Supporting Finnish Language Learners in Basic Education: Teachers' Views

Abstract

This paper sheds light on linguistic support concerning the language of schooling in multilingual classrooms in Finnish lower secondary education. We ask how the teachers consider knowing their students, what the needs in linguistic and academic support are, and how the needs are met. The data were collected from teachers in eight lower secondary schools in different parts of Finland. The findings show that the means to scaffold Finnish language learners are still in the development phase as there are no uniform ways to support students with an immigrant background in Finnish basic education.