this episode, we dive deep into Emily's journey of learning Finnish. From studying abroad to integrating into Finnish society, Emily covers essential topics like vocabulary building, speaking, listening, grammar, reading, and writing. She also disc
005: From Zero to Finnish Law School in 3 years ( Deborah Laajanen)
In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Deborah Laajanen, a lawyer from the Philippines who managed to get accepted into a Finnish law school despite being in Finland for just a few years. Deborah shares her struggles and strategies for learning Finnish to an advanced level, including the use of resources like Suomen mestari, podcasts, and integrating herself into Finnish society.
004 Why Duolingo Failed, Paying for 100 Lunches and Trying To Become a Refugee (Erik Åkesson)
What if the best way to learn Finnish isn’t in a classroom — but at lunch with an 85-year-old stranger?Meet Erik Åkesson, a Swedish dad of four, former global head of FX trading, and now a Finnish speaker thanks to one of the most original language learning methods I’ve ever heard. He didn’t qualify for integration courses. So what did he do? He offered to buy lunch for anyone willing to speak Fin
003: I Lost Custody Of My Kids Because.. (Anita Anttila) | Language Learning Tips
Anita Anttila shares her compelling journey of moving to Finland nearly 30 years ago and her struggles to learn the Finnish language amidst personal challenges, including losing custody of her children due to a misunderstanding of legal documents. She dives into the language learning methods she tried, both successful and unsuccessful, the importance of daily practices to learn the language. Anita
#002 How I Achieved Fluency in Finnish in Just One Year! | Language Learning Tips
How I Achieved Fluency in Finnish in Just One Year! | Language Learning TipsIn 2022, I embarked on a radical experiment — I pretended not to speak English for an entire year in order to immerse myself in Finnish and reach fluency as an adult. My journey of mastering the Finnish language in just one year starting from a weak level! In this episode of 'How I Learned,' I reveal the key elements that
#001 Intro - Learning The Finnish Language: From Surviving to Thriving
So you want to learn the Finnish language. How, you ask? How I learnt Finnish is a podcast that shows you the choices, daily habits, lifestyle and changes that people who have successfully learned Finnish as adults did to get to learn a language - any language. This is my way of helping you to also achieve this very difficult goal.
