Bringing play, fun and joy into learning Romanian

Poezii cu nebunii by Oana Borviz is out now

Lázár Csilla

Oana Borviz grew up in Bucharest and now lives in Miercurea Ciuc. She is an art historian, cultural journalist and Romanian as a Second Language teacher. She writes short free-verse poems about the everyday life of her children, who are growing up between two cultures, Romanian and Hungarian. She first wrote them for her own and her family’s enjoyment. Her voice is honest and she does not hide the difficulties, but she always finds the bright side of things, the moments that make room for laughter, and the small beauties of everyday life.

When I first read Oana’s poems, I was struck right away by their direct tone. Although they are artistically condensed, as poems are, they keep the lively, contemporary spoken language, and they show real empathy for how children feel. “I must show this to my children!” I thought. I didn’t stop to think that my children, as native Hungarian speakers, rarely read literature in Romanian... Or rather, they do, but only when it is “compulsory”: classic literary texts in their schoolbooks, which are often heavy going and very rarely speak the authentic language of young people.

That thought is where this project began. We wanted to offer Hungarian children this authentic world, told in the Romanian of childhood, and to make the most of the language-learning opportunities it holds. The team at Spektrum Educational Centre helped with good advice and by testing and improving some of the chapters and exercises.

Oana Ispir, co-creator

Graphic artist Oana Ispir became a true co-creator of the book. She not only saw and brought out the value of the texts, she also took them further, and in doing so she encourages children to take them further too. Through her visual solutions, her illustrations and her careful, consistent use of colour, she also gives strong support to the learning activities.

Ágnes and David

The poems are about Ágnes and David, two ordinary children. Their lives are full of small and big joys and creative moments, but they also have bad days: when they are not very keen on going to school, when the siblings argue, when they feel unsure or even afraid. In other words, they are like every other child.

The authors treat both the cheerful and the mixed feelings in the poems as valid. These real childhood feelings are a good opportunity to talk in Romanian about real things in life: boredom and how to beat it, the perfect holiday and the fact that it is never the place that makes a holiday perfect, competition and working together, the importance of physical activity, introverted and extroverted children, overcoming fear, and the value of friendship.

Romanian homework without the stress

This is not a textbook built around a particular school curriculum, although it can also add colour to Romanian lessons at school. Its real place, however, is at home: a kind of “Romanian homework” that offers relaxed, motivating reading in the evening, time together for child and parent, play and shared laughter.

We ask parents for one thing: please don’t scold your child for any mistakes or for what they “don’t know” while practising. Mistakes are part of learning, and good humour is the best motivation to learn.

The book contains 20 poems with related exercises at A2–B1 level, for children in grades 3–7. An answer key at the back of the book supports practice.

Where to buy it

The book is available at Spektrum Educational Centre for 31 lei. It can also be ordered online from our webshop: [link]. Postage: 10 lei.

Csilla Lázár

 
The book was published with the support of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN).



The project does not necessarily represent the official position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN shall not be held liable for the project’s content or any use to which the project outcome might be put. These are the sole responsibility of the beneficiary of the funding.