6 Tips to Learn Romanian
Learning a new language is always difficult and, like developing any skills, it takes practice, lots of patience and the willingness to give it a try! Romanian is a Latin language and what makes it so special are its Slavic influences. Learning even the basics of it will open many doors for you: you will expand your knowledge, communicate with locals, make friends, travel more easily around the country, or simply show your curiosity towards the culture, which is very appreciate by Romanian people.
From understanding the basics to practicing conversation skills, this article will give you 6 tips on how to navigate the Romanian language more easily.
Practice, practice, practice! Practice makes perfect, so make sure to exercise the phrases you learn anywhere you go: the supermarket, in public transportation, when greeting friends, etc. Don’t forget that making mistakes is normal and locals will only be happy that you’re trying to learn the language! Romanian people are very welcoming and you will make a really good impression if saying just a few phrases in Romanian when invited to an event or to their house (complimenting what the host cooked would bring you many points).
Set the basics with language-learning tools: *hint hint* use OLS! Of course, you can, and I strongly advise you to use any tools that would make your language-learning process easier. However, in the Romanian language learning community you can practice your skills with fellow members being in the same boat as you, which brings us to the next step…
Find a language learning buddy: having a partner makes everything easier, especially learning a new language. Look in your closest circle, is there anyone who is also learning Romanian and who would like to practice with you? And if not, a good idea is to go to a coworking café and start chatting with the staff or people you meet there. You’ll find lots of places like this around the old town or the university in every city. The internet is also a good place to start looking, there are many groups, forums or events dedicated to moving and doing your mobility in Romania. My suggestion is to head to this discussion topic in the “Practice your Romanian” forum on OLS, introduce yourself and ask if any fellow community member would like to be your language learning buddy!
Expand your vocabulary: develop your language skills by engaging in activities such as watching Romanian movies, TV shows, or listening to podcasts to train your ear to the language's intonation and rhythm. Reading books, magazines or online articles is another great way to improve your vocabulary, just try to get the meaning without searching the translation for every word!
Cultural immersion: what better way to learn a new language than participating in all kinds of local cultural events, such as festivals, comedy shows, or language exchange meetups. Plus, this will help you to make local friends that you can practice the language with! Not sure what events to attend? Check out the Bucharest and Cluj communities, as well as this discussion topic with the events you can’t miss in June.
Last but not least, congratulations for your willingness and effort to learn a new language and remember that making an effort matter more than being perfect!