Language skills and contacts across the world! Text: Elina Ohra-aho / Photo: Otso Nuotio Alongside with the Finnish speaking programs, there are international students studying in English in Laurea Leppävaara campus. On top of this, there are many exchange students coming to Finland to study in our University. How can you get to be their tutor, and what is required for it? LAUREAMKO recruits international tutors to work alongside with the “normal tutors” twice a year. Their job is to help out the international students to adjust to the Finnish life style. The course for international tutoring lasts for two days, after which you get to choose whether to start tutoring the exchange students, the degree students, or even both. The international tutor’s job is diverse, including arranging and planning of the orientation happenings: arrival days, Helsinki-tour, course for Survival-Finnish, as well as the orientation days for both degree and exchange programs. However, like for the “normal tutors”, the most important thing is to be supportive, a friend, to the new students. And by the way, you can get 3 credits from this! The application period begins in February, so be alert!
Best times as an international tutor Name: Jani Liukkonen Age: 25 Programme: Business Management Exchange: in Canada Internship: in Spain
Jani Liukkonen is the most dedicated international tutor you can find. He’s been doing it for three semesters already. He first applied on his first semester, after bumping into an advertisement for international tutoring. “I saw the add and said to myself, hey, this would be perfect for me! So, I decided to apply so I could get to know foreign people, and to get to speak English, which I love. I felt I was meant to do this”, Jani laughs. Jani did think about doing tutoring in Finnish as well, but came to the conclusion that international tutoring was more for him. “I enjoyed international tutoring way too much to switch to the Finnish side. However, I got to try it out once, as one of the Finnish tutors called me for help after she didn’t have a tutoring pair. So I went to help her out with her group.”
Getting friends and the best experiences The best part for Jani is when you get to meet so many people from so many backgrounds and cultures. Also, the fact that you get to practice your language skills is a huge benefit, and if there is a specific language you’d like to practice, you can always hang out with people who speak it natively. You can learn a lot from them. Also, it’s great to network and make new contacts; after all it may prove useful when you are applying for a job or an internship abroad. Every semester you also meet people who you become close with. It’s likely you’ll keep in touch with them even after their exchange.
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“Last Christmas I even got a Christmas card from a Belgian exchange student. “ Jani explains with a smile on his face. For Jani, the most special moment was when a student once told him he was like a father to them all! The most challenging aspect of international tutoring is if you are shy and unsure of your language skills, it may be difficult to take charge of the situation, and get to know people. Even so, the opportunity to practice the use of language may be the best reason to apply. Jani doesn’t have any challenges himself anymore, as he’s been a tutor for so long.
most schools, Laurea does not have compulsory attendance. Some may find it difficult to adjust them and to orientate to the fact that even with only a few lessons to go to, you still have to work hard. For those who are interested in applying for international tutoring, Jani advices that it’s not necessarily wise to apply only because of the credits. However, if you really are interested, applying is totally worth it. “ If I hadn’t started tutoring, my “career’ in Laurea would have been a lot duller. It gives you so much, you should definitely join us!”
Jani likes: Music Traveling Friends Languages
Helping with problems People come to Jani and ask for help even with everyday issues, for example how to use the Finnish OTTO - ATM -machine. Also, the most common questions he gets are where something is, and how to get there. Jani is always happy to help. Apparently, the most perplexing things about Laurea are the teaching methods. Unlike in
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Jani dislikes: Fake people Lying Too long days at work