There are many places in Espoo where you can learn Finnish or Swedish, both during the day and in the evening. Language courses are arranged by the Adult Education Center, the Espoo Adult High School (Espoon Aikuislukio, website in Finnish only) and various NGOs (non-governmental associations). Finnish instruction is arranged at community centers, public libraries and schools as courses, discussion groups and parent-child play groups. It is often possible for you to take your small children with you to class or childcare may be available in a room nearby.
If you are looking for work, the Espoo Employment and Economic Development Office (the TE-Office, website in Finnish only) may find a Finnish course for you.
For more information about language courses, please also see Info Bank .
To find a course
You can look for Finnish language courses open to all adults in Espoo, Helsinki, Kauniainen and Vantaa using Finnishcourses.fi course search service. Course information is available in Finnish, English and Russian.
Adult Education center
The Adult Education Center (Espoon työväenopisto) offers Finnish and Swedish courses. These courses are open to everyone over the age of 16. We also arrange family courses where an adult can bring a child along to the class. You can practice your Finnish during these courses and get to know other Espoo residents. We also arrange courses in other subjects with English as the working language. You can find information about the Adult Education Center in different languages at Info Bank.
Let’s Read Together (Luetaan yhdessä) - Finnish classes for women
Come join us in reading, speaking and writing Finnish. You can come even if you do not know any Finnish yet or if you already know some Finnish. Women of all ages are welcome. The teachers are Finnish women. These classes are free-of-charge and are arranged by the Let’s Read Together (Luetaan yhdessä) network/Espoo-Kauniainen Association of University Women. Please also see class flyers at the bottom of the page.
In Espoon keskus: (Siltakatu 11)
Wednesdays at 10:15 - 11:45 in the Blue Room (Sininen huone) January 9 - May 22, 2013. For more information, please contact Leena Toivanen, tel. 044 575 9909.
In Leppävaara: ALMA Multicultural Activity Center (Läkkisepänkuja 3 A)
Mondays at 9:15 - 10:45 starting January 14, 2013. For more information, please contact Arja Liisa Vuorinen, arja.l.vuorinen(at)espoo.fi. tel. 09 - 816 30173, 09-81682657.
In Matinkylä: Kylämaja Community Center (Matinkatu 7)
Tuesdays at 12:00 - 13:30, starting January 8, 2013. For more information, please contact Liisa Tommila, liisa.tommila(at)tietotori.fi, tel. 050 5003606.
Trapesa's Finnish courses
Trapesa (Kotikyläntie 5) in Kirkkojärvi in Espoon keskus offers Finnish courses. Please also see class flyers at the bottom of the page. Registration for the courses is with Trapesa: 045-8973232 / trapesa.toimisto(at)saunalahti.fi.
Finnish course January 14 to May 27,.2013 on Mondays at 16-18.
Easy intermediate level: grammar and discussion practice. Course fee is 10€.
Finnish course January 14 to May 25, 2013 on Mondays at 18-20.
Basic level: grammar and discussion practice. Course fee is 10€.
Finnish discussion group January 11 to May 31, 2013 on Fridays at 17.30-19.
We will concentrate on speaking and understanding everyday Finnish. We will practice useful vocabulary. Free-of-charge. Childcare is available!
Other groups
In Espoonlahti: Kivenkolo Community Center (Merisaapas 1 A)
In Leppävaara: ALMA Multicultural Activity Center (Läkkisepänkuja 3 A)
Adult High School
Espoo Adult High School
(Espoon aikuislukio) (information in Finnish) in Tapiola offers courses in Finnish as a Second Language. These courses are free-of-charge.
Espoo Adult High School also offers Swedish courses at the senior secondary school level. You can study Swedish at the Adult High School even if you are not taking other senior secondary courses there.