When you live in a foreign country, and you're trying to learn the language, you're supposed to watch soap operas, right? The language is simple, the plots are simple, the overwrought drama is simple -- perfect for someone with the vocabulary of a one-year-old, yet with the maturity of someone, well, (slightly) older. I read Finnish tabloids for the same reason. I've actually learned a decent amount of vocabulary from them, as they're easier for me to understand than even Selkouutiset.
I've been using this whole watching-crap-television-and-reading-tabloids-thing partially as a means by which to attempt immersion. I have found, however, that I cannot survive on a diet of Iltalehti and Uusi päivä alone. I can never seem to fully forgo English, which would be ideal, because there is just so much English language media to consume. Furthermore, I want to consume some of it. You know, so that I don't feel as if I've regressed to being a one-year-old. A one-year-old who is for some reason semi-literate, and is being forced to read everything there is to know about Madonna's presence in Helsinki.
So, I'd like to solicit some suggestions for other Finnish stuff that I might read/watch/listen to, etc. Simplicity is probably best for my current skill level, but limiting myself to simple things is just so tedious. I do know how to use a search engine, but I've failed pretty miserably in finding thing of interest to me. Perhaps if I find out what interests you, it'll help.
I'd like to discover some good Finnish films (old or new, it doesn't matter), as well as blogs, radio programs, and podcasts. Even forums. Books too, although I find that anything more complex than books about princesses is sort of beyond my ken. Oh, and thank you!
I've been using this whole watching-crap-television-and-reading-tabloids-thing partially as a means by which to attempt immersion. I have found, however, that I cannot survive on a diet of Iltalehti and Uusi päivä alone. I can never seem to fully forgo English, which would be ideal, because there is just so much English language media to consume. Furthermore, I want to consume some of it. You know, so that I don't feel as if I've regressed to being a one-year-old. A one-year-old who is for some reason semi-literate, and is being forced to read everything there is to know about Madonna's presence in Helsinki.
So, I'd like to solicit some suggestions for other Finnish stuff that I might read/watch/listen to, etc. Simplicity is probably best for my current skill level, but limiting myself to simple things is just so tedious. I do know how to use a search engine, but I've failed pretty miserably in finding thing of interest to me. Perhaps if I find out what interests you, it'll help.
I'd like to discover some good Finnish films (old or new, it doesn't matter), as well as blogs, radio programs, and podcasts. Even forums. Books too, although I find that anything more complex than books about princesses is sort of beyond my ken. Oh, and thank you!
Elena, Yle has the news in simple Finnish, both in written and audio form. Check out: http://www.yle.fi/selkouutiset/index.php?id=1334
ReplyDeleteElena, a Finnish friend recommended the Ella books (by Timo Parvela) for my 6 year old, and actually they are just about the right level for me! (meaning that I can understand basically what's going on but still need to look up words frequently). The language seems quite natural and straightforward. The books are pretty popular so you should be able to find them at your local library. Here is the first paragraph, to give you some idea:
ReplyDelete"Minä olen Ella. Olen yhä vain toisella luokalla, vaikka on jo tammikuu ja vuosikin on vaihtunut. Mutta ei se haittaa, sillä meillä on edelleen sama mukava luokka ja sama mukava opettaja. Kaikki on siis ihan samanlaista, paitsi Pate, joka ei ole koskaan ollutkaan samalainen. Nyt hän on kuitenkin tavallistakin erilaisempi."
That sample text is refreshingly comprehensible! I'm going to have to look into these. Thanks! :)
DeleteIf you haven't seen it, the movie Miesten Vuoro is pretty good and easy to understad, especially with the help of subtitles. I wrote a quick review ages ago: http://telefinn.blogspot.com/2011/01/steamy-movie.html
ReplyDeleteI really loved Miesten vuoro. Actually, I also wrote a review of it, in which I linked to yours. (My review is quite boring.)
DeleteDoes it matter if it's in spoken or written Finnish?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't matter. I'm not terribly familiar with puhekieli, but I won't learn if I never expose myself to it. :)
DeleteYou could try watching Finnish Youtube vloggers. Here's a small list of youtube usernames my friends follow (I can't, because they are... well, you'll see):
Deletedjpate246
juttutytto
Markorepairs
niilo22
V4rp4
Crikez
Iltapalamies
markobo89
Pavetzun
paprika2076
Did you just recommend Markorepairs? :|
DeleteJee Vee Cee. Shut up water!
DeleteI know what you mean. It frustrates me no end as I feel I can't fully take part in society here. I don't want to segregate myself by hanging out only with expats.
ReplyDeleteYes, this. As much as I want to immerse myself and fully integrate, my tenuous grasp of the language really inhibits me. And, as I said, it's nearly impossible to get away from English for any length of time! By the way, what level would you say you're at in your Estonian (in CEFR, if you like)? You seem to have a great deal of knowledge about it. :)
DeleteI enjoyed Joulutarina, a Christmas movie. I read books about animals for kids, because they're cute :) Pekka Töpöhäntä is pretty easy. Muumipeikko is also nice. And "Oikeeta Suomee. Suomen puhekielen sanakirja" is a fun read too. I don't like puhekieli much, but everyone speaks that one, not the one I studied, so... Another thing I do is reading Finnish blogs and leaving comments there, good practice.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can find something interesting here?
http://areena.yle.fi/tv
There is such a variety of shows and series there.
Oo, a "puhekielen sanakirja" sounds like good fun. Also, I've heard of Joulutarina, but I'd forgotten about it. Thanks for reminding me!
DeleteI watch Uusi päivä from Areena, usually. I do sometimes find quality documentaries and things there, too. :)
See if the local library carries any susikoira Roi books (by Jorma Kurvinen). They're youth books so I hope you don't find too challenging. They were hugely popular in the 80s and 90s. So, unless they've got rid of them, they have a crapton of them.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, in that vein, I be they have a lot of the translated Three Investigators (kolme etsivää) and Nancy Drew (Neiti Etsivä and please don't ask me about the name change - I don't know!) books too.
Ok. So, Nancy is Paula in Finnish. It's Kitty in Swedish!
DeleteWTF?!?!?
Nancy's name is different all over the place. Perhaps because Nancy is sort of a terrible name? Anyway, thanks for the suggestions. Do you happen to know if the Susikoira Roi TV series worth watching, by the way?
DeleteSure, why not. You can always stop, if they're* not.
Delete* It seems there are two of them.
I don't know if you have given the Moomin books a chance yet? They are so much for adults as well as children. Even the TV series I love watching with the kids I sometimes mind, very philosophical.
ReplyDeleteI actually haven't, which is surprising. Thanks for reminding me to try those!
DeleteI loved the Heinähattu & Vilttitossu books when I was little, and I still enjoy them at 25. I don't have the books here right now so can't give a text sample, but the sentence structure is relatively simple and there is some wordplay and funny names. Oh and they're written by Sinikka and Tiina Nopola.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I'll check to see if the library/bookstore has them! :)
DeleteNot sure if a finnish talk show would be too far over your level, but I'd still recommend Puoli Seitsemän. The hosts tend to speak proper written finnish and the guests can wander quite far away from it :-p
ReplyDeletehttp://areena.yle.fi/tv/1623052