We prepare our students for further studies and challenges in work life and encourage them to become active members of society, who participate actively, work together and are creative. Information technology and media are integrated into the learning process. In addition, there are plenty of school-specific courses, and students can even participate in a special Guide Course.
The curriculum for all the programmes is the same, and it is designed so that, for example, advanced syllabus mathematics and physics can be combined with courses offered in the versatile language programme.
Upper secondary school subjects are divided into 38-hour courses. During one period, students study about six courses on average. The lessons of one course are divided into three 75-minute sessions a week. Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages uses a period system with five periods. Each period ends with a seven-day final week, when the students have, for example, exams.
The assessment of a student is course-based. A periodical report card is distributed to the students approximately two weeks after the end of each period. Students can see their own grades and timetables on the school intranet, Wilma, which parents of underage students also have access to. With the student’s permission, their parents can have access to Wilma until the end of their studies.
Emphases
Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages gives you the opportunity to study several languages and prepares you for a future in a world where people are quickly becoming more globalised. By taking school-specific courses, you can improve your language skills and gain versatile experience in different languages and cultures. Our school values internationality, which can be seen on both special occasions and ordinary school days. First, our school has a fun-filled and eventful theme week called Language Week. During the year, we are also visited by several international guests and together with the students, our teachers take part in international projects and organise educational school excursions and trips abroad.
Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages will provide you with the tools for intercultural communication - the language skills, the general education and the ability to analyse encounters between different cultures and world events. As a school, Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages is a multicultural haven with an open-minded atmosphere that welcomes students from different cultural backgrounds. Art brings depth into all areas of study. Arts and crafts are exhibited at school events and as art exhibitions. We encourage individuality and creativity in schoolwork and try to arouse the students' interest by innovative teaching methods and a positive atmosphere.
At Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages, we value sustainable development and learn about what this kind of lifestyle includes and requires. We save energy and raw materials, which is something our Environmental Activists also work on by coming up with new ecological ideas. We teach our students the ability to acquire, evaluate and use information critically and the strength to commit themselves to sustainable development and active citizenship. In the spring 2013, we received a permanent ECO-School flag and in 2014, we were given a certificate for sustainable development by the OKKA-foundation.
A thirst for knowledge and a spirit of community prepare young minds for the future. Many of our teachers use information and communication technology on their courses and it is also possible for students to study online. The student body makes sure that students' interests and well-being are taken care of and trained tutors see our new students off to a good start.
Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages offers excellent opportunities to study mathematics, physics and chemistry. There are several specialised and supportive mathematics courses. Physics and chemistry classes use several activity-based environments, which integrate tools for measurements and controls. A student participating in the language programme can also include advanced syllabus mathematics in their curriculum.
Study Programmes
An English and Finnish study programme began at Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Languages in August 2020. At least half of the courses in the curriculum will be taught in English. However, as the students in the bilingual programme will take the Matriculation Exams in Finnish, they must have prior knowledge of both Finnish and English.
In the upcoming application cycle (2023) 60 new students will be admitted to the bilingual programme. Please note that in 2023 there will be no entrance exam. Instead, the applicants will be selected based on their school grades:The grade point average of their ninth grade school leaving report. Please note that a weighting system will be used: English (A1 or A2) and Finnish (mother tongue or Finnish as a second language) will be given more weight as compared to other academic subjects (weight coefficient 2)
In addition to preparing students for an international future, the emphasis programme offers a chance to expand and versify language skills and knowledge of different cultures. You can apply to the emphasis programme in the joint application. (Please note that the language of instruction is Finnish). The selection of students is based on their grade point average. Spring 2023, 60 students will be chosen for the programme. The lowest accepted average in spring 2022 was 8,00.
The range of languages offered at our school is very wide. The students can continue their previous language studies and start studying new languages. You can study 13 different languages at our school: Finnish, Swedish, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic and Korean.
The students will study the national curriculum. They will therefore have to complete all the mandatory courses. The students are encouraged to study languages in depth and take them in the Matriculation Exams. We also aim to provide every student in the emphasis programme a chance to participate in an international project or in an international course at our school.
We recommend that students on the emphasis programme choose two optional languages in addition to the compulsory foreign language and second national language. Student counsellors will provide help with choosing languages. When the students have completed 8 courses from the emphasis programme, they receive a special diploma at graduation.
You can apply to the general programme in the joint application. The selection of students is based on their grade point average. In 2023, 152 new students will be chosen for the general programme. Spring 2022 the lowest accepted average was 7,38.