Keskustan toimipiste

Kalevankatu 8-10
Postiosoite PL 3820, 00099 Helsinki
Kanslia puh. (09) 310 82118
sähköposti hal.keskusta(at)edu.hel.fi

Helsingin aikuislukio offers Finnish courses at all levels, from elementary courses to upper secondary school courses. The courses are organized in four locations:

Keskusta/Center (Kalevankatu 8−10)
Itä-Helsinki/East Helsinki (Kajaaninlinnantie 10)
Mäkelänrinne (Mäkelänkatu 47)
Kuutio (Mäkelänkatu 84).

Course levels

Alkeiskurssi / Beginner's course)
(starting level 0, target level A2.1)
↓                 
Jatkokurssi / Continuation course
(starting level A2.1,  target level A2.2)
↓         
Peruskoulun kurssit / Lower secondary courses
(starting level A2.2, target level B1.2)
↓
Lukion kurssit / Higher secondary courses
(starting level B1.2, target level B2.1)

Course levels (A1.1−B2.1) are based on The Common European Framework of Reference CEFR. For more information see the pages of European Council.

Special courses
In Itä-Helsinki there are Finnish courses for illiterate adults. 

Registration 
Students can apply to the the Beginners' and Continuation courses by sending an application form to the school postal address. Application forms are available in all school offices and internet pages during the application period 22.11.−8.12.2010 . Registration is possible also by filling in an electric application form in the school internet pages. Students accepted to the course will receive a letter of acceptance  / invitation to a replacement test.

Language of instruction
The language of instruction at all courses is Finnish. 

Course price
The course price is EUR 125. The bill for the course will be sent home after the first six weeks. Unemployed Helsinki citizens and full time students get a 50% discount off the course price by showing a valid card (the TE-centre card/student card). 

Attendance
The courses are intensive in nature so a 100% class attendance is required. Students must arrive to class in time. Students are not allowed to leave the classroom during lessons. The absences of the students taking part in integration training (kotoutumiskoulutus) are informed to the TE-centre.

Homework
The amount of work required for an intensive course is estimated at 22 hours a week. This consists of lessons at school (16 hours) and homework (6 hours). The courses include a considerable amount of homework. Completing the homework for each lesson is an essential part of the course.

Vacations
syysloma 14. −17.10.2010
joululoma 20.12.2010 −7.1.2011
talviloma 21. −27.2.2011
pääsiäisloma 21. −25.4.2011

Social benefits
Students are not eligible for student prize commuter tickets or financial aid to students. However, the students taking part in intergration training (kotoutumiskoulutus) are entitled to the Kela training allowance (kotoutumistuki) for intensive courses (22 working hours a week). For the obtention of the said allowance, the students must contact their TE-centre before the course starts. More information on the training allowance can be obtained from TE-centres, Kela and the pages of Infopankki.

YKI certificate
Mäkelänrinne organizes YKI languages tests. For more information see Yleiset kielitutkinnot YKI.

Other opportunities to learn Finnish
For more information on Finnish courses in the Helsinki area see http://www.selma-net.fi/.