I'm Irina, a multibelonger to Romania, Canada, and Finland—without one language or culture to call my own. I have several. And for a long time, I struggled with what that meant for where I truly belonged.
My Story of Belonging in Finland
Growing up between cultures has a lot of benefits, but I also struggled with never feeling quite Romanian enough, French-Canadian enough, or eventually Finnish enough to belong anywhere. For so long, I thought once I found the right place, I would feel like I finally belonged.
But when I moved to Finland and saw this pattern play out again, I understood there was no magical place where I would finally feel at home. As an adult living far away from what felt familiar (but not quite like home anyway), I realized: belonging wasn’t going to happen outside of me.
It was a choice I had to make inside myself. Once I made the choice to belong in Finland, it felt like I’d moved a mountain.
I stopped waiting to be "ready enough" to participate and started engaging in my daily life in Finnish, however imperfectly. Because I understood what I was really after: I wanted to feel at home where I live.
This is what most people want when they say they want to speak Finnish. Not just the words—but the feeling of belonging that comes from being able to participate in the life around you.
Learning Finnish & Helping Others
Learning Finnish as an adult was full of trial, error, and plenty of frustration. Like many people who move to Finland, I also struggled to find my professional direction. But eventually, I realized my journey had prepared me to help others bridge the gap I'd struggled with—from studying Finnish to actually speaking it.
Since then, I've helped over 100 people make this shift. And what I've discovered is:
the work isn't just about language— it's about people giving themselves permission to participate in daily life while learning.
Now I use Finnish in my daily life —at work, with friends, navigating services—and language learning is ongoing. As my life in Finland continues to evolve, so does my Finnish. And that's exactly as it should be.
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My Approach
I teach strategic skills for navigating real situations—not more grammar. You learn to turn everyday situations—like ordering coffee or grocery shopping—into powerful practice opportunities through preparation and repetition. Instead of scattered conversation practice on random topics, you build confidence through predictable interactions first, then expand from there.
My approach is simple: your daily life is your best classroom. You don't wait until you're "ready" to speak. You learn by speaking—in the places you go to regularly, in the conversations you have daily. You learn to belong through participation, not perfection.
Because the truth is, you already have what it takes. You just need the right approach to start using it.
Sharing This Work
My story and approach have been featured in Helsingin Sanomat, Vuorotellen 1 (a Finnish textbook for intermediate learners), and on Finnish radio. I've also spoken at language learning conferences and events, including a TEDx talk.
I've worked with public sector organizations (THL, City of Helsinki, Spouse Program), universities, and companies in tech, manufacturing, and design.
“The FFEL course has done so much for my confidence - it has allowed me to feel like I can belong in Finland.”
David
Ready to Practice Finnish In Your Real Life?
Watch my free training to discover what's blocking you and learn how to start turning your daily situations into practice opportunities.
🏢Organizations: I also run Finnish for Everyday Life as an in-house program for international employees and spouses. Email me at irina[at]languagecatalyst[dot]com