Cluj Napoca, Romania

Celebrating the Finnish language in Transylvania

Olin Erasmus+ -koulutusmatkalla 12.-16.11.2025 Transilvanian sydämessä, Cluj Napocassa (unkarilaisittain Kolozsvár ja saksalaisittain Klausenburg). Clujissa Babes-Bolyain yliopistossa on opetettu suomea jo 1800-luvun lopulta lähtien, mutta Suomesta sinne on lähetetty ulkomaanlehtoreita vuodesta 1975. Itse olin UBB:ssä lehtorina vuosina 2000–2002 ja olin siten järjestyksessään seitsemäs lehtori. Nyt oli siis aika juhlistaa puolivuosisataista lehtoraattia.

Juhlaseminaarissa lehtoreilla oli kunniapaikat eturiveillä. Paikalla Helsingin lukiomaailmasta olivat myös kaksi edeltäjääni – suomen kielen opettaja Kirsi Seppänen Konepajan lukiosta sekä rehtori Sanna Manner Helsingin kielilukiosta. Saimme kiitokset tekemästämme työstä, joka osaltani jatkuu yhä kahden vuosikymmenen jälkeenkin. Pormestari Emil Boc korosti, että kieli on silta, ei este. UBB:n vararehtori Horia Poenar ja dekaani Rares Moldovan korostivat mielikuvituksen merkitystä ja sitä, että uskalletaan sanoa tärkeät asiat ääneen ja kulkea niitä kohti.

Here is a link to the Romanian-language TV program about the celebratory seminar.

Here is a link to the Hungarian-language radio program about the celebratory seminar.

Clujin pormestari Emil Boc korosti, että kieli on silta, ei este.

Suomen kieltä ja kulttuuria juhlistettiin Romaniassa monin tavoin.

Suomen Romanian-suurlähettiläs Leena Liukkonen kannusti laitokselta valmistuneita nuoria kääntäjiä.

Life has not always been easy in Transylvania, which was evident in many speeches. The lecturers' recollections included, among other things, the listening devices in the lecturer's apartment and the difficulties in getting students passports to come to Finland for language courses. There have been challenging times for the Hungarian-speaking minority, which was strongly reflected in the lecturer's work and everyday life. Hungarian and Romanian were used equally at this celebration.

The cooperation between TUVA and UBB in Eiran started about three years ago between native-speaking Finnish students on TUVA and Romanian-speaking Finnish students at UBB with a joint spoken Finnish course, which was done both remotely and online. Now the cooperation will continue through the Erasmus+ program. Master's student, Romanian-speaking Alexia Pintilie and Hungarian-speaking Zsófia Burkhardt, will come to visit TUVA. Arranging their funding from their home universities is, however, a challenge.

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Tunnelmia pitkän seminaaripäivän varrelta.

The presenter of the inaugural lecture was given by Associate Professor Ilmari Ivaska from the University of Turku, who has studied the importance of motivation in teaching Finnish as a foreign language. According to Ivaska, background factors (such as Finnish ancestry) do not so much affect success in studies, but the ability to dream and imagine the benefits of future language skills is crucial.

We also heard the thoughts of young Romanians who graduated with a degree in Finnish about translation and the cultural differences between Romania and Finland. In addition, children's author Markus Majaluoma introduced his career as an illustrator and author. I learned that my favorite Mikko Mallikka's father, with his pipe and slippers, is the prototype for one of Majaluoma's characters.

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Clujia kutsutaan myös Transilvanian helmeksi - eikä syyttä.

Before the evening reception at the embassy, Finnish Ambassador to Romania Leena Liukkonen opened a Finno-Ugric comic book exhibition. Also supporting the event were FinnAgora Director Riikkamari Muhonen and OPH’s Krista Heikkilä.

A trip to Cluj is always rewarding with its discussions and meetings, but the journey there is long, as there is no direct flight. However, a colourful advertisement of Santa Claus was displayed on the wall of the concrete building: The Lapland boom has reached the Carpathians, as you can now take a charter flight from Cluj to go on a mini-vacation to see Santa Claus. All the distinguished guests and lecturers unanimously wished for a direct flight from Finland to Cluj.

Alexia Pintilie is coming to visit Eira TUVA in early 2026.

Both Romanian and Hungarian-language media were interested in the importance of the Finnish language and culture in Romania and covered the lecturers' party on multiple channels.