Finland

Here is the translation in English of the most important parts:

Page 3:

The criteria of primary levels curriculum in Finland; 1-2 grades

By the government of Education 2002-12-04

These orders can be used from 1.8.2002

but must be adopted since 1.8.2003

Page 7:

First chapter: the meaning and the main goals of teaching

1§ The basic values of primary teaching

These values of primary teaching are based on the human rights and to maintain the vitality of the earth and also on the acceptance of the multicultural civilization…

Immigrants enrich the Finnish culture. It should be regarded as a national wealth which helps us to understand different cultures and also helps us towards international education.

Page 39:

18§ Teaching languages can be started from the first or the second grade with games and activities. In the first two grades the language lessons can be short sessions or activities whose duration would be only half of the normal lesson.

Language learning consists of skills of comprehension (activation of those skills), communication with various means. Written language can be learnt later.

Teaching methods are role-plays, drama, games, rhymes, stories, songs etc.

Teaching should be integrated to familiar experiences of the children and to the well known themes.

Main objectives

Developing language awareness by:

Creating the base for further language öearning and skills of language learning
Creating positive attitudes towards language learning and also to life-long lasting language learning
Creating curiosity towards cultures and languages
preventing prejudices against foreign languages
increasing encouragement to express oneself with languages

Basic area of contents / items

simple communication in everyday situations
things that are associated with home and school
things that are typical of that special language, and the country in which the language is spoken as a mother tongue/first language

Page 52:

37§ Paragraph that insures the special rights of immigrants in Finland.

The local curriculas must be done by the basis of this national criteria, so we are able to work with language awareness right from the beginning of the first grade.

See page 70.

(Our local curriculum is done right now. One of our experimental LA-teachers is a member of the authors, so we are able to concentrate the amount of LA-lessons in the first two grades.)

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