June 24, 2025 • 10 mins
Alice Irizarry and Patrick Woodward share about the lifestyle in Finland and how it helps make this country to be considered the happiest place in the world.
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www.spotlightenglish.comhttps://spotlightenglish.com/culture/the-happiest-place-in-the-world/
Download our app for Android at http://bit.ly/spotlight-android
Download our app for iOS at http://bit.ly/spotlight-apple
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spotlightradio
re you learning English? Are you looking for a way to practice your English? Listen to Spotlight to learn about people and places all around the world. You can learn English words, and even practice English by writing a comment.
Visit our website to follow along with the script: http://spotlightenglish.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Spotlight Advanced. I'm Alice Irazari and I'm Patrick Woodwood.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is
easier for people to understand no matter where in the
world they live.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
It is not covered with beautiful beaches by the warm ocean.
It is not Hawaii or the Caribbean. It is not
a quiet, peaceful town unknown to the rest of the world.
It is not filled with huge homes or wealthy people.
It is not known for its stunning art or dominant
(00:50):
sports teams. It is a small, cold country in the north,
but every year Finland is picked as the beest place
in the world.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Today's Spotlight is about Finland. We explore why its people
are so happy. We examine the way they look at life.
We look at their customs and traditions. We identify what
makes them enjoy life so much.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Finland is a small country in northern Europe. It is
next to Sweden, Norway and Russia. Finland is one of
the oldest countries in the world. In the winter, there
are days when the sun does not rise the temperature
can drop to minus fifty degrees celsius. But each year
(01:40):
its people say they are happy The World Happiness Report
asks people all over the world to rate the quality
of life in their country on a scale of one
to ten. Most years, Finland scores the highest.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
There are many reasons why Finland is so happy. Trust, honesty,
and equality have always been very important in their culture.
This trust applies to every part of their society, including
their government. Their elected officials talk honestly about what they're doing.
They do not try to keep things from the people
of Finland. They also encourage citizens to share their opinions
(02:26):
on government decisions. Leaders want to work with people to
solve problems.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
The Finns share a responsibility to keep their country clean
and safe. Children learn to help clean their house and
their neighborhood from an early age.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Finland's schools are considered some of the best in the world.
Their teachers are highly skilled. They try to develop lessons
that fit each student's needs. They value every student's growth.
All students are given equal opportunities to succeed. They do
not assume everyone has the same ability. Instead, teachers judge
(03:09):
each student's progress separately. This allows students to feel more
relaxed and enjoy learning. Also, their school days only last
five hours. They focus on fewer topics during the day
to learn more about them. Parents are involved in their
children's education. They help review their homework. They attend school
(03:30):
activities and meetings whenever possible. This holds students accountable because
their parents know what they're studying.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Finns take pleasure in simple things. One example is eating.
Finns love to share meals together. The University of Oxford
published a report that said people who eat with others
are more likely to feel good about themselves. They will
have a bigger group of friends who can provide emotional support.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
According to the staff of This Is Finland, family meals
remain a strong tradition in Finland. Eighty one percent of
families with children eat together at least once a day.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Finns love simple things inside and outside the home. They
spend part of each day outside enjoying nature. The Finnish
Forest Research Institute reports that ninety six percent of adult
Fins spend regular time outdoors. Some of their favorite summer
activities are walking, riding a bicycle, picking berries, swimming, and
(04:47):
going to the beach. During the winter, Finns enjoy skiing,
ice skating, and sitting with family by a warm fire.
Their time outdoors calms them and reduces.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Finns also love to relax in a sauna. The sauna
is a small, heated wooden room. It is usually heated
to eighty degrees celsius. Just over five million people live
in Finland. They own over three million saunas. Finns are
famous for their love of saunas. In fact, the word
sauna is the only Finish word borrowed by the English language.
(05:24):
Most Finns use a sauna at least once a week.
The extreme heat helps calm a person's mind, it relaxes
their body. Saunas may even help fight off disease.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
The people of Finland often help others in their free time.
This type of work is very rewarding. It makes Finnish
people feel good about themselves. They donate to charities. They
work with different organizations that help people.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Finns also enjoy playing various sports like football and hockey,
again played on ice with a rubber disc called a puck.
