You should familiarise yourself with the language and culture of your destination before leaving for studies or placement abroad. This way you can minimise the possible cultural shock and it will be easier to integrate to the destination. If possible, take part in language courses and intercultural communication courses and check out the material available online. LAB also offers 1 ECTS course called Intercultural Training for Exchange (KM00CW98-XXXX) every semester, which is highly recommended before you go abroad.

• Country Culture Guides
• Maailmalle.net (only in Finnish)
• Language Center at LAB

Erasmus+ online language support (OLS)

The Erasmus+ programme provides students language training which you should take full advantage of in an OLS platform. When you go on an Erasmus+ exchange, you will take an OLS language test in the study / working language before the exchange. You can also take the full advantage of everything that the whole OLS platform offers to you before and during your exchange period. Read more from our OLS-site here in eLAB.

• Info about Erasmus+ language program
• Download the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) self-assessment grid