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In E-services, you will find the City of Vaasa’s digital service channels by subject area. In E-services, you can, among other things:

  • Fill out and send an application
  • Reserve facilities and materials
  • Apply for a permit or make a report
  • Give feedback on city services

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Study languages

Strengthen your language skills for work or leisure!

At the Alma Adult Education Institute, you can study over ten different languages: traditionally in class, online or by combining study methods. You can choose between different hobby courses, courses at a university level or, for example, degree preparation courses.

The study method and length are your choice, and you can choose between full-year courses and shorter language courses, as well as at the level that suits you. We arrange both basic courses and courses at a more advanced level, general weekly courses at a leisurely pace, themed courses, and goal-oriented intensive courses.

Read more and sign up

The Language Levels

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is the base for your language studies, but also for assessing a student’s skills after the course. Your goal is to become a basic, independent, or proficient user of the language after studies on a specific level (A1-C2). The corresponding National Certificates of Language Proficiency (YKI) are rated on a scale of 1 to 6. The Framework of Reference for Languages is determined by the level you want to reach and it helps you to choose the right level of study.

BASIC LEVEL – BASIC USER

Level 1 (A1): You can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. You can interact in a simple way provided that the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help you with the language.

Level 2 (A2): You can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information). You can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters.

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL – INDEPENDENT USER

Level 3 (B1): You can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered at work, school, leisure, etc. You can deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling in an area where the language is spoken. You can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.

Level 4 (B2): You can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in your field of specialization. You can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

HIGHEST LEVEL – PROFICIENT USER

Level 5 (C1): You can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning. You can express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. You can use the language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. You can produce clear, well-structured and detailed text on complex subjects.

Level 6 (C2):
You can easily understand virtually everything heard or read. You can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. You can express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.

References: Language Policy Division, Council of Europe, Strasbourg. (2001). Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: learning, teaching, assessment. Cambridge University Press.

TEST YOUR LNAGUAGE SKILLS

Dialang  is a language diagnosis system developed by many European higher education institutions where you can test your language abilities in five skills in 14 European languages. The languages are Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Icelandic, Irish Gaelic, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish.

European language levels

The Self-Assessment Grid  presented will explain how well you understand, speak and write a language.

Distance education

We provide a wide variety of distance language courses. To participate you need a computer or a smartphone with a good internet connection, a microphone, a camera and a headset.

Online Course

  • All participants are online at the same time through a virtual meeting platform, for example, Zoom or Teams. Studying online resembles studying in class.

Blended Learning

  • Blended learning is a combination of offline and online tuition: a part of the course is held in class face-to-face and another part on a virtual platform.
  • Blended learning can consist of classroom teaching combined with online meetings with online self-​education resources.
  • Variation in the teaching style enables differentiation or tailoring instructions to meet individual needs.

Hybrid Class

  • Some of the students participate face-to-face in class and some are online.
  • The students can choose the way of studying.
  • A conference microphone enables the interaction between the participants.

The national certificate of language proficiency

The Alma Adult Education Centre offers basic and intermediate degrees in Swedish, Finnish, English, German, French, Russian, Italian and Spanish. In order to obtain Finnish citizenship, intermediate language skills are required as a minimum requirement. The basic level degree fee is 153 euros, and the intermediate level fee is 176 euros. A diploma will be sent approximately two months after the date of the test.

Registration Dates

2024
Aug 31st intermediate level in Finnish (registration June 3rd – 12th)
(Aug 31st intermediate level in Finnish (registration June 3rd – 12th) > EduVamia)

Oct 4th  intermediate level in Finnish at EduVamia (registration Aug 19th – 29th > EduVamia)
Oct 26th basic and intermediate level in English (registration Sept 2nd – 30th)
Nov 9th basic and intermediate level in Finnish (registration Sept 2nd – 30th)
Nov 16th basic and intermediate level in Swedish, Spanish and German (registration Sept 2nd – 30th)

2025
Jan 25th intermediate level in Finnish (registration Jan 2nd – 13th
(Jan 25th intermediate level in Swedish (registration Jan 2nd – 13th > EduVamia)

 March 15th English, Italian, Russian, (registration Feb 3rd- 28th, please, contact EduVamia or Seinäjoen kansalaisopisto)
March 29th intermediate level in Finnish (registration Feb 3rd – 28th)
April 5th basic and intermediate level in Swedish and French (registration Feb 3rd – 28th)
April 26th basic level in Finnish (registration March 17th – 28th)
May 24th intermediate level in Finnish (registration Apr 21st – 30th) > EduVamia
Aug 30th intermediate level in Finnish (registration in June 2025)

Online Registration for the National Language Proficiency Exam (YKI) 

Please, sign up for the YKI-exam at Opintopolku.

