Studying in a language-oriented class
Basic education in Turku offers extensive bilingual education, language immersion in Swedish, and content and language integrated learning. In bilingual education, language is used as a teaching instrument for different subjects, which enables the pupil to reach a strong competence of the target language and to practice their cultural and international skills. Bilingual education complies with specific principles established in the curriculum.
One can apply for bilingual education when registering for school via Wilma. Applicants from outside municipalities may use printable forms. When applying for the 1st grade, applicants will take part in tests evaluating the level of their first language.
Additional information about applying for a language class and the call for additional applications can be found in Wilma, or enquired of the principals of schools offering bilingual education.
Language oriented classes in Turku
- There are English classes at Puolan koulu school. 1st to 6th grades and 7th to 9th grades.
- Education focusing on English is also available at Wäinö Aaltosen koulu school (1-6. grades) and Turun Lyseon koulu school (7-9 grade).
- In language classes English is studied as an A1 language, but the goal is a deeper language proficiency and cultural experience than a regular study of an A-language.
- A native teacher teaches the class the entirety of primary school. Visiting and international interns often visit the language classes.
- The teaching is bilingual. With CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning), content can be taught in a foreign language in all subjects except mother tongue (Finnish).
- Swedish-language classes are held at the Luostarivuori school, with grades 1-6 at the Martti unit and grades 7-9 at the Luostarivuori unit.
- For Finnish speaking children there is a full Swedish immersion. The teacher’s first language is Swedish, and it is used for all subjects in all classes all of the time for the first two years.
- Your child will learn to read and write in Swedish.
- Preschool education and the language immersion group for 5-year-olds are at Kerttuli day care unit.
- The children who were at a language immersion day care and preschool education are put first when applying for language immersion basic education.
- There are German classes at Puolan koulu school.
- German is taught as an A1 language and there are three classes a week in each grade.
- A native language teacher teaches the entire primary and lower upper secondary education. International interns often visit language classes.
- On the 9th grade your child will participate in an official language programme, Das Deutsche Sprachdiplom I.
- At the German-language class your child can take part in a student exchange with our German friendship school. The exchange includes a study trip to Germany for about a week at your own expense and hosting a German student in return.
- The final assessment follows the general evaluation criteria for basic education.
- French-language classes for 1-6 grades are at Vähä-Heikkilä school.
- French-language classes for 7-9 grades are at Topelius school.
- The first two years focus on comprehension and building a foundation of language skills.
- Reading and writing are taught in Finnish, and about half of the teaching is in another language.
- Depending on the language class and the school, some subjects are taught entirely in Finnish, some partly in a foreign language and partly in Finnish, and some entirely in a foreign language.
- Teaching for the Finnish-Russian classes happens at Puolala school.
- On 29.2.2024, the Finnish-speaking section of the Education committee decided to discontinue the classes from 1.8.2025. Those already in the classes will be allowed to continue their language path until end of primary education, but no new students will be admitted in 2025.
Applying to language-oriented classes
Apply for language classes in Wilma. If you do not have access to Turku’s Wilma, you can either download the application form or request a paper application from the school you are applying to.
Applying for special classes happens once a year during a period that will be announced separately. You can only apply to one school at a time. When the application period is over, the school invites you to a testing day for the applicants.