The Bilingual Study Programme (BSP) allows students to follow the Finnish upper secondary curriculum and take the Finnish matriculation examination. Instruction is primarily in Finnish, with English provided as a supporting language based on students’ needs.
- During the first year, English support is extensive, and for instance, students may still answer some exam questions in English. In the second year, the use of English decreases, and by the third year, almost all instruction is in Finnish, explains Ville Vuorisalmi, Principal of Pyynikin lukio Upper Secondary School.
Before beginning the Finnish as a Second Language and Literature syllabus, students complete 16 credits of preparatory Finnish language courses. In addition to these intensive preparatory modules, students’ Finnish language skills are continuously developed through language-aware teaching practices.
Due to high demand, entry to the programme was competitive. The required weighted grade point average was 7.88. In the selection process, Finnish grades were weighted by a factor of two and English grades by a factor of three.
Students in the BSP, such as Sam Gesite and Aishvi Raisingani, have been pleased with their studies. Gesite is originally from the Philippines and Raisingani from India. Both speak English as a home language, in addition to Filipino or Hindi.
Raisingani, who applied to the BSP from Tampere International School, enjoys the programme’s international atmosphere, the supportive peer community, and the shared experience of language learning.
- We all face the same challenge and share the same goal: learning Finnish. It can be demanding because we do not have English-language teaching materials, such as textbooks. However, the teachers do their best to support us by translating key concepts and explaining content in English when needed, she says.
Raisingani is also aware that the matriculation examination must be completed in Finnish. This motivates her to learn the language, as she plans to remain in Finland to study and work after graduation. Her dream is to become a doctor or a psychologist.
Gesite transferred to the BSP from preparatory education for upper secondary studies. He deliberately chose the BSP instead of the fully English IB programme because he plans to stay in Finland permanently and wishes to integrate into the local culture.
- In the IB, you are not exposed to Finnish language and culture as much, and many students move abroad for higher education after completing it. I want to study software engineering in Finland after upper secondary school. Here, teachers are very supportive, flexible, and encourage us to ask questions, Gesite explains.
Providing instruction with English support has also been a learning experience for teachers. Many subject teachers initially felt nervous about teaching with bilingual support. However, they have adapted quickly and shared effective strategies, such as using word lists and clear language.
- Teaching in the BSP is both enjoyable and challenging. Together with our students, we overcome language barriers, sometimes in Finnish and sometimes in English. Both languages are used during lessons, says Heidi Heikkilä, BSP Coordinator and homeroom teacher.
- This autumn, we welcomed a smart and enthusiastic group of young language learners to the BSP, and collaboration between staff and students has been excellent. For teachers, working in the BSP means using clear language and continuously finding new ways to support learning, Heikkilä adds.
