"Hei! Moi! Terve!" is aimed at learners with no prior knowledge at universities, adult education centers, and other institutions of adult education or for self-study. It systematically and practically introduces the Finnish language, providing reading and language skills, basic grammar knowledge, and an elementary vocabulary for everyday speaking situations. The learning objective is to achieve level A1 of the European Framework of Reference.

After an introduction to the characteristics of Finnish, there are 15 thematically designed lessons featuring authentic teaching texts in dialogue or narrative form, grammar sections, a variety of exercises, and vocabulary lists. The lessons are supplemented with interesting information about the country and its people.

The appendix includes helpful grammar tables, solutions to the exercises, and a Finnish-German and a German-Finnish vocabulary list with over 900 words and expressions each. The included audio CD features all teaching texts, listening exercises, and many additional practice texts. Notably, many dialogues are recorded in both standard language and colloquial language.