Greetings / Tervehdys!
We send you warmest holiday greetings from the UW Finnish Program! Meillä on ilo toivottaa kaikille rauhallista joulun aikaa ja onnellista uutta vuotta Suomen ohjelman puolesta.
We have reconfigured this year. Our new Acting Instructor of Finnish is Eveliina Suuniitty. You may remember Eveliina from 2021-22, when she was Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant at UW, supervised by Anna-Maria Peltomäki. We’re delighted to have Eveliina return in her new role! Since leaving, she has pursued Ph.D. studies at the University of Turku, studying how to use Finnish literature in the language classroom.
We are also delighted to have a Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant this year, Natalie Lewis, who is a Masters’ student at the University of Oulu. Natalie is teaching Finnish with Eveliina.
Our amazing students continue to do great things. In August, we met Finnish major alum Chris Morris in Helsinki, where he is working as an architect for the ALA Architectural Office and, among other things, frequently guides visiting architects and designers in Helsinki’s Oodi Library, which his office designed.
Here are some of the things our current students are saying:
- “I chose to enroll in the Finnish class because my mother is Finnish, and I would like to become fluent so that I can communicate with my extended family. I was not able to find Finnish classes in school when I was younger, and seeing that this class was offered at the University of Washington played a large role in why I came here. The class has been such a positive experience for me so far, thanks to the instructor Eveliina Suuniitty, Fulbright Finnish language Teaching Assistant Natalie Lewis, the UW Scandinavian Studies Department, the Fulbright Finland Foundation, and everyone else who made this class possible.”
- “I am so grateful to the Department of Scandinavian Studies for the opportunity to learn Finnish at the University of Washington. Being able to learn Finnish from a native Finnish speaker is a unique, incredible opportunity that opens many doors for my future, including possible career and living opportunities. I am a SCAND major, and I have so much appreciation for the care that the department shows its students and puts into planning the courses they offer. Through the department, I have been able to take many interesting courses, learn more about a region that interests me, and meet other students with similar interests as me.”
As we look toward 2025, would you please include the Finnish Program in your end-of-the-year charitable giving and make a gift to the program? You have our gratitude! Kiitämme!
With best holiday greetings / Jouluterveisin
Andrew Nestingen Eveliina Suuniitty