I have worked with a variety of people: mentally disabled children, high school pupils, gamblers, opera singers. What do they all have in common? Desire to be understood, to be heared, to be accepted. To be supported.
Currently, Junior Researcher (on Grant)
2008, 2007 Lecturer and Teacher, University of Tampere and University of Helsinki
2006 Head of PR and Press, Savonlinna Opera Festival (also part of staff 2005)
1997- 2006 Subsidiary Teacher, secondary school
1997-2004 Croupier, RAY
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Home Page and blog of Ira A. Virtanen, PhD, University Teacher and Researcher in Communication. "What is most personal is most universal" -Carl R. Rogers-
About Me
- Ira
- Finland
- I teach communication at University of Helsinki. My main interests lie in interpersonal relationships, social support and supportive communication, communication contexts such as culture, gender, relationship, and settings. PhD (2015) from University of Tampere, M.A. (2006) and B.A. (2005) from University of Helsinki. I worked as a Visiting Fulbright Student Researcher at Purdue University in Indiana 2010-2011.
Most recent publications:
- Virtanen, I. A. (2015). Supportive communication in Finnish men’s friendships. Published doctoral dissertation. Acta-Sarja 2019. Tampere University. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-44-9702-5
- Virtanen I. A., Isotalus, P., & Keaton, S. A. (2014). “Offer no readymade solutions”: Men’s support provision and intentions in specific episodes with an upset friend. Studies in Communication Sciences, 14(1), 54–60.
- Puheenvuoro ”Puheviestinnän asiantuntijayhteisön tulevaisuuden näkymiä” Prologos ry:n jäsenkirjeessä 1/2015 (Virtanen, I & Hollanti, K.).
- Artikkeli ”Haasteelliset asiakaskohtaamiset eläinlääkärin työssä”. Hollanti, K. & Virtanen, I., Suomen Eläinlääkärilehti, nro 6/2014.
- Virtanen, I. A., & Isotalus, P. (2014). Talking troubles with Finnish men: Meaningful contexts of ‘supportive silence’. Norma: International Journal for Masculinity Studies, 9(2), 111–125.
- Virtanen, I. A., & Isotalus, P. (2013). A clear mirror on which to reflect: Beneficial supportive communication in Finnish men’s friendships. Qualitative Communication Research, 2(2), 133–158.
- Virtanen, I. A. (2013). Ikä ja elämänkulku miesten ystävyyssuhteissa. Teoksessa Ilkka Pietilä & Hanna Ojala (toim.) Miehistä puhetta: Miehet, ikääntyminen ja vanhenemisen kulttuuriset mallit (s. 227–251). Tampere: TUP.
- Virtanen, I. A. (2011). Talking about learning – The ever-changing environment. Teachers as sources of informal social support. The Teaching and Learning Newsletter, The Language Center & Department of Communication, South East European University, Makedonia.
- Virtanen, I. A. & Isotalus, P. (2011). The essence of social support in interpersonal communication. Empedocles: European Journal for the Philosophy of Communication, 3 (1), 25-42.
- Virtanen I. A., & Isotalus, P. (2010). Miesten tukea antava viestintä eroavalle ystävälle [Men’s support provision for a friend breaking up]. In J. Hämäläinen, P. Pölkki & A. Kääriäinen (Eds.) Ero, vanhemmuus ja tukeminen [Divorce, parenting and support] (pp. 224-253). Helsinki: Central Union for Child Welfare in Finland & University of Kuopio.
- Virtanen, I. A. (2009). Finnish supportive communication: A qualitative study on middle-aged singles support seeking. In R. Wilkins & P. Isotalus (Eds.) Speech culture in Finland (pp. 117-138). New York, NY: University Press of America.