FINNISH PUBLIC HIGHSCHOOL – STS
Price range: € 8,550 through € 9,050
Flights not Included
Description
Learn Finnish in a High School in Finland
Finland’s stark Nordic scenery is home to fascinating wildlife, pristine forests, some 200,000 lakes and the world’s happiest people, not to mention Europe’s top educational system and an extremely high quality of life (and don’t forget the saunas).
High School Classic
High School Classic is the traditional high school exchange programme, chosen by most of our students. It is the perfect programme for those who long for a genuine high school experience abroad and who are willing to embrace all the surprises it can bring. Here’s how it works: based on your profile, we find you a suitable host family and school, and the best part is, it can be anywhere in Finland! If you are open to adventure and are willing to let yourself be surprised by your exchange experience, this is the programme for
you.
Welcome to Finland
For the past several years, Finland has topped the list of the world’s happiest countries, which might catch many people by surprise. Finnish people tend to be rather reserved and must endure long, cold winters. But scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find people that love the outdoors, enjoy the pleasures of winter and know how to have a good time.
Population: 5.5 million
Area: 338,000 km2
Lakes: 188,000
Islands: 40,000
Capital: Helsinki (630,000 inhabitants)
Language: Finnish and Swedish (5% of the population)
Currency: Euro
Country code: +358
Finnish fun, funny Finns
The Finns are warm and genuine. Though they may seem a bit shy at first, once you get to know them better, you’ll find loyal friends and a special and quirky Finnish sense of humour. Good examples of this are the numerous festivals and events that are arranged each year throughout the country, which include the Wife Carrying World Championships, the Air Guitar World Championship and the Swamp Soccer World Championships.
Finnish cuisine is rather similar to other Nordic countries, but still has its own specialties. Most Finnish specialties include salmon or reindeer, but vegetables and meat are also commonly used. Clean, natural food is very important to Finns and most dishes are prepared with fresh ingredients. But of course, Finns like to go out for a pizza or a hamburger on occasion, as well.
Additional information
| Duration | 2 months, 3 months, Academic Year, Deposit, Semester |
|---|
Your School
World-class education
Finland’s school system is famously one of the best in the world, promoting critical thinking and intellectual exploration, rather than repetition and memorisation. There are minimal homework assignments and shorter school days, since free time is seen as a vital part of a healthy and complete education. But although the school atmosphere is generally more relaxed, Finnish students consistently rank among the best in the world for reading, maths and science, so they must be doing something right.
A flexible school system
High school education in Finland provides students with extensive general knowledge and critical thinking abilities, and prepares them to begin studies at a university, university of applied sciences or vocational training institute. Most high schools in Finland (known as lukio) have a flexible “classless” system, meaning that students can finish at their own pace over two to four years. Schools are not based on age, but on courses with no specified year classes, so you can find students between 16 and 19 years old in any given study group.
Everyday something new
One academic year is divided into five periods, with a separate schedule for each period concentrating on certain subjects. Each period then ends with a “test week.” This way, you’ll get to study a variety of subjects and always be discovering new things and meeting new people.
The school day starts between 8 and 10am and usually finishes around 2 to 4pm. There is normally a 45-minute lunch break, where lunch is provided for free for all students. Mandatory courses include a native language and a foreign language, literature, mathematics, environment and natural science, humanistic and social science and physical education.
Your home away from home
Our wonderful host families can be found all over Finland. They come in all shapes and sizes, but they all share one important trait: they can’t wait to welcome you into their home, show you their country and their way of life, and share incredible experiences together.
Your host family will really become your home away from home. Finnish families spend lots of time together, eat dinner together, and spend their evenings at home enjoying each other’s company or practicing their hobbies. Take the chance to find out about their lives and their interests and don’t be afraid to join in!
Mutual respect and open communication
Exchange students are expected to take part in family activities and help with chores, such as doing the dishes, keeping rooms tidy and shopping for daily groceries. Children and teenagers are afforded a great deal of freedom in Finland, but this freedom comes with a lot of responsibility. Parents trust their children to keep them informed of their whereabouts and to keep their word, in accordance with the Finns’ high ideas of loyalty and reliability.
