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Finnish is absolutely incomprehensible to most Swedes. However all Finns learn Swedish for several years in school. They just don't like to speak it, for the most part.

Virtually all Finns and Swedes speak English, most fluently, and most will take one look at you and speak in English to you before you say a word. The only thing Finnish is good for, is speaking to Finns, and it's a very difficult language to learn. In Finland though, most street signs, and often things like menus, are printed also in Swedish, so some basic Swedish will help you get around.

You could do with learning basic German and French: At least how to ask for a taxi, some basic food names (so you can order food for yourself), that kind of thing. And learn how to say "sorry, I don't understand, can you repeat that slowly". And "can you show me on my map where I am" since often you can find your way on your own once you know that, but figuring that first step out is really disorienting.

Outside big cities and tourist spots, few people speak English (or are willing to) in either German or France, although many Germans know basic French, and occasionally vice versa. The French have a reputation of refusing to speak English to foreigners, and it's somewhat deserved, but as anywhere, there are people who are helpful if you perservere. Worst case duck into the first hotel you see, even if you're not staying at it. I found if you ask nicely, hotel concierges are usually angels on earth.

Italy's somewhere in between, I always find more people willing to at least _try_ to speak English with me, than either Germany or France, although the degree of success we had was pretty variable.

A good phrase book, that you can point to a sentence in if your pronunciation fails you, goes a long way. As does a smile. An genuine attempt at the local language is usually appreciated. Be patient. Carry a notebook and pen, sometimes incomprehensibly fast native lingo suddenly becomes that sentence you recognise from your lessons, once it's written down. And anyone can draw you a map, they're a lot easier to follow than vague arm waving directions in a language you are only just. grasping. And in all countries, look out for kids in their later teenage years/early 20's to ask for help - the English education is still pretty fresh, and they're more likely to be willing to use it on you.

In Finland and Sweden you'll be just fine with English, there really isn't any need to learn Swedish or Finnish as Finnish is voted as one of the most hardest and complicated languages in the world for native English speakers. And Finnish is nothing like Swedish, Swedish is quite easy, but there's only little point learning it, as people in Finland and Sweden speak very good English. But if you really wanna learn these languages, you have to learn them both, since a Finnish and Swedish are very different, they are nothing alike.

You might have noticed that Swedish is an official language in Finland too, but trust me, it doesn't mean people here really speak it. We get taught Swedish at schools, yes, but the general attitude against Swedish is very negative among young people, and therefore, we really don't learn much at Swedish at all in school. I've been learning Swedish for five years now, and I would never ever use it, even if I spoke it very well. It just isn't acceptable to speak it. :P (Young people here use Swedish only when they are telling gay jokes, and I am not joking here.)

And for France, Germany and Italy.. well they all have three very different languages, and I don't think you have too much time to learn these, so I would recommend you to learn only the very basics.) Although, you could learn a little bit more French than German or Italian, since the French hate to speak English from the bottom of their heart. When I was in France (only one day though) and I spoke English, I would always get a reply in French, even though they understood me and probably were able to speak English.)

The situation in Germany isn't so bad, there atleast the youth can speak quite good English, and people there are really helpful and polite.

Pretty much the same thing with Italy and Germany.

It would depend upon which country you plan on spending the most time. I would suggest choosing the one you will need the most while traveling. Having studied three languages during the same semester; French, Spanish and Portuguese I learned it is extremely difficult. While I finally chose Spanish as my minor, I did learn to say "I'm crazy" in all three. Je suis folle (French), estoy loca (Spanish) and Eu sou (Portuguese). Make it easier on yourself and concentrate on only one until you attain mastery in it and then study another.

I remember meeting my French professor in the hall and he would ask; "Comment ca va?" (How are you doing?) to which I would reply "Ca va bien, y tú? He would say et toi not y tú because y tú is Spanish when my response should have been et toi, French. Even back then I was already code-switching. Using two languages in the same sentence. Good luck!

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