WELCOME!
3rd December, 2015
INFORMATION EVENING
ABOUT ENGLISH CLASSES
TONIGHT’S SCHEDULE
• FISTA, enrollment, language testing, general information.
- Rasmus Ahvenainen, Hannah John, Verneri Mansikka;
students (6A), Finnish International School of Tampere
- Pia Mikkola, Principal, Finnish International School of
Tampere
- Miika Katajamäki, Coordinator, Finnish International School
of Tampere
FINNISH INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL OF TAMPERE (FISTA)
FINNISH INTERNATIONAL
SCHOOL OF TAMPERE (FISTA)
• 3 starting classes
• Up to 750 students
• Renovation 2014-2017
FISTA
• Finnish education in English
Studying in a multicultural environment
After the renovation, increased opportunities to use
IT in learning
The entire working culture is English, but teaching is
also done in Finnish
• Hard work – good motivation
• Commitment by the family and support to the
child
EDUCATION IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES,
TAMPERE
• The goal for language skills at the end of comprehensive education
is a level close to the first language level (functional bilingualism).
Schools offering FL Education:
• English:
Finnish International School of Tampere 1–9
Tammela 1–6

Fista 7–9
• German:
Tammela 1–6
• French:
Aleksanteri 0–6 

Sampo 7–9
Pyynikki 7–9
CLASSES BEGINNING IN AUGUST 2016
• In accordance with the service agreement between
municipal buyer and producer, students will be admitted on
the basis of performance in language tests. This number
includes enrolled students immigrating from abroad.
•
•
> Finnish International School of Tampere:
1–3 CLASSES (20–72 students)
> Tammela: 1 CLASS (20–24 students)
ENROLLMENT
Children born in 2009
•Application for FISTA happens through the standard
school application process.
•Enrollment from January 4th to January 24th 2016
(instructions will be sent to your Tampere residents
home address, others should check the City of Tampere
web page)
UNDERAGE STUDENTS
• Children born in 2010
• The student must be approved by a certified psychologist. The parents are
responsible for having the child tested outside the public system. It is
recommended that the psychologist is provided a statement (evaluation)
from the child’s preschool.
• The principal decides on admission based on the psychologist’s statement,
child’s performance in language test and an optional statement from the
child’s preschool.
• Beginning school underage is not recommended
– Finnish first-grade education is aimed for the maturity level of a 7year-old
– Finnish preschool programs include many features of primary
education curricula
• The school psychologist will answer further enquiries.
STUDENTS
in
ENGLISH CLASSES
FOREIGN FAMILIES
LIVING TEMPORARILY
IN FINLAND (FISTA)
FINNISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF TAMPERE
FINNISH FAMILIES
RETURNING TO
FINLAND
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
IMMIGRANTS FOR
PERMANENT STAY
IN FINLAND
FINNISH CHILDREN
Able to speak English
ENGLISH CLASSES
Teaching philosophies are similar to the general guidelines used
throughout Tampere. However, there are two major differences:
Language is the focus in learning and teaching:
•Foreign language is taught as a subject from first grade. Language
studies begin earlier and last longer, which is reflected in the aims,
curriculum, and assessment also in grades 3–9.
Language as a medium to learn:
•The English language is used as a medium to achieve the goals set in
all subjects. English is used in all classes excluding mother tongue
(Finnish) lessons. Details are specified in the school curriculum.
FINNISH LANGUAGE AT FISTA
• 3 to 6 lessons per week of Finnish as a mother tongue or
Finnish as a second language. The culture at the school does
not support Finnish studies
• National curriculum: acquiring everyday language skills
usually takes 1 to 2 years and the in-depth skills required in
approx. 5 to 7 years in Finnish-medium schools.
• Multilingual families need to think about whether the child
benefits from studying in English education or whether
insufficient command of Finnish hampers the enrollment in
further studies.
LANGUAGE TUITION AT FISTA
• Reading and writing in both languages
• All subjects except Finnish as a mother tongue and Finnish as
a second language taught in Finnish (NB! Also 9th grade Social
Studies)
• Some vocabulary in other subjects (geography, biology,
history) in Finnish
• Secondary school  bilingual and international lines
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AT TAMMELA SCHOOL
• The percentage of English used in the classroom varies in each
particular subject and grade level. Students will encounter at least
25% of their classes to be taught in the English language at each
grade level. The school curriculum specifies which lessons will be
taught in English and which will be taught in the mother tongue
(Finnish).
•
•
•
•
The following lessons are taught in the Finnish language:
mother tongue
Finnish geography and biology
Finnish history
IMPORTANT!
It is vital that the school is informed in advance about
any possible learning difficulties or other problems.
Study in English classes is more demanding than in
Finnish classes so if the child has any learning
difficulties, it will probably be too hard for the child.
Children have more homework than in other schools
because they study in two languages.
If the child has a risk for reading disability, learning
to read simultaneously in Finnish and English
is really hard, and will significantly slow down the
child´s progress at school.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Aptitude test will take place in FISTA on
Thursday February 11th 2016. Reserve day in a
matter of sickness.
– A letter will be sent home informing the
time and date.
– Tammela school tests English language skills
– Finnish International School of Tampere
tests both English language and other
linguistic skills
– To get into Tammela School English Class the child has to
score more than 40% of the test points. The students are
selected in order on the basis of how many points were
scored on the entrance examination. Obtaining the
minimum amount of points does not necessarily mean
that the child will be accepted.
– To get into the Finnish International School of Tampere the
child has to score more than 60% of the test points. The
students are selected in order on the basis of how many
points were scored on the entrance examination.
Obtaining the minimum amount of points does not
necessarily mean that the child will be accepted.
– Remember: the test is always an exciting and stressful
situation and the teachers giving the test are unfamiliar to
the children
– Please note that the child must follow instructions during
the exam
– Please tell your child that he/she is doing what the
teachers tell to do
– You don’t have to prepare your child for the test
• Notification of acceptance or refusal will be sent via mail to
home address.
• Orientation will take place in April 2016.
OPEN DAY
• In first grade classes on Thursday January 14th 2016
at 9–12am
FURTHER INQUIRIES
Principal Pia Mikkola
tel. 050 468 2922
Coordinator Miika Katajamäki
tel. 050 406 5305
email: pia.mikkola@tampere.fi
email: miika.katajamaki@tampere.fi
koulut.tampere.fi/fista