Csilla Németh, from Hungary, arrived in Finland over 30 years ago as part of an international student exchange programme whilst she was studying at university. After completing her Master’s degree in Philosophy, she returned to Finland to improve her Finnish language skills and worked as an au pair in Helsinki for a year.

That year proved to be a turning point in her life.

–My future husband and I fell in love during my year as an au pair, and I spent every weekend in Kotka, Csilla explains.

Originally, Csilla hadn’t planned to stay in Finland. She was an only child, and her ageing parents were still living in Hungary.

–Telling them about my decision wasn’t easy, but once my mum met my partner, she too realised that we’d have a good life here.

The long road back to work

Csilla currently teaches Finnish to new arrivals at the South Kymenlaakso Vocational College, Ekami. Over the years, her work has become an increasingly important part of her life.

–As autumn begins, I’m already looking forward to getting back to work after my holiday – we’ve got a brilliant team! she says.

Before her teaching career, Csilla spent around ten years as a stay-at-home mum with four children. Her return to working life began with a degree in primary school teaching at the University of Helsinki. She studied Finnish as a minor, which qualified her to teach the language in secondary schools. At the same time, she also obtained a qualification to teach Finnish as a second language (S2).

–After all those years at home, my motivation to study was as high as the Himalayas! Csilla laughs, referring to the Asian mountain range and the world’s highest peak there.

Don’t be afraid to use the language

Csilla Németh’s employer, Ekami, is one of the key organisations in the region working on integration, education and employment pathways for immigrants. It provides Finnish language courses, integration training, preparatory courses for further education, labour market training and vocational training for immigrants.

Csilla Németh’s students aim to learn Finnish and find their place in Finnish society. According to her, learning does not take place only in the classroom, but also in everyday situations. Teachers are also required to have the ability to support the learning of students from different backgrounds.

– My work is wonderfully varied. You could also say that we’re constantly learning from one another.

In integration training, participants learn not only the language but also workplace skills and how to function in Finnish society.

– At Ekami, you can also take the general language test, the YKI test, says Csilla.

She points out that everyone has different abilities when it comes to learning a language.

– Even highly educated people aren’t always able to pick up a foreign language well. That can lead to frustration and thoughts like: Why can’t I learn as well as someone else?

– In such cases, I urge them to accept their own situation. As a teacher, I can advise on different ways of learning, but that alone isn’t enough; you also need to be proactive in your free time, she continues.

Csilla encourages newcomers to the country to use Finnish confidently and to accept mistakes as part of the learning process.

– And if you don’t understand the person you’re talking to, you can always say: I’m not sure, could you repeat that?

– The easy way isn’t the best. You won’t learn Finnish with a translation app,’ Csilla notes.

Every day is an opportunity to learn

Csilla’s own Finnish also improved not only through her studies but, above all, in everyday life.

– My husband and I spoke English at first, as that was the language we’d fallen in love in. But we switched to speaking Finnish at home, and it was well worth it! At first, my husband was constantly correcting what I said, which was annoying. But we persevered, and my language skills improved!

She understands very well the challenges faced by immigrants and points out that, in a new country, it can sometimes take years to find a job that matches one’s skills.

–That’s when you can think: I’m here now, and I’m capable of doing this job. Every job is valuable. I myself have sold strawberries and done cleaning work whilst living in Finland. Whilst I was delivering newspapers, my supervisor remarked that he’d never actually had someone with a Master’s in Philosophy working for him before! Csilla smiles.

In her work, she aims to increase students’ understanding of Finnish society and encourages them to look to the future with optimism.

‘I encourage my students and offer them new perspectives, whilst trying to highlight the positive aspects of things,’ she says.

The students’ successes bring her particular joy.

–We’ve even had cases where a student has gone straight from a work placement linked to our course into full-time employment!

A place in society is created together

As well as her main job, Csilla’s daily life includes teaching yoga, working part-time as a massage therapist, and studying German and Spanish. She currently lives in Kotkansaari, right at the heart of the city’s events.

– I can no longer imagine living in another country, or even in another city!

Although Finland is her home, her Hungarian identity is always present.

– I strongly maintain my Hungarian identity and keep abreast of what’s happening in the country. At the same time, I’m very much part of Finnish life.

From her own experience, Csilla knows that integration takes time. That is why she encourages people to take things at their own pace, whilst valuing their own background and culture.

–Everyone’s path to integration is completely different, she notes.

Ultimately, integration is not just the responsibility of the individual, she points out.

–You don’t take a place in society. It is given to you by welcoming those who have come from elsewhere, just like anyone else, she says.

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