If you are in the elementary level, you should learn these important verbs first: 1) to study = opiskella 2) to learn = oppia E.g.: 1) Olen opiskellut suomea viisi kuukautta. 2) Olen oppinut suomea nopeasti. The verb 'opetella' means 'to try to learn', 'to do exercises to learn something'. E.g.: 3a) Lapsi opettelee lukemaan. 3b) Opettelin puheen ulkoa. (I learned the speech by heart.) Present continuous tense can be expressed by using the 3rd infinitive (-massa / -mässä): Hän on uimassa. (He is swimming.) Hän on syömässä. (He is eating a meal.)