  • When you sign up for the exam, please, verify your identity with your banking codes, mobile certificate or e-mail.
  • You will receive a confirmation of your registration and a payment link (noreply(at)opintopolku.fi) to your e-mail. You can see the date of payment in the confirmation.

N.B. You can only register electronically and you pay the exam fee online using an e-invoicing system.

How to sign up for the exam:

  1. Click the link Opintopolku
  2. Choose the language you want to be tested in
  3. Choose the language level (basic or intermediate level)
  4. Choose the city (Vaasa/Vasa)
  5. Choose the school (Vaasan kansalaisopisto Alma – Vasa medborgarinstitut Alma)
  6. Fill in your personal details
  7. Remember to fill in your whole social security number DAY-MONTH-YEAR-XXXX
  8. Please also fill in your e-mail address. You need that for paying the test fee.
  9. Check that you have a valid official identification document. If you do not have one, then you are not allowed to take part in the exam. (Read more under *Accepted documents).

How do you pay the fee for the exam?

  • When you have signed up for the exam, you will receive a payment link to your e-mail.
  • You have eight (8) days to pay the fee.
  • When you have paid the fee, you will also get a place on the exam.
  • Within two weeks before the exam, you will receive more detailed information by e-mail about the day of the exam by e-mail.
  • You will not be reminded about the payment and the registration system does not give you a receipt after you have paid the fee.
  • Please, remember that the YKI-registration is binding. The fee will not be refunded if you don’t inform the organizer of the exam about your cancellation before the exam.
  • If you do not pay the fee on time, your place will automatically be given to the next person in the queue. You will not get a reminder of this.
  • Problems with the payment? Contact asiakaspalvelu(at)paytrail.com.

*Accepted documents

When you take part in the national language proficiency test, you are to prove your identity with the following identification documents only (Check that you have a valid official identification document. If you do not have one, then you are not allowed to take part in the exam):

  • Passport
  • ID-card (an official ID-card with a photograph granted by an authority of an EU-country)
  • Alien’s passport
  • Refugee travel documen
  • Finnish defence forces ID-card with a photograph and chip
  • NB. A driver’s licence licence and a residence permit card are not official ID documents for participating in the YKI-exam.

Participants with special needs: Information here

Where do you find more information?

 

Fintandem

Language learning through communication with a native speaker

  • Practice Finnish, Swedish or some other language with a native speaker.
  • Teach your mother tongue to your partner.
  • Choose yourselves the place and time of your meetings.

FinTandem consists of four elements

  • Finding a FinTandem partner
  • The FinTandem guide for students (included in the price)
  • Five voluntary gatherings for all participants
  • Individual support

FinTandem for work or studies

  • FinTandem is a flexible language-training programme. Discuss your plans with your supervisor.
  • Students can get credits for taking part in FinTandem. Ask for more information at your school.

Sign up for FinTandem

Contact information

Individual language tuition

At the Alma Adult Education Centre, it is also possible to order a tailor-made language study package. By going through your needs together with a teacher, we can plan a course according to your wishes. Get in touch, so we can think about the options further!

How does it work in practice?

  • Agree with the teacher on where and when you will meet.
  • We primarily recommend our own facilities as a study location or studies online during the period August – June.
  • If you are unable to arrive at the agreed time, you must notify the teacher no later than 24 hours before the agreed lesson time. Otherwise, the time is counted as a lesson. Missed lessons cannot be carried over to the following academic year.
  • Copying costs are included in the price.
  • The Alma Adult Education Centre’s discounts do not apply to individual language tuition.

Course package: 5 or 10 lessons or as agreed (64 €/60 minutes)

Contact information

  • Marika Boström, +358 40 619 4788, marika.bostrom@edu.vaasa.fi
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