29 Jan 2025
Moving to a new country comes with many challenges, and communication is often the biggest one. As a Gambian migrant in Finland, overcoming language barriers and adapting to new social norms can feel overwhelming—but with the right approach, you can connect, integrate, and thrive in your new environment. Gambians who move to Finland for work so they can send money from Finland to Gambia to support their families back home often experience major culture shocks in Finland. This is because there are huge differences in terms of culture and society between the two countries. Learning a new language, which is essential to adjust to a new culture, is a time-consuming and effort-demanding task.
But that does not mean there are no immediate steps one can take as a Gambian expat to communicate effectively in Finland. Let’s help you learn the ways to improve your communication while living in Finland as a Gambian.
Integrating into Finnish society can be a fulfilling experience with the right approach. Start by familiarizing yourself with Finnish culture, traditions, and social norms. Engage in community activities or local events to build connections and friendships. Utilize language learning tools or enroll in Finnish language courses to strengthen your foundation. To blend in with Finnish society almost immediately, there are specific steps you can take to learn basic communication skills.
these are pretty simple to learn. All you need is a bunch of flashcards and markers. Google some of the most common greetings, directions, and common questions you might need to use daily and find out how to communicate those phrases in Finnish. These include phrases like excuse me (anteeksi), thank you (kiitos), and please (ole hyva). In case you struggle with pronunciation, Google offers pronunciation help as well. Other than this, there are tons of helpful YouTube tutorials, too.
Learn the language on the go. Apps like Memrise, Babbel, and Duolingo allow you to learn languages at your own pace. With practice exercises and pronunciation aid features, these apps help people learn languages even with busy work schedules. All it requires is consistency. Once you get a grip on the language, it might also get easier to use varying channels to send money online to Gambia from Finland.
Total immersion is the key to learning even the most complex languages, which means that reading a book, taking a class, or taking tutorials is not enough. You have to use the language from day one.
Participating in language exchange programs held by community centers and universities is an excellent opportunity to test your skills. You can practice talking in Finnish with native speakers and learn a lot faster through actual, honest conversations. These free programs will help you improve your vocabulary, pronunciation, and comprehension skills.
There are many club and social group options in Finland. You can learn to connect with Finnish society much faster and effectively depending on your interests, such as music, an art form, fitness, or sports. Not only will this build your confidence in having everyday interactions with people, but it will also expose you to local Finnish culture firsthand.
Apart from the language itself, a society's communication style is also crucial to observe if you don’t want to sound like a robot regurgitating crammed words. This is also crucial in case you have to go to a bank to make a money transfer from Finland to Gambia for financial support back home.
One thing to realize about Finnish society is that it’s pretty straightforward and direct in terms of communication. When learning to communicate, your focus should be on speaking concisely and clearly. This is a cultural norm that you need to adopt if you want to meet the cultural and social expectations of Finnish society.
The Finnish are somewhat introverted and prefer keeping to themselves even in public. This can be a cultural shock for Gambian expats who are used to more lively environments. However, if you tend to integrate smoothly into Finnish society, adapting to the quiet environment will do you a lot of good in the long run.
There is no magic trick to learning a new language and engaging in fluent conversations with a society that speaks a foreign language. However, following these easy but profound techniques to improve your communication skills will do wonders for you. As a Gambian expat, you can now make an online money transfer from Finland to Gambia using ACE Money Transfer, a widely trusted service. Try the popular ACE mobile app today!
Start with greetings and essential phrases like “thank you” (kiitos), “please” (ole hyvä), and “hello” (hei).
Community centers, libraries, and online platforms like Yle Kielikoulu offer free or low-cost language courses for beginners.
Yes, apps like Duolingo and Babbel offer Finnish language lessons that are convenient and beginner-friendly.
Yes, Finns are often direct and value personal space and quiet, which may feel different but becomes easier with practice.
Local organizations such as the Red Cross and Moniheli provide language workshops and integration support for migrants.