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Published: 25 May 2009

Language choices of comprehensive school pupils in 2008

According to Statistics Finland, English was the most commonly studied foreign language on grades 1 to 6 of comprehensive school in the autumn semester of 2008. Sixty-eight per cent of the pupils attending grades 1 to 6 studied English either as a compulsory or optional foreign language. The percentages of pupils studying other foreign languages remained at 5 per cent or below. A total of 351,095 pupils attended grades 1 to 6.

In the autumn semester of 2008 nearly all pupils attending grades 7 to 9 studied both English and Swedish or Finnish either as mother tongue, or as a compulsory, optional or elective foreign language. German was studied by 12 per cent and French by 6 per cent of the pupils attending grades 7 to 9, mainly as an optional or elective foreign language. A total of 195,543 pupils attended grades 7 to 9.

Language choices of comprehensive school pupils in 2008

Language Compulsory
language
A1
Optional
language
A2
Compulsory
language
B1
Elective
language
B2
Total    Share of
pupils in
grades 1-6
%
Share of
pupils in
grades 7-9
%
Grades 1-6
English 225,019 13,477 - - 238,496 67.9 -
Swedish 3,359 12,966 - - 16,325 4.7 -
Finnish 14,587 1,073 - - 15,660 4.5 -
French 2,033 4,123 - - 6,156 1.8 -
German 3,175 10,403 - - 13,578 3.9 -
Russian 762 533 - - 1,295 0.4 -
Sami 3 169 - - 172 0.1 -
Other 108 460 - - 568 0.2 -
Grades 7-9
English 177,799 15,858 428 80 194,165 - 99.3
Swedish 2,615 12,895 164,342 153 180,005 - 92.1
Finnish 10,354 1,285 201 - 11,840 - 6.1
French 1,575 4,131 231 6,070 12,007 - 6.1
German 2,541 12,054 348 8,987 23,930 - 12.2
Russian 455 237 - 1,208 1,900 - 1.0
Sami 3 42 - 13 58 - 0.0
Latin - - - 628 628 - 0.3
Other 38 234 - 1,457 1,729 - 0.9
Number of pupils in grades 1-6 in the autumn semester of 2008 was 351,095.
Number of pupils in grades 7-9 in the autumn semester of 2008 was 195,543.

 

Source: Education Statistics, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Ms Maija Sikanen +358 9 1734 2292, Ms Irma Suovirta +358 9 1734 3280, koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Director in charge: Mr Jari Tarkoma


Last updated 25.5.2009

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Subject choices of students [e-publication].
ISSN=1799-1056. Subject choices of comprehensive school pupils 2008. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 5.11.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ava/2008/02/ava_2008_02_2009-05-25_tie_002_en.html