THE KESÄLUKIO II
SUMMER
HIGH SCHOOL
Hartola, Finland
28.7.–4.8.2026
In English | Suomeksi
TARGET GROUP
Finns or students with Finnish background living abroad, secondary school students living in Finland, other international students interested in improving their Finnish or English
HOW TO APPLY
Täytä ilmoittautumislomake Itä-Hämeen opiston sivuilla 21.6. mennessä.
ORGANISER
Itä-Hämeen opisto
MORE INFO
Tiina Marttinen
tiina.marttinen@ihop.fi
tel. +358 44 512 6073
ihop.fi
PARTICIPATION FEE
579 € / 1 language course
679 € / 2 language courses
(incl. program, materials, full room and board, freetime activities)
Note: The courses require a minimum of 10 participants.
Join THE kesälukio II to study Finnish or English according to the national high school curriculum of Finland – in Finland!
Learn about the history and present day (and ghosts!) of the historical Finnish noble manor now serving as a school. The buildings, stories and the wonderful surrounding local nature all play their part in the language lessons. Perhaps we’ll even spend a night sleeping outside?
The Itä-Hämeen opisto (Eastern Häme folk college and school) is located in the peaceful village of Hartola, close to a river and a lake. At THE kesälukio II summer high school you can focus on studying Finnish and/or English under the guidance of encouraging and enthusiastic teachers.
Both language courses in the summer high school are especially aimed at 15–19-year-old students with a Finnish background living abroad, as well as international young people studying at high school level in Finland, who wish to improve their Finnish or English skills. Even adult students are welcome. The English course is also suitable for native Finnish speakers: when you study English in an international group, you get intensive training in speaking the language around the clock.
You will receive personal guidance and support according to your needs. To balance your studies, plenty of fun, guided free time activities are available, so you are sure to get to know your fellow students.
A night supervisor will be present on site at night.
Course work
THE summer high school teachers value
– positive pedagogy (e.g. taking students’ own strengths into account)
– being student-centered (sharing experiences and feelings, considering everyone in the group)
– space for creativity and your own ideas
– functional and conversational teaching methods
– working in different environments, e.g. in the classroom and outdoors, getting to know some of the local nature and its plants and animals in the learning process
– storytelling
Finnish lessons take place in the mornings and English lessons in the afternoons, so you can choose either one or both of the courses.
Together, the two courses constitute a total of 2 credits (38 lessons á 45 min). If you are a student at a Finnish upper secondary school, you can request to have these credits counted towards your diploma as an optional applied course (opintojakso). If you do, agree upon it beforehand with your study advisor or principal.
Choose either one or two courses:
SUOMI TOISENA KIELENÄ (S2) Suomen kertaus (1 op)
(FINNISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (S2) Finnish refresher course (1 credits))
Kurssin tavoitteena on kehittää opiskelijan suomen kielen taitoa, jotta hänestä tulee täysivaltainen kieliyhteisön jäsen. Suomen kurssille ovat tervetulleita kaikki, jotka puhuvat jo jonkin verran suomea, vaikka eivät olisi opiskelleet suomea. Kurssilla opiskellaan suomea toisena kielenä (S2) suomalaisen lukion oppimäärän mukaisesti. Osallistujien toiveiden mukaan voidaan harjoitella myös S2-ylioppilaskokeeseen.
Opettaja: Pihka Aaltonen
ENGLISH (ENA) English refresher course (1 op)
The English refresher course is suitable for practicing advanced English for the final exams at the upper secondary school level or for anyone who wants to improve their English language skills. In addition to international students, the course is also suitable for native Finnish speakers – in a multilingual environment you will inevitably use English even during your free time, and you will feel encouraged to express yourself in English. The course includes a review of English grammar and vocabulary in accordance with the national upper secondary school curriculum of Finland. Practice for the matriculation examination is also available to those who wish it.
Teacher: Marianna Viherma
Other activities
In the surroundings of the Itä-Hämeen opisto school, located in a beautiful natural area, you will also spend leisure time and summer evenings with your coursemates – like a full-time camp! You will get to know your group through fun activities, both guided and unguided. You can barbecue, play football or go for a game of frisbee golf in the yard. You can also enjoy a swim at the nearby swimming spot. Actual golf is also available right next door (at your own expense).
The center of the Hartola village is only a short walk away. There are great walking destinations in the vicinity, such as the long wooden suspension bridge built over the river in the 1930s.
