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How can I teach not-so-common foreign language?

Posted 02/24/2012

I want to start homeschooling this summer or fall. My 4 year old is in a private preschool now but the more I think about it the more I'd like to homeschool him and my 2 year old next year instead.

One of the reasons for that is so I can teach them my husbands native language and culture. My husband is from Romania. He speaks both Romanian and Hungarian...just not around me or our kids. He says it doesn't feel right. I've tried to convince him many times to speak to them solely in Romanian (easier for him than Hungarian) but he won't. My in-laws are 5 minutes away and the boys are over there maybe half of Saturday each weekend. They (in-laws) speak mostly Romanian or Hungarian as I've requested but I know they speak a lot of English too (probably out of habit as the boys don't understand anything else yet).

How in the world can I teach them Romanian/Hungarian when I myself don't speak it and it's not common enough to be in Rosetta Stone? I've taught them to count 1-10 but that's all I know. The accent is really difficult for me so I'm not even sure I could properly teach them the Romanian alphabet. 

Does anybody know of any other resources or have ideas of how I could begin teaching them?

TIA! :)


Mommy to Ethan (12/07) and Nate (08/09)

Comments (10)

Posted 02/24/2012

Why not save that sort of thing for your DH to teach in the evenings and weekends when he's home? And have the IL's also teach when they are around? Keep it casual and relaxed, conversational and I"m sure that they will pick up more than you think.


Code Name: Crafty Cat

Mom to: ArtsyCat 11/04, FashionCat 11/07, BunnyCat 4/11, Kitten 10/13, m/c 2/10

MoreBabiesPreferHomebirth story1&2, story3

Posted 02/24/2012

You have a native speaker in your house and two more living 5 minutes away. Rosetta Stone and regular language programs dont cover this language because its uncommon. I would say, your best bet is to utilize the people you have.

Your IL's (if they are wiling) need to speak to your kids 100% of the time in Romanian/Hungarian. It doesnt matter if they dont understand right away, they will figure it out. Its called immersion learning. Its the easiest way to learn for small kids. I would explain to your IL's that this is important to you, and that you need their help. I would also become best friends with your MIL (if she is tolerable) and invite her over to talk/hang out with the kids as often as you can to start.

As for your DH, maybe do some research on second languages in the home. How beneficial it is for the children. Find some stats on kids who are bilingual, how likely they are to speak a 3rd or 4th language. It makes the kids lives much easier later on, when they actually want to learn something else. Their brains actually develop differently.


Denise the red.
*S* T  E  V

Posted 02/24/2012

Just go and google Romanian for Kids or Hungarian for Kids.  There are tons of sites and resources, even some teaching instruction for kids in both languages.  I've marked a few sites below.  According to Hungarian is among their most requested languages, so you should be able to find plenty out there.  I found several sites immediately with bilingual children's books and programs in Romanian.  Just google it and see if you come across anything you like.  We have a bunch of English/Spanish bilingual books as just a resource for the kids.  I love them.  You could read them in English then have their dad read the same story in Romanian. 

Your kids probably aren't really old enough for Rosetta Stone yet, but you could start the process to ensure it's available when they are.  Try calling them and express your need for Romanian and Hungarian.  I just met a woman today actually who is in discussion with them about adding Norwegian.  She is Norwegian and speaks it fluently and is making it a requirement for her children, much in the same way you want your children fluent in their father's native tongue.  Can't hurt to call discuss with them.   You may find out they are already working on it or could start them on the path to adding it.  And "Instant Immersion" looks like they already have Romanian.  Oh, and I downloaded a basic little free translation app on my Droid and it has both Hungarian and Romanian.  You can type any word in and it will translate and speak it back to you in that language.  It's kinda cool, could be a fun little addition to your arsenal.  :)

And I completely agree with pp's in that immersion through their father and grandparents is HUGE!  Keep working on your dh, maybe he'll come on board with it.  In the meantime, maybe some of these links will help.....





Good luck!


mama to Roman, Hope, Bethany, and Kathryn

Posted 02/24/2012

It would be great if you could get DH to at least talk to them sometimes in that language. Maybe you could come up with a certain time of day when he should speak it. Say, after dinner while you are cleaning up, or before dinner when you are cooking. Maybe part of it not feeling "right" to him is that some adults feel like it is rude to speak a language the other adult doesn't understand when they are in the room. So maybe as they start to pick up more from their grandparents he will feel better about that. You could go ahead and get Rosetta Stone and try to start learning it yourself, that also could encourage DH. There is a book about the advantages of bilingualism called "The Bilingual Edge" that I really like.

I will try to come back and link sites when I get a chance.

Good luck!


Summer, lucky mama of one princess and two superheroes. Homeschooling and loving it!

Posted 02/24/2012
Make it a family affair. I would have you learn as well as the kids. I understand where your DH is coming from, its out of respect to you and that has its good points too. However, his objection would be gone if you learned too.

My Grandfather was from Germany and refused to speak German because my Grandma didn't. My Dad always regretted that he wasn't taught

Typos exist cuz my fingers can't keep up with my brain!


Posted 02/25/2012
My father is from The Netherlands and speaks Dutch. He never taught it to my sibs and myself cause he said my mom always laughed at him. I wish I could speak Dutch! I know a few words here and there and how to count to 20. My dad now wishes that he would have taugh us. I would keep talking to your DH about teaching your kids. You don't want him to regret it later.
Posted 02/26/2012

I don't have any advice, wish I did though. My dh's 1st language is Arabic, and I had hopes that my kids would be bilingual, it's getting further from the truth the older they get. I tried to encourage him to speak to the kids since they were babies, and he would as long as he wasn't in public, but he is with them so little due to work. My kids understand a lot, but not everything, and he feels he needs to translate to them, which is causing more problems, my 3rd didn't speak any until the grandparents came for a visit. It's like pulling teeth to get them to speak, because English is just way so easy.

I have been looking at the rosetta stone Arabic, but not even sure if this would help us. I do know what works, because we have done it before, go to dh's country for a few months, but it was super hard on the kids and myself without dh.

I guess, what I recommend is have dh start speaking it around the kids, like how you teach a baby. This is nose, eyes, ball, elect....My kids do know alot of vocab, more than me., alot more :) Also encourage your children to try and speak. even if it means you, yourself, try and make a fool at yourself, this actually has helped encourage my kids too.

The best to you and your family!

Group Owner
Posted 02/26/2012
I'm guessing there is a deeper reason your Dh doesn't like to speak in his native tongue. I would talk to him and make sure it's what he wants. If it is I would give him the ball and let him teach them.

Laurie, wife to Jared, mom to three rugrats:)

Last edited 02/26/2012

Rosetta Stone.

I hear they are going to add it soon. It would not hurt to give them a call to find out.

Posted 02/26/2012

You could also  purchase some books in the target language and ask your husband and ILs to read it to the kids whenever they can.



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