Finnish Phase 1, Unit 01-05

Learn to Speak and Understand Finnish with Pimsleur Language Programs

By: Pimsleur

Narrated by: Pimsleur

Length: 2 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Finnish belongs to the Finnic branch of the Finno-Ugric family of languages. There are approximately 5.2 million Finnish speakers, mostly in Finland, and some in Sweden and Russia as well. There are 3 varieties of standard Finnish: "kirjakieli" or “book language” which is used in official documents, official speeches and the daily news; "yleiskieli" or “standard language” which is taught in schools - formal and correct, though more relaxed than the "book language"; and "puhekieli" or "spoken language" which is a frequently changing, more casual variety used in everyday conversation. This course teaches the standard Finnish language, "yleiskieli."

The Pimsleur® Method: the easiest, fastest way to learn a new language. Completely portable, easily downloadable, and lots of fun. You’ll be speaking and understanding in no time flat! Each lesson of Finnish Phase 1, Units 01-05 provides 30 minutes of spoken language practice, with an introductory conversation, and new vocabulary and structures. Detailed instructions enable you to understand and participate in the conversation. Each lesson contains practice for vocabulary introduced in previous lessons.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2012 Simon & Schuster (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Pimsleur programs provide plenty of positive reinforcement that will keep learners on track, and we found that Pimsleur gave us more proficiency and confidence in speaking the new language than any of the other language programs we reviewed." ( AudioFile magazine)

Stuck in my brain for months!

What made the experience of listening to Finnish Phase 1, Unit 01-05 the most enjoyable?

The repetition by native speakers is the best part of this series. I enjoyed the pace that is set, in easy-to-follow 20-30 minute segments.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Finnish Phase 1, Unit 01-05?

The most memorable moment came when I actually knew what the native speakers were saying, when they were speaking at a normal pace between one another!

What does Pimsleur bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Since this is a lesson, rather than a book, it is completely up to you if you choose to go to the next lesson or not, or follow the directions the narrator gives you.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The only reaction I had to this lesson was that it had me in shock that by the end of a week I was confident that if I got lost in Finland I wouldn't need to cross my fingers and hope that a random person on the street spoke English.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this for anyone going abroad to Finland, for business, tourism or otherwise.

really helpful audiobook kiitos!

it has helped a lot! im using it to supplement the finnish language course im taking now. im an English speaker and hearing translations and literally translations helps a lot

Love the slowness!

Other methods teach too much, too fast. This is much easier to follow and retain. I listen to each day’s lesson about three days in a row (Yes, I’m that dense...) until I am comfortable with the vocabulary and the pronunciation, and can repeat with little hesitation. If I get overwhelmed, I just slow the speed of the lessons WAAAAAY down (sometimes all the way down to .5x) until I’m grasping the content and context. Thank goodness it’s just “listen and repeat.” My head would blow up if I had to write Finnish, too!

Very good method

The method works very well, in particular as you can re-run the last few 30 min chapters, cementing the words and phrases.

I’d like to have a glossary, but slowly creating it myself also helps the learning.

The way they slowly go through the pronounciation of new words, syllable by syllable from the end is excellent.