Solutions for Teaching Romanian to Migrant Children
Solutions and Challenges in Teaching Romanian to Migrant Children
After 360 hours of piloting Romanian language teaching for non-native-speaking children without a supportive language, the updated guide “Welcome to Romania! Introductory Guide for Romanian Language Teachers Working with Students from Refugee Families, Vol. 2” has been published and is available for free online.
The launch provided an opportunity to discuss the limitations and opportunities for the linguistic integration of migrant children.
Between January 2023 and July 2024, the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation, supported by the Romanian-American Foundation, piloted the Romanian language teaching guide for non-native-speaking children, collaborating with four teachers trained by a Fulbright specialist.
This initiative continues the project of the Center for Independent Journalism, which initially developed the guide. The revised version and volume two include improvements based on practical classroom experiences.
“The feedback provided was crucial in finalizing this manual, with the belief that it is an effective and user-friendly tool for all those involved in teaching and learning Romanian as a foreign language,” said Ionut Geana, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Letters, University of Bucharest, and Researcher at the “Iorgu Iordan – Alexandru Rosetti” Institute of Linguistics of the Romanian Academy.
The project also provided a context for conducting research on the linguistic integration of migrant children in Romania, a topic that has been less frequently studied.
The most important research findings highlight the existence of a complex support framework. At the same time, the study identifies several challenges, including:
- The still limited number of teachers trained and involved in teaching Romanian to migrant children and youth;
- The need to expand teacher training programs for teaching Romanian without a support language;
- Insufficient support materials, learning resources, and auxiliary materials;
- Limited experience in using standardized tools for assessing developed language competencies;
- The highly varying levels of preparation and motivation within student groups, which become more pronounced as Romanian language programs progress;
- Irregular attendance and high absenteeism rates among certain students;
- The impact of traumatic experiences and the additional need for socio-emotional support for refugee children.
“As educators supporting refugee students, it is essential to remember that these individuals have arrived in a foreign country, in this case, Romania, due to war, violence, and/or persecution. They have been forcibly displaced, meaning they had no choice but to leave their country.
The experiences surrounding the forced migration of refugee students carry a history of trauma, which they bring with them into the classroom. As a teacher supporting these students, it is crucial to remember that, above all, human connection and empathy are the most vital and pressing needs for your students—everything else must come second” explains Luis Javier Pentón Herrera, a Fulbright specialist and Professor in the Department of English Philology at the University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw.
The research recommendations emphasize the need to support teachers by training them in methods for teaching Romanian without a supporting language and by creating a collection of resources and supportive materials.
“Beyond system-level policies, linguistic training requires strong coordination and resources at the school and local levels.
Close relationships between schools and parents, involvement of support staff, and the multiplication of successful integrated project experiences (which simultaneously offer educational support to children and their families, along with medical or social assistance) are important steps to address the challenges identified above” emphasizes Dr. Ciprian Fartușnic, Lead Researcher at the National Center for Educational Policy and Evaluation, and the research coordinator.
Training for understanding the linguistic and cultural particularities of refugee and migrant people, especially those from war zones, is another key point highlighted in the recommendations. This is necessary to provide adequate and effective support in the linguistic integration process.
The two manuals, which include exercises and activities (individual, in pairs, in small or large groups), dialogues from daily life, as well as aspects of Romanian culture and civilization, can be consulted for free on the Romanian Angel Appeal Foundation website or at the University of Bucharest Publishing House.
The first manual offers a comprehensive introduction to Romanian language and culture through interactive lessons covering basic topics such as the alphabet, greetings, colors, nationalities, numbers, basic grammatical structure, and practical aspects of daily life like going to the market, dining out, and recreational activities.
The second volume provides a detailed exploration of family life, relationships with pets, and daily routines, integrating lessons on family structure, emotions, daily activities, sports, and relationships with animals, all through an educational and interactive approach.
We hope that these manuals will be widely used, and we invite teachers to explore and integrate them into their activities.
