Employers

Employers

Are you looking for solutions to the usage of two or more languages in your organisation, i.e. in meetings, documentation or building team spirit? We offer ready-to-use models and advice for creating a functioning language environment at work.

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Language policy planning

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Steps toward language awareness in the workplace

Content:

Model for planning language aware practices. 
Time:

As part of developing the organisation's operations, time is reserved for getting to know the model and work community-oriented development. 
Benefit:

Helps set objectives and identify required resources. 
 
Two people sitting at a table with sticky notes, pens, and a notebook, engaging in a collaborative task.

Language User Profiles

Content:

Model for understanding needs and emotions related to language.
Time:

Getting to know the model: about 15 minutes.
Benefit:

Raises awareness of wishes and circumstances of different language users.
Four people are sitting at a wooden table, having a conversation. Two have their backs to the camera.

Language solutions for workplaces

Content:

Working in Finnish, English or both? Benefits and disadvantages.
Time:

Reading time approximately 10 minutes.
Benefit:

Raises awareness of how different language solutions affect the work community.
Two people are standing in front of a whiteboard covered with sticky notes in a modern interior setting.

Language strategy 

Content:

Guidelines for drawing up the organisation's language strategy.
Time:

Preparation, implementation and monitoring of the strategy.
Benefit:

Highlights the organisation's objectives and provides a basis for actions. 
A man presenting sticky notes on a whiteboard to three seated people. The board has 'TYÖPAIKAN KIELET' written on it.

Language discussions in the work community

Content:

Discussion templates to support language discussions in the work community.
Time:

Planning and e.g. 1–1.5 h discussion.
Benefit:

The work community becomes more aware of linguistic issues and commits to developing linguistic practices.

International recruitment and onboarding

The student is smiling and chatting with the teacher at a table. The student looks at the smiling teacher with a pen in her hand. There are some sheets of paper and a computer on the table.

Language aware recruitment

Content:

Instructions for planning and implementing the different stages of language-aware recruitment. 
Time:

Reserve time to consider language issues.
Benefit:

Improves the attractiveness and employer image of the company, expands the possible pool of recruits and prepares both the applicant and the work community for a smooth start at work. 
Three people at a table with laptops and notebooks. The woman in focus has curly hair and is wearing a red and white shirt.

Planning language aware orientation

Content:

Instructions for planning the orientation for new language-learning employees.
Time:

Reserve time to consider language issues in planning the orientation.
Benefit:

Helps understand the language support required in orientation.
Four people having a meeting in a conference room with a large screen on the wall. Two people are exchanging an item.

Language aware orientation

Content:

Instructions for taking language into account and supporting language learning in orientation. 
Time:

Reserving extra time for language issues in orientation. 
Benefit:

The new employee learns relevant language in orientation. 
Kuvituskuva

Employee language proficiency assessment

Content:

Information on the language proficiency requirements of different professions, and language proficiency levels and tests.
Time:

Exploring materials according to the needs of the organisation.
Benefit:

Increases understanding of language proficiency assessment in the professional context.

Multilingual practices at work

The audience is listening to a man talking into a microphone.

Multilingual events

Content:

Instructions for preparing and leading an event where participants have different language proficiencies.
Time:

Reserve time to consider language issues.
Benefit:

Everyone can understand and participate in events as well as possible, regardless of their language proficiency.
People in a meeting room participating in a video conference. Large screen shows more people on the call.

Language-aware meeting practices

Content:

Tips for organising smooth meetings using multiple languages or when participants are at different levels of language proficiency.
Time:

Reserve time to consider language issues.
Benefit:

Everyone can understand and participate in meetings as well as possible, regardless of their language skills.
Two people in an office, one seated at a laptop showing something to the other who is standing and leaning in.

Practising language skills in social situations

Content:

Tips for language practice at the workplace
Time:

A few minutes and up
Benefit:

A language-learning employee receives opportunities to improve their language skills in the daily life of the workplace.

Language learning at work

Two people converse at a table with a laptop, notebook, and potted plant in an office or café setting.

