Multilingual pupils

Central to the education of multilingual pupils is developing diverse language skills for the pupil, supporting their identity, collaborating closely with their home, and improving their learning skills in order to give them the best possible foundations for further education. Teaching is adapted to the linguistic, cultural, and schooling background of each individual pupil.

Pupils, who do not yet possess adequate Finnish skills to follow along with basic education, must start their schooling in a preparatory instruction group. After preparatory instruction, pupils will most often continue their schooling in the schools nearest to their area. For pupils of lower secondary school age who need robust language learning support in order to progress in their education, it is possible to join a KIETU (language support) group.

Teaching in the Finnish as a second language and literature (S2) curriculum is made available as needed throughout the course of basic education. The Finnish as a second language and literature curriculum is specially developed to support the development of a pupil’s multilingualism and to motivate their interest and offer them tools to develop their language skills throughout their life (National Core Curriculum 2014).

Apart from S2 classes, each pupil has the right to supportive teaching in other subjects as necessary. Support in the pupil’s own language is also provided if feasible.

Instruction in a pupil’s native language is provided in more than 30 different languages in Tampere.