They also like floorball, a sport unique to Finland. It
is just like hockey, but played indoors with sticks and
a plastic ball. Finns also love to play bandy. Bandy
is similar to hockey. It is also played on ice,
(06:20):
but a bandy field is much larger. Players use a
plastic ball instead of a puck.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Finland offers public health care to everyone who lives in
the country. Finland's large taxes pay for this privilege. Patients
usually do not have to wait long to see their doctors.
Their system is considered very good. Fins do not need
to worry about large medical bills that cause debt.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Just like with their educational system, Finland's workforce cares about
the individual's needs and well being. Workers usually only work
thirty five five hours a week. They get a lot
of holiday time. Employers discourage emails after work hours. Finland's
Working Hours Act allows freedom in setting up a work schedule.
(07:11):
Writer Maddie Savage says it.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Gives the majority of full time workers the right to
decide when and where they work for at least half
of their working hours. Wesley Mercer moved to Finland. He
lived there for a year to experience Finland's happiness. He
(07:35):
wanted to discover if living there actually made him happier.
He wanted to learn their secret. He found that Finns
have an outlook on life called sisu. This means that
they value courage. When things get difficult, Finns continue with
a good attitude. Mercer began to use this philosophy. At first,
(07:58):
it was strange not to let himself be bothered by
mistakes or inconveniences. He resisted his natural reaction to get
mad when this happened, But then he noticed that cisu
made it easier to deal with difficult situations.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
He also began to appreciate silence. Like Finn's, they enjoy
peaceful moments. It allows them to sit and think. Mercer
realized that the key to happiness for Finns is balance.
They maintain a healthy balance in all areas of life.
Mersa said it is.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
A balance between work and personal life, joy and sorrow,
activity and relaxation. Finns find joy in simple pleasures they
do not take for granted, a meal with friends or
a walk by a lake. They have learned to slow
down to pay attention to these simple joys. They are
(08:58):
satisfied with what they have and who they are. Their
ideal life is the one they already have. They do
not want anything more. They learned this secret to happiness
a long time ago.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Have you ever been to Finland? Did you know it
is such a happy country. Would you ever like to visit?
You can leave a comment on our website at www
dot Spotlight English dot com, or you can find us
on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Blue Sky, and x. You can
also get our programs delivered directly to your Android or
(09:35):
Apple device through a free official Spotlight English app.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
The writer of this program was Peter Anderson. The producer
was Dan Christman. The voices you heard were from the
United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted
for this program and voiced by Spotlight. This program is
called the Happiest place in the World.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
We hope you can join us again for the next
Spotlight program. Goodbye,
Welcome to Spotlight Advanced. I'm Alice Irazari and I'm Patrick Woodwood.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is
easier for people to understand no matter where in the
world they live.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
It is not covered with beautiful beaches by the warm ocean.
It is not Hawaii or the Caribbean. It is not
a quiet, peaceful town unknown to the rest of the world.
It is not filled with huge homes or wealthy people.
It is not known for its stunning art or dominant
(00:50):
sports teams. It is a small, cold country in the north,
but every year Finland is picked as the beest place
in the world.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Today's Spotlight is about Finland. We explore why its people
are so happy. We examine the way they look at life.
We look at their customs and traditions. We identify what
makes them enjoy life so much.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
Finland is a small country in northern Europe. It is
next to Sweden, Norway and Russia. Finland is one of
the oldest countries in the world. In the winter, there
are days when the sun does not rise the temperature
can drop to minus fifty degrees celsius. But each year
(01:40):
its people say they are happy The World Happiness Report
asks people all over the world to rate the quality
of life in their country on a scale of one
to ten. Most years, Finland scores the highest.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
There are many reasons why Finland is so happy. Trust, honesty,
and equality have always been very important in their culture.
This trust applies to every part of their society, including
their government. Their elected officials talk honestly about what they're doing.
They do not try to keep things from the people
of Finland. They also encourage citizens to share their opinions
(02:26):
on government decisions. Leaders want to work with people to
solve problems.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
The Finns share a responsibility to keep their country clean
and safe. Children learn to help clean their house and
their neighborhood from an early age.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Finland's schools are considered some of the best in the world.
Their teachers are highly skilled. They try to develop lessons
that fit each student's needs. They value every student's growth.