As a result, Finnish families enjoy free and open communication. They can be straight with one another about all kinds of subjects and respect each other’s opinions. This direct way of communicating can be strange for some exchange students at first, but in the long run it will greatly help you make a connection with your host family and give you the opportunity to express yourself freely.
Host Family
Your home away from home
Our wonderful host families can be found all over Finland. They come in all shapes and sizes, but they all share one important trait: they can’t wait to welcome you into their home, show you their country and their way of life, and share incredible experiences together.
Your host family will really become your home away from home. Finnish families spend lots of time together, eat dinner together, and spend their evenings at home enjoying each other’s company or practicing their hobbies. Take the chance to find out about their lives and their interests and don’t be afraid to join in!
Mutual respect and open communication
Exchange students are expected to take part in family activities and help with chores, such as doing the dishes, keeping rooms tidy and shopping for daily groceries. Children and teenagers are afforded a great deal of freedom in Finland, but this freedom comes with a lot of responsibility. Parents trust their children to keep them informed of their whereabouts and to keep their word, in accordance with the Finns’ high ideas of loyalty and reliability.
As a result, Finnish families enjoy free and open communication. They can be straight with one another about all kinds of subjects and respect each other’s opinions. This direct way of communicating can be strange for some exchange students at first, but in the long run it will greatly help you make a connection with your host family and give you the opportunity to express yourself freely.
Free Time
Free Time in Finland
Finnish people don’t lock themselves in during the cold winter. Instead, they adapt and make the most of it. Be sure to try some ice skating and cross-country skiing during your exchange, and don’t skip the sauna!
Exchange students are strongly advised to participate in extra-curricular activities in local clubs, since Finnish schools seldom arrange any activities. Popular activities include sports, cultural clubs, social events, art, music and drama. This is perhaps the best way to meet new friends outside of school.
Great adventures in the great outdoors
Finns love the outdoors and enjoy their beautiful country all throughout the year. During the summer many city people head for the countryside to their summer cottages by a lake. The weekends and holidays are spent relaxing, swimming, fishing and, of course, in the sauna. Other popular activities include cycling, jogging, water sports and the national sport, pesäpallo (the Finnish version of baseball).
For many Finns winter is high season for sports. Cross-country and downhill skiing are possible almost everywhere in Finland, and ice-fishing or swimming in ice-cold water are becoming more popular. But the most popular sport of all is certainly ice-hockey.
Explore further
We organise shorter trips for our high school students in order for them to experience more during their time abroad. Contact your local coordinator for more information about trips in and around Finland, as well as other Nordic countries.
Welcome Camp - Included
STS Welcome Camp in Europe
To give you the perfect introduction, your year abroad at almost all destinations starts with STS Welcome Camp, which is included in the your stay. It is kind of a “soft landing,” where you get to meet other STS students and learn about what to expect from the adventure that is about to begin. This gives you the best imaginable start to your new adventure, with the chance to get to know lots of other students from all over the world who are also beginning their year abroad.
Our Welcome Camps are all held in a well-known, bigger city and last several days. The country and city the camp is in depends on where you are spending your year abroad. But you can be certain that you will get to take part in interesting workshops and fun activities in a variety of subjects that may be helpful for you during your exchange. For example, how to handle homesickness, what it’s like to adapt to a new home, what to do if you need help or support, and more.
You will get to explore the city you are in by going sightseeing and checking out a few famous places. You get to do all of this alongside other STS students, who are also just beginning their own adventures. This will be a lifelong memory and it’s the perfect way to start your year abroad. After STS Welcome Camp, you are ready to travel to your final destination, meet your host family and make yourself at home.
“Welcome Camp was absolutely one of the highlights and a fantastic beginning to my year as an exchange student. I’m still in touch with a lot of people from camp. All the different activities helped me feel much better prepared for the year. Without a doubt, if I had the chance, I would relive those days!”
Jessica, from Switzerland, participated in STS Welcome Camp in New York.
