What I talk about when I talk about Language (for more Belonging, Inclusion & Peace of Mind)

December 23rd, 2022 Posted by Blog

A big part of what I do is challenge people to think differently about language (& language learning). This is mainly because, when I talk about language and how languages are learned, I see a world of possibility, unity and inclusion that seems to go unnoticed by so many. Yet it’s sitting here in plain sight, waiting to be perceived by all who wish to do so. (Yes, even when it comes to the Finnish language.)

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Learning Finnish in Finland? Choose Joy as a Survival Strategy – Not a Luxury

December 15th, 2022 Posted by Blog

If the idea of learning Finnish as a joyful experience is a foreign concept to you, please read on.

In this article, I’m speaking specifically to learning Finnish in Finland (where it is spoken as an official language) because it’s a very different experience than learning it elsewhere just for fun. In Finland, Finnish could be the key to many things in your life, even if “everyone speaks English.” I think we can agree that speaking Finnish in Finland is a different experience from not speaking Finnish in Finland.

I believe that learning language is our birthright as human beings. I do not believe that some are ‘talented’ at learning languages, while others hopeless (even though it sometimes feels this way).

When we look closer though, we’ll see that…

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HR: Why offering diverse options to support international employees in learning Finnish improves impact

December 15th, 2022 Posted by Blog

Our Finnish journeys are as unique as we are! Every learner has a unique set of criteria that’ll either enable learning. Here are just a few examples: …

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A cry for help

May 14th, 2021 Posted by My Story

A few months back, I heard a cry for help.

I was heading home from downtown when I passed a man on the street. He was very agitated, locked eyes with me and said: “APUA! Minä tarvitsen apua.”

I froze…

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What winter reminds us…

December 18th, 2020 Posted by Life

Much of what I do is these days is inspired by the cycles of nature, so I thought I’d share with you what this time of year means to me… and what cold, crisp air, lmited energy and huddled warmth has to teach us.
Honestly, it took me a couple of years of living in the north to really appreciate the rhythm of the seasons. Every ebb has its flow…

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Pure Love and Passion for Languages with Lindsay Williams

December 1st, 2020 Posted by Interviews

I’ve come to find that the best way to keep the process of learning rolling is to touch base with other learners, who share a passion for the process. So I reached out to Lindsay in the hopes that an interview could capture the positive energy, insatiable curiosity and growth mindset I’ve come to know her for…And did it ever!

Lindsay’s openness to so many languages makes her a great person to speak up on behalf of the value that languages have to offer at any stage of the journey.

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What if nothing needs to change? (Hear me out…)

September 8th, 2020 Posted by Insights

“The grass is always greener on the other side…” I notice the tendency in myself and others to overrate what we don’t have. It seems we’re waiting for external conditions to fall into place (things we achieve, own, become…time and the weather!) so we can feel better on the inside. It seems that the grass really is greener on the other side, until we realize: it can’t work both ways! It can’t actually be greener.

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3 ways you can help advance the Finnish language discussion!

July 10th, 2020 Posted by Blog, Life, News | Announcements | Updates

It’s exciting to see lately is much more attention given towards diversity, inclusion and equality in the Finnish media. Yet this isn’t one of those “sit back and watch things change” scenarios though. We have an opportunity – yes, and we have a role to play. So if you want to advance the discussion in small but tangible ways, I invite you to participate in the 3 following ways…

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What Summer Can Teach Us

June 23rd, 2020 Posted by Life

Over the past 10+ years of living in Finland, I’ve found nature’s ability to adapt and flow with the cycles to be the most inspiring teacher there is in my own transition abroad. Whether for you it’s the plasticity required to adapt to another language or the fluidity that other cultures ask of us – or both at once – nature has lessons to help us navigate the terrain with more grace. Here’s what summer has to teach us…

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Introducing: Simple Finnish Sentences

June 18th, 2020 Posted by News | Announcements | Updates

It’s a pretty simple idea: an invitation to learn how to put together simple sentences in Finnish. We’ll explore from the beginning, but with a twist!

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Hi! I’m Irina.

I’m a multibelonger to Finland, Canada and Romania, without ONE language or culture to call my own – I have several. My intention is to be present where I am and find inner peace and harmony where ever life takes me. I’m embracing the gems of the ongoing cultural and linguistic transition which is my life and hope to inspire others interested in doing the same. Click here to find out more!