Before I share my own story, I would like to ask you three questions:

Moikka!

Hello! My name is Iiris, and I'm an experienced Finnish teacher who studied Finnish as an adult. I myself began learning Finnish as an adult. I had been interested in Finland since I was a child, and when I was in junior high school, I tried to study the language on my own using one of the few textbooks available in Japan. However, I soon got stuck because of the complex grammar, and in the end, I only managed to learn some basic things such as greetings and simple everyday expressions.

• Want to learn Finnish, but feeling unsure because it is known to be difficult and learning materials are limited.

• Want to restart learning Finnish after a long break, but worried about whether I can stay consistent.

• I have made good progress in Finnish, but once the content becomes more complex, understanding suddenly feels much harder.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, please keep reading.

My lessons may be exactly what you have been looking for.

Visiting Student in Helsinki

I first began studying Finnish in earnest at the age of 22, when I went to the University of Helsinki as a visiting student and joined a Finnish language course for international students. Although I had not initially planned to study the language so seriously, I gradually became deeply immersed in it. During my year abroad, I decided to pursue graduate studies in Finland, and by the time I returned to Japan, I had worked tirelessly to master the fundamentals of Finnish grammar.

Preparing for YKI Exam

After returning to Japan, I continued studying Finnish independently. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I traveled to Finland to take the YKI (National Certificate of Language Proficiency) examination. At the keskitaso (intermediate) level, which serves as the language requirement for university admission, I achieved the highest possible score of 4 in all four skills—reading, writing, listening, and speaking—thereby earning eligibility to apply for graduate programs conducted in Finnish.

After successfully passing the graduate entrance examination, I enrolled in the Master’s Program in Finnish and Other Finno-Ugric Languages at the University of Turku in 2021.

Master's Degree in Turku

During my master’s studies, I explored a broad range of fields, including Finnish dialects, differences in language use across generations, regions, and gender, the interpretation of older Finnish texts, the broader field of Finno-Ugric languages, and efforts to preserve endangered languages. I completed my master’s degree at the University of Turku in 2025.

My master’s thesis focused on the translation of classical Japanese waka poetry into Finnish, with particular attention to how poetic rhetorical structures are conveyed through the translation process. Through this research, I examined translation as an act in itself and developed a perspective that approaches language as a dynamic and evolving phenomenon.

Since January 2023, I have been teaching Finnish to international students in both online and on-campus settings, while also taking responsibility for student assessment and grading. Since 2024, I have been running Learn Finnish with Iiris as a freelance initiative, offering online private lessons and developing video-based learning materials. My mission is to make Finnish language learning more accessible to people around the world and to help build an environment where more learners can engage with the language with confidence.

My journey of learning Finnish began with the language classes I took as a visiting student. That experience completely transformed the path I had originally planned for myself. At the time, I had intended to return to Japan after one year and continue on to a master’s program there, but everything changed in an instant.

Without even giving myself time to dwell on whether aiming for master’s-level proficiency in Finnish might be unrealistic, I set my sights on entering a master’s program in Finland. That goal became the driving force behind my studies, and I devoted myself wholeheartedly to learning the language.

Of course, the journey was not always filled with the pure joy I felt when I first began studying Finnish. There were many difficult and challenging moments along the way. Yet being able to persevere and ultimately achieve this goal gave me tremendous confidence.

After entering my master’s program, I found myself naturally beginning a career as a Finnish language instructor.

Start Teaching Finnish

My Mission with Learn Finnish with Iiris

People choose to learn Finnish for many different reasons—study abroad, relocation, or simply personal interest. Whatever the reason may be, continuity is the most important part of language learning. The journey is not always easy, and it can sometimes feel lonely. I hope to be someone who quietly supports learners along the way, offering guidance whenever it is needed, helping make Finnish learning more accessible, and reducing the number of people who give up on their language journey.

With this in mind, I strive to work with each student not only as a specialist, but also as a fellow language learner who deeply understands both the joy and the challenges of the process.

A key feature of this project is its flexible, location-independent learning approach, including online lessons and video-based materials. This is partly influenced by my own lifestyle, as I regularly travel around the world, but there are also two important reasons behind this approach.

First, I aim to make Finnish learning accessible no matter where you are in the world. Second, I place a strong emphasis on supporting long-term consistency in learning, helping students continue their studies in a way that fits their individual lives.