by Oheneba "Ohe" Poku-Marboah
An interview series where I interview people who have learned Finnish to a high level on how they did it. How to learn Finnish or any language. I pretended I didn't know English for an entire year so that I could become fluent in the Finnish language. I will tell you how I did it and interview others to share how they achieved fluency and on how to remove the friction from achieving your language learning goals and how to learn efficiently.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
6/2/2025
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February 25, 2026
<p>In this episode, I sit down with Chloe Järvinen, a UK-born project manager in the social field who moved to Finland in 2015 after a music-inspired trip unexpectedly changed her life. What began as a fascination with Finnish rock led to marriage, relocation, and ultimately a deep commitment to learning the language.Chloe explains why mastering Finnish became non-negotiable for her independence and sense of belonging, especially during her first few years in Finland. She shares what genuinely helped her progress, what completely missed the mark, and why she believes some popular learning materials can actually demotivate learners without proper guidance, while offering practical alternatives that worked better for her.We dive into mindset shifts, rejecting the “Finnish is impossible” narrative, setting small tangible goals, leveraging passive exposure in daily life, and navigating serious setbacks, such as illness and pandemic, without giving up.This conversation isn’t just about learning a language. It’s about building a life. And how Finnish ultimately expanded Chloe’s confidence, career opportunities, and connection to the society around her.🎙️ Welcome to How I Learned Finnish – with OheHelping immigrants thrive (not just survive) by mastering one of the world’s toughest languages.👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if this inspired you or made you think differently about language learning.-- Table of contents --00:00 Mindset Over Negativity00:50 Meet Chloe Rapid Fire03:00 Music Led To Finland05:47 Love And Moving Fast08:35 Why Learn Finnish10:58 Early Study Methods13:40 What Worked And Failed17:24 Best Starter Resources21:32 Bad Tools And DIY Cards24:14 Stop Saying Finnish Hard29:40 Learning Through Music32:22 Progress YKI And Levels37:26 Grammar Struggles And Style39:24 Grammar Stress Trap40:45 Passive Finnish Everywhere42:23 Friends Kids and Muskari45:24 Small Steps Mindset46:40 Skip Suomen Mestari47:48 Active Study Routine50:33 Force Finnish Situations53:04 Integration and Community57:20 Why People Quit01:03:53 Do It Scared01:08:38 Rapid Fire Skills01:15:06 Setbacks and Recovery01:20:59 Tantrum Then Continue01:22:44 Life After Finnish01:24:19 Episode Wrap Up#LearnFinnish #LearningFinnish #FinnishLanguage #FinnishFluency #MoveToFinland #LivingInFinland #ExpatInFinland #ImmigrantLife #YKITest#Integration #LanguageLearning #LanguageLearningJourney #LanguageImmersion #FinnishCulture#WorkInFinland #StudyInFinland #SuomenMestari #Selkokieli #FinnishForForeigners#HowILearnedFinnish #AdultLanguageLearning #NoEnglish</p>
December 22, 2025
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December 7, 2025
<p>In this episode of 'How I Learned Finnish with Ohe,' I interview Jamie McDonald, a 48-year-old standup comedian and artist, about his journey of learning Finnish. Jamie, who performs under the stage name 'Happening Fish,' discusses the challenges and motivations in learning a language spoken by only a few million people. He shares insights into his methods, from taking classes and integrating into Finnish society through family and social circles, to the unconventional approaches of performing standup and attending yoga classes. Jamie also reflects on the emotional hurdles, the importance of persistence, and the cultural immersion necessary for mastering Finnish.. He covers topics such as integrating into Finnish culture, overcoming language barriers in personal and professional settings, and the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone to truly master a new language. This episode is filled with humor, valuable insights, and encouragement for anyone looking to learn Finnish or navigate a new linguistic and cultural environment.</p><p>🎙️ Welcome to How I Learned Finnish – with OheHelping immigrants thrive (not just survive) by mastering one of the world’s toughest languages.</p><p>👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if this inspired you or made you think differently about language learning.</p><p>-- Table of Contents--</p><p>00:00 Introduction: Why Learn Finnish?</p><p>00:42 Meet Jamie McDonald: Rapid Fire Questions</p><p>01:02 The Origin of 'Happening Fish'</p><p>01:41 Stand-Up Comedy and Name Confusion</p><p>02:25 Joining the Red Mic Stand-Up Circuit</p><p>04:23 Jamie's Finnish Connection: Family and Relocation</p><p>07:00 Learning Finnish: Challenges and Progress</p><p>08:41 Cultural Integration and Language Barriers</p><p>14:10 Effective Learning Methods and Resources</p><p>17:07 The Role of Media in Language Learning</p><p>25:31 The Struggle with Formal Language Education</p><p>28:55 Comparing Language Learning Experiences</p><p>37:08 Observations on Learning Finnish</p><p>38:00 Accent Challenges and Personal Experiences</p><p>39:08 The Importance of Speaking Finnish</p><p>41:36 Unconventional Methods for Learning Finnish</p><p>43:58 The Role of Finnish Media and Integration</p><p>51:09 Overcoming Challenges and Staying Motivated</p><p>01:13:26 Encouragement and Benefits of Learning Finnish</p>
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Anita Anttila
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Oheneba Poku-Marboah
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Ohe
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An interview series where I interview people who have learned Finnish to a high level on how they did it.
How to learn Finnish or any language. I pretended I didn't know English for an entire year so that I could become fluent in the Finnish language. I will tell you how I did it and interview others to share how they achieved fluency and on how to remove the friction from achieving your language learning goals and how to learn efficiently.
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