Language Centre teacher tutors help with language and communication studies

Who are teacher tutors?

The teacher tutors are Language Centre teachers, who are available for consultation at least once a week during terms without making an appointment.

You can discuss a wide range of language-related issues with the teacher tutors, including what coursework they are expected to do in a specific course or how to study in a German-speaking country. Some students may have questions about returning to studies after a long break or be unsure of their oral or written language skills. For some students, language learning and use may involve anxiety or negative experiences.

If you need general student advice for language and communication studies, you can contact the Kaisa House Student Advice. Kaisa House advises you for example with questions on Language Centre course offerings, registration to language courses, as well as completion and credit transfer of the mandatory language and communication courses in the degree.

What do meetings with teacher tutors involve?

You can ask the tutors about the following:

• Language courses
• Learning material
• Studying techniques
• Grammar
• Self-access courses

Tutors can also review texts written by students, guide students in selecting online material and give advice on which courses to select. In addition, tutors assess language skill levels and help students assess themselves.

Tutoring is particularly recommended for those studying languages independently.

Language anxiety and apprehension

Students with language anxiety, learning difficulties or general anxiety should contact a teacher tutor. Studying languages should feel safe. Tutors aim to find solutions that enable students to complete the required language and communication studies.

NB! Office hours are held mainly remotely/online. Please check in the table below the tutoring times in different languages. Tutoring starts simultaneously with teaching. Possible changes in schedules are mentioned below in language sections.

There is no tutoring during the gap/study week 20.-24.10.2025.

English

Kari Pitkänen

Tutoring meetings in Zoom 4.9.-11.12.2025:
Thurdays at 13-14
Kari Pitkänen's room in Zoom  (Meeting ID: 985 823 7213) 

No tutoring on 20.11.2025

Otherwise tutoring via email.

Spanish

Gonzalo Hernández

• foreign language studies exemption test, oral skills
• beginner's level independent project course

Tutorin via email or by appointment in Zoom. Meetings in Zoom are scheduled with the teacher via email.
Gonzalo's room in Zoomissa

Mirjami Matilainen

• Spanish language programme and recognition of previous language studies into them
• foreign language studies exemption test, written skills
• intermediate and advanced level independent project course

Tutorin via email or by appointment in Zoom. Meetings in Zoom are scheduled with the teacher via email.

Finnish as a second national language

Hanna Vänskä

Tutoring meetings in Zoom:
Mondays at 13-14
Hanna Vänskä's room in Zoom

Italian

Giuseppe Feroldi

Tutoring meetings in Zoom:
Tuesdays at 15-16 
Giuseppe Feroldi's room in Zoom

Appointments in person are scheduled with the teacher via email.

French

Suvi Kotkavuori

Tutoring meetings in Zoom:
Fridays at 11-12 
Suvi Kotkavuori's room in Zoom

Otherwise tutoring via email.

French language studies exemption test and French language programme:

Päivi Lehto-Peura

Tutoring via email. Meetings are scheduled with the teacher and they take place in Zoom.

Päivi Lehto-Peura's room in Zoom

Swedish

Carola Rewell-Heikkinen

Tuutoring starts on 28.8. and ends on 20.11.2025

Tutoring meetings in Zoom:
Thursdays at 10-11
Carola Rewell's room in Zoom

Otherwise tutoring via email.

German

Tia Patenge

Tutoring will start on 25.8.2025.

Tutoring via email and by appointment in Zoom or in person. Tutoring meetings are scheduled with the teacher via email.
Tia Patenge's room in Zoom

Russian

Heidi Mäkäläinen

Tutoring via email and by appointment in Zoom or in person. Tutoring meetings are scheduled with the teacher via email.
Heidi Mäkäläinen's room in Zoom

Written communication (in Finnish)

Salla-Maaria Suuriniemi

Tutoring meetings in Zoom:
Mondays at 13-14
Salla-Maaria Suuriniemi's room in Zoom

Speech communication (in Finnish)

Maiju Ranta

Tutoring meetings are in Zoom and they are scheduled with the teacher via email.

Written and speech communication (in Swedish)

Jenny Sylvin

Tutoring meetings are in Zoom and they are scheduled with the teacher via email.