Oheneba “Ohe” Poku-Marboah, a software developer with an international background, has launched a project to help immigrants learn Finnish by sharing the real experiences of people who have successfully learned to speak the language.
Oheneba “Ohe” Poku-Marboah. Photo by Olga Kryuchkova
The project was created by a developer who moved to Finland as a child and later realized how crucial the Finnish language is for integration and career opportunities.
Although he arrived at age 11 and completed most of his education in English-language schools, he said the importance of learning Finnish only became clear after graduation.
“I suddenly realized that in the real world, many opportunities require Finnish,” he told Migrant Tales. “That’s when I decided I had to take the language seriously.”
The idea for the project began in 2022 when he started reflecting on why some immigrants succeed in learning Finnish while others struggle. Conversations in everyday settings — including a chance discussion in a barbershop — helped spark the concept.
“I realized I’m not the only one who has managed to do this,” he said. “So I thought: why not let people share their stories about how they learned Finnish?”
The website, How I Learned Finnish – with Ohe, features inspiring success stories of immigrants who arrived in Finland as adults and eventually achieved a high level of fluency. The interviews are available on the website as well as on YouTube and podcast platforms.
While creator Poku-Marboah says he appreciates all the stories, three stand out for him: the language-learning journeys of Deborah Laajanen, Kseniia, and Jamie McDonald.
Those featured in the project include people who have gone on to study at Finnish-language universities, work professionally in Finnish, and even perform stand-up comedy in the language.
Laajanen, for example, entered law school at the University of Helsinki after learning Finnish in just a few years. McDonald began performing stand-up comedy in Finnish despite starting from zero as an adult learner. Kseniia describes discomfort as the engine of language learning, not an obstacle.
Poku-Marboah himself took a similar approach. At times, he told people he did not speak English, forcing conversations to happen in Finnish.
A recurring theme in the interviews is the role of identity in language learning. According to Poku-Marboah, many successful learners first made a conscious decision to see Finland as their home.
“For many people, it’s identity-based,” he said. “Once they decide they belong here and want to be part of society, learning the language becomes much easier.”
He also stresses the importance of consistent practice and immersion.
The project currently includes around a dozen interviews and has been entirely self-funded. Poku-Marboah hopes the stories will inspire newcomers navigating life in Finland.
“I felt something like this should exist,” he continued. “If someone is trying to learn Finnish, they can see how others in similar situations managed to do it.”
Despite receiving little response so far from the media he contacted, he plans to keep the project online so immigrants and students can continue learning from others’ experiences.
His message to newcomers is simple: aim high — and commit fully to life in Finland.