Language learning plan

Content:

Editable material for drawing up a language learning plan.
Time:

Preparation 10 min, discussion 10-15 min.
Benefit:

Improvement of language proficiency is integrated into professional development.
People working at a table with notebooks, sticky notes, and a tablet. One holds a purple pen.

Pocketbook for supporting language learning

Content:

Method for learning professional language at the workplace.
Time:

Continuous work and regular discussion of observations.
Benefit:

Links language learning to the employee’s needs and work scenarios. 
Three people collaborating at a table with sticky notes and laptops.

Language workshop

Content:

A workshop to discuss work-related (language) issues and find solutions together.
Time:

For example, 1 hour every other week, with participants writing down observations and questions between sessions.
Benefit:

Employees learn language relevant for their work.
Two women sit at a wooden table with iced drinks in front of them. A window and a potted plant are on the left.

Language mentor

Content:

Operating model for facilitating language issues in the work community.
Time:

Training (e.g. 1 day), working time reserved for facilitation.
Benefit:

Language mentor model supports language learning and increases language awareness in the work community.
A person presenting to a group of people in a meeting room. A screen displays text Työntekijöiden hyvinvointi.

Learning professional language at the workplace

Content:

Video on supporting professional language learning at the workplace.
Time:

Video duration 22 min.
Benefit:

The work community receives concrete methods for supporting language learning.
Two people discussing with sticky notes on a whiteboard in an outdoor setting. The woman is gesturing with her hands.

Tips for supporting Finnish learners

Content:

Tips for conversations with language learners and speaking clearly.
Time:

15 tips with examples.
Benefit:

Native-language employee learns to speak more clearly and to support the language learner in participating in discussions. 
Illustration of two people standing. One person is speaking with hand raised while the other has hands on hips. Desk in background.

Phrases for the break room: booklet and video

Content:

Discussion booklet (and video) with spoken phrases for the language learner and tips for speaking clearly for the native speaker. 
Time:

15 themes, each with 3-4 phrases and a video of roughly a minute in duration (total video duration about 13 minutes); 15 tips for native speakers.
Benefit:

Encourages practising Finnish-language discussions in social situations at the workplace. 
A group of people sitting at a table with laptops and notes by a brick wall in a bright indoor space.

Videos: Encountering a colleague learning Finnish or Swedish

Content:

Three short videos with tips for meeting a language-learning colleague
Time:

2,5 minutes
Benefit:

Colleagues learn to be comfortable with different language skills in interaction situations.

Experiences

Employer, this is how you can reach an international expert

THL expert Sanna Nykänen explains how to create an attractive multilingual workplace.

Sanna Nykänen

The only way to learn Finnish is by speaking it

Hitomi Tabuchi and Massiel of the MONIKA – Multicultural Women’s Association describe why Finnish is the only language spoken in their workplace.

Monika-Naiset employees

See also

Kauppakamarilehti: Suomen kieli karttuu vauhdilla työn ohessa (external link)

Maahanmuuttajataustaiset työntekijät oppivat hyvin suomea, kun työpaikalla kannustetaan ja annetaan kielen oppimiseen mahdollisuus. Kolme yritystä kertoo Kauppakamari-lehden teemajutussa, miksi kieliopintojen tukeminen kannattaa.

.

Finnwards: Matkalla tuntemattomaan -podcast (external link)

Neliosainen podcast opastaa kuuntelijan kansainvälisen rekrytoinnin eri vaiheisiin. Kuuntele työnantajien ja kansainvälisten osaajien kokemuksia.

Kaksi tietä auringonlaskussa, askeleiden ääriviivat ja teksti 'Matkalla tuntemattomaan' pinkissä kehyksessä.

Muutostöissä-podcast (external link)

Viisiosaisessa podcastissa keskustellaan kansainvälisestä rekrytoinnista Suomessa. Kielibuusti on mukana kampanjassa.

Teksti 'MUUTOSTÖISSÄ' oranssilla liukuvärillisellä taustalla.

Has your organisation developed tools for multilingual practices or language learning in the workplace? Could they be shared with others? Contact kielibuusti-info[at]aalto.fi.

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