Veijo Vaakanainen
PhD
rvkvaa@utu.fi Arcanuminkuja 1 Turku ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6732-8439 |
Second language acquisition; Third language acquisition; Swedish as a Second Language; Cross-linguistic influence; Systemic-Functional Linguistics; Textlinguistics; Second language writing
2016 - 2025 PhD Student, Scandinavian Languages, University of Turku (funding 2018 Svenska kulturfonden; 2019 Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland; 2021-2022 Svenska kulturfonden & Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland)
2023 - University teacher of Swedish, Center for Language and Communications Studies, University of Turku
2021-2023 Part-time teacher, Scandinavian Languages, University of Turku & Center for Language and Communication Studies, University of Turku
2020-2021 Part-time teacher, Scandinavian Languages, University of Turku & Swedish Language, Åbo Akademi University
2018-2019 Swedish teacher (upper secondary school, comprehensive school), Lahden yhteiskoulu
2017 Researcher, Scandinavian Languages, University of Turku (Formulaic sequences in three morphologically different learner languages)
2016-2017 Part-time teacher, Department of German, University of Turku
In my doctoral research, I examined the use of connectors by Finnish-speaking learners of Swedish through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). I investigated how learners at different proficiency levels construct meaning and dependency relations within texts in their writing.
A central focus of my study was the dynamics of the writing process, which I explored using keystroke logging. In addition, I compared the use of connectors in Swedish and German among language learners.
More broadly, I am interested in foreign language writing, multilingualism, learner language, and the potential of digital tools, particularly artificial intelligence, in research on language learning and teaching.
I have been working as a University Teacher of Swedish at the Centre for Language and Communication Studies at the University of Turku since 2023. My teaching has focused on oral and written workplace communication, particularly for students in the Faculty of Medicine and the Turku School of Economics. In addition to compulsory courses in the second national language, I have also taught preparatory and advanced elective courses in Swedish.
Previously I worked as a part-time lecturer in the departments of Scandinavian languages and German at the University of Turku, and in the department of Swedish at Åbo Akademi University. The courses I have taught have covered Swedish and German grammar as well as second language acquisition.
Beyond the university context, I also have teaching experience from basic education (primary and lower secondary), upper secondary education, and adult education.
In university teaching, my main areas of interest include the use of information and communication technology, especially the pedagogically effective integration of artificial intelligence, the development of diverse and student-centred learning materials, and research-based language teaching.
- Digipedagogiikkaa ruotsin valmentavalla verkkokurssilla (2025) Kielikeskus tutkii 6 Grönroos, Laura; Pulkkinen Meri; Rajala, Ida; Saloranta, Hanna; Vaakanainen, Veijo; Vaaramo, Miina
(D2 Article in a professional compilation book) - Dynamik och kontrast i konnektorbruket hos finska inlärare av L2-svenska (2025) Vaakanainen, Veijo
(G5 Article dissertation ) - Das mehrsprachige Bedeutungspotenzial finnischer Lernender: Die Verwendung der Konnektoren in L3-Deutsch und -Schwedisch (2022)
- Finnish journal of linguistics
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Digiä ja liikettä yliopisto-opetukseen QR-koodisuunnistuksen avulla (2021)
- Yliopistopedagogiikka
(D1 Article in a professional journal) - Eettisyys ja kestävä kehitys kielten opetuksen ja kielten opettajien koulutuksen tulevaisuuden haasteena (2021)
- Kieli, Koulutus Ja Yhteiskunta
(B1 Non-refereed article in a scientific journal) - Eettisyys ja kestävä kehitys suomen opetuksessa (2021)
- Suomenopettajat : Suomi toisena kielenä -opettajat ry:n jäsenlehti
(D1 Article in a professional journal) - Opiskelijoiden podcastit ja vlogit kielenoppimisen ja arvioinnin tukena (2020)
- Kieli, Koulutus Ja Yhteiskunta
(D1 Article in a professional journal) - Svenskan i Finland 18 (2020) Camilla Wide, Eva Ingman, Katri Lankinen, Veijo Vaakanainen
(C2 Editorial work for a scientific compilation book) - Konnektorer i avancerade svenskinlärares och infödda språkbrukares texter - en systemisk-funktionell analys (2019)
- Folkmålsstudier
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - AFinLAn vuosikirja 2018: Uusia lukutaitoja rakentamassa - Building New Literacies (2018) Lotta Lehti, Pauliina Peltonen, Sara Routarinne, Veijo Vaakanainen, Ville Virsu
(C2 Editorial work for a scientific compilation book) - En SFL-baserad analysmodell för konnektorer i (L2)-svenska (2018) Grammatik, kritik, didaktik. Nordiska studier i systemisk-funktionell lingvistik och socialsemiotik Veijo Vaakanainen
(A4 Refereed article in a conference publication ) - Meningsstruktur i två läroboksserier för svenskundervisning på högstadienivå (2018)
- Svenskan i Finland
(A4 Refereed article in a conference publication ) - Uusia lukutaitoja rakentamassa: lukutaidon moninaiset merkitykset ja tutkimusmenetelmät (2018)
- Suomen Soveltavan Kielitieteen Yhdistyksen Afinlan Julkaisuja
(A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Kielen oppijat sekoittavat sanoja monista eri kielistä – virheellistä kielenkäyttöä vai kielellisten resurssien kokonaisvaltaista hyödyntämistä? (2017)
- Aurora
(E1 Popularised article) - Konnektorbrukets utveckling i finska inlärares L2-svenska (2017) Svenskans Beskrivning 35. Förhandlingar vid trettiofemte sammankomsten Göteborg 11-13 maj 2016 Veijo Vaakanainen
(A4 Refereed article in a conference publication ) - Den kommer tiden som vi måste ta pepperkakorna ute – Målspråksavvikande konnektorbruk på CEFR-nivåerna A1, A2 och B1 (2016) Svenskan i Finland 16 Vaakanainen Veijo
(A4 Refereed article in a conference publication ) - Finska svenskinlärares konnektorbruk på CEFR-nivåerna A1, A2 och B1 ur ett systemiskt-funktionellt perspektiv (2016)
- VAKKI Publications
(A4 Refereed article in a conference publication )