All students are given equal opportunities to succeed. They do
not assume everyone has the same ability. Instead, teachers judge
(03:09):
each student's progress separately. This allows students to feel more
relaxed and enjoy learning. Also, their school days only last
five hours. They focus on fewer topics during the day
to learn more about them. Parents are involved in their
children's education. They help review their homework. They attend school
(03:30):
activities and meetings whenever possible. This holds students accountable because
their parents know what they're studying.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Finns take pleasure in simple things. One example is eating.
Finns love to share meals together. The University of Oxford
published a report that said people who eat with others
are more likely to feel good about themselves. They will
have a bigger group of friends who can provide emotional support.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
According to the staff of This Is Finland, family meals
remain a strong tradition in Finland. Eighty one percent of
families with children eat together at least once a day.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Finns love simple things inside and outside the home. They
spend part of each day outside enjoying nature. The Finnish
Forest Research Institute reports that ninety six percent of adult
Fins spend regular time outdoors. Some of their favorite summer
activities are walking, riding a bicycle, picking berries, swimming, and
(04:47):
going to the beach. During the winter, Finns enjoy skiing,
ice skating, and sitting with family by a warm fire.
Their time outdoors calms them and reduces.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Finns also love to relax in a sauna. The sauna
is a small, heated wooden room. It is usually heated
to eighty degrees celsius. Just over five million people live
in Finland. They own over three million saunas. Finns are
famous for their love of saunas. In fact, the word
sauna is the only Finish word borrowed by the English language.
(05:24):
Most Finns use a sauna at least once a week.
The extreme heat helps calm a person's mind, it relaxes
their body. Saunas may even help fight off disease.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
The people of Finland often help others in their free time.
This type of work is very rewarding. It makes Finnish
people feel good about themselves. They donate to charities. They
work with different organizations that help people.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Finns also enjoy playing various sports like football and hockey,
again played on ice with a rubber disc called a puck.
They also like floorball, a sport unique to Finland. It
is just like hockey, but played indoors with sticks and
a plastic ball. Finns also love to play bandy. Bandy
is similar to hockey. It is also played on ice,
(06:20):
but a bandy field is much larger. Players use a
plastic ball instead of a puck.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Finland offers public health care to everyone who lives in
the country. Finland's large taxes pay for this privilege. Patients
usually do not have to wait long to see their doctors.
Their system is considered very good. Fins do not need
to worry about large medical bills that cause debt.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Just like with their educational system, Finland's workforce cares about
the individual's needs and well being. Workers usually only work
thirty five five hours a week. They get a lot
of holiday time. Employers discourage emails after work hours. Finland's
Working Hours Act allows freedom in setting up a work schedule.
(07:11):
Writer Maddie Savage says it.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
Gives the majority of full time workers the right to
decide when and where they work for at least half
of their working hours. Wesley Mercer moved to Finland. He
lived there for a year to experience Finland's happiness. He
(07:35):
wanted to discover if living there actually made him happier.
He wanted to learn their secret. He found that Finns
have an outlook on life called sisu. This means that
they value courage. When things get difficult, Finns continue with
a good attitude. Mercer began to use this philosophy. At first,
(07:58):
it was strange not to let himself be bothered by
mistakes or inconveniences. He resisted his natural reaction to get
mad when this happened, But then he noticed that cisu
made it easier to deal with difficult situations.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
He also began to appreciate silence. Like Finn's, they enjoy
peaceful moments. It allows them to sit and think. Mercer
realized that the key to happiness for Finns is balance.
They maintain a healthy balance in all areas of life.
Mersa said it is.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
A balance between work and personal life, joy and sorrow,
activity and relaxation. Finns find joy in simple pleasures they
do not take for granted, a meal with friends or
a walk by a lake. They have learned to slow
down to pay attention to these simple joys. They are
(08:58):
satisfied with what they have and who they are. Their
ideal life is the one they already have. They do
not want anything more. They learned this secret to happiness
a long time ago.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
Have you ever been to Finland? Did you know it
is such a happy country. Would you ever like to visit?
You can leave a comment on our website at www
dot Spotlight English dot com, or you can find us
on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Blue Sky, and x. You can
also get our programs delivered directly to your Android or
(09:35):
Apple device through a free official Spotlight English app.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
The writer of this program was Peter Anderson. The producer
was Dan Christman. The voices you heard were from the
United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted
for this program and voiced by Spotlight. This program is
called the Happiest place in the World.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
We hope you can join us again for the next
Spotlight program. Goodbye,
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