About us

Together through Romanian

Our Story: From a Shared Vision to a Learning Community

We are Antonela, Cristina, and Lavinia – three friends, PhDs in Philology, and passionate Romanian language teachers. Between us, we bring 13 to 15 years of experience teaching Romanian as a second/foreign language, as well as creating educational resources and teaching materials.

Over the years, we have come to believe more and more strongly in something simple: teaching is, above all, a work of heart. This belief is at the heart of the story of Romanian Language Studio (RoLS). We wanted to create a space where language barriers could disappear and Romanian could become a bridge to people, places, and experiences: Together through Romanian. A place where children learn through play and stories, teenagers gain confidence in their own voice, and adults discover that learning Romanian means more than learning a language. It means being able to connect, participate, belong, and ultimately feel at home in Romania.

Today, that dream has grown into a learning community. Together with an enthusiastic team of dedicated professionals, we help children, teenagers, and adults from around the world discover the Romanian language and, most importantly, enjoy the journey of learning it.

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What defines us?

The right balance between academic rigour and human warmth

At RoLS, we strive to find the right balance between academic rigour and human warmth. For us, achievement and well-being are not opposites – they support and strengthen one another.

01

A team of specialists and textbook authors

Our founders and teachers hold PhDs in Romanian language acquisition and grammar and are (co-)authors of leading textbooks and reference works for Romanian as a foreign and heritage language. What we do is therefore grounded in both classroom experience and academic research and expertise.

02

In our courses, we speak Romanian from the very beginning. We adapt vocabulary and language structures to each learner's level and use facial expressions, gestures, images and meaningful contexts to make communication accessible. Our goal is for learners to gradually stop feeling the need to translate every word and instead begin to think and communicate directly in Romanian.

03

We know that there can be no progress without the courage to try. And to have the courage to speak a language you do not yet fully master, you need to know that it is okay to make mistakes. That is why we create an environment where mistakes are not failures, but a natural part of learning. Our teachers provide constructive feedback, encourage learners to take risks and help them gradually develop both independence and confidence.

04

We believe that the space in which learning takes place matters. That is why our classrooms are designed as warm, welcoming and low-stimulation environments, where both children and adults can focus, explore and learn without unnecessary distractions.

05

We use interactive whiteboards, educational games and materials developed in-house to make the learning experience as engaging, relevant and connected to the world we live in as possible.

06

We know that a five-year-old does not learn in the same way as a teenager, and that adults have different needs from children. Young children learn primarily through play, stories, movement and Total Physical Response. Pre-teens and teenagers are guided towards self-correction and an increasingly conscious understanding of the language. Adults and companies benefit from programmes tailored to their specific goals – whether that means professional communication, cultural integration or particular workplace needs.

Ultimately, what we want to achieve at RoLS goes beyond simply teaching people to speak Romanian. We want to give them the confidence to use Romanian, the courage to make mistakes, and the joy of discovering a new language and culture.

The RoLS founders

Dr. Antonela Arieșan
Dr. Antonela Arieșan
RoLS Co-Founder | University Lecturer | PhD in Philology | Teacher Trainer

Antonela is the kind of person who brings energy, warmth, and creativity to every learning environment. With more than 13 years of experience teaching Romanian as a foreign and second language, she has worked with learners of different ages and proficiency levels, from general communication contexts to specialised fields such as medical language. She holds a PhD in Philology, with research focused on Romanian lexical acquisition at beginner level (A1). Her academic background is complemented by extensive hands-on teaching experience. She is a university lecturer and certified teacher trainer, actively involved in teacher education, programme and curriculum development, and the creation of resources for teaching and assessing Romanian.

Dr. Cristina Bocoș
Dr. Cristina Bocoș
RoLS Co-Founder | University Lecturer | PhD in Philology | Teacher Trainer

Cristina is the person who brings calm, patience, and clarity to the team. With more than 15 years of experience teaching Romanian as a foreign and second language, she has worked with a wide range of learners, teaching both general Romanian and specialised language courses, including medical Romanian. She holds a PhD in Philology, with research focused on Romanian grammar. Her professional experience combines university teaching with classroom practice, assessment, curriculum design, and the development of educational resources. She is a university lecturer and certified teacher trainer and has contributed to teacher education through national and European educational projects. She is also a co-author of reference teaching materials and is actively involved in the development and implementation of educational programmes for both children and adults.

Dr. Lavinia-Iunia Vasiu
Dr. Lavinia-Iunia Vasiu
RoLS Co-Founder | University Lecturer | PhD in Philology | Teacher Trainer

Lavinia is creative, empathetic, and deeply connected to the people she works with. With more than 15 years of experience teaching Romanian as a second/foreign language, she has taught general Romanian, specialised language for the humanities, and Romanian cultural identity, as well as courses on second-language learning and the theory of Romanian as a non-native language (L2). She has also contributed to the professional development of teachers working with non-native Romanian speakers. She holds a PhD in Philology, with research focused on the acquisition of Romanian as a second language – vocabulary, grammar and pragmatics (the first doctoral research project in this field). Her professional experience encompasses teaching, assessment, teacher training, curriculum design, and the development of educational resources. She is the author and co-author of several key works in the field, including Descrierea minimală a limbii române and Achiziția limbii române ca L2. Interlimba la nivelul A1, as well as textbooks and teaching materials for A1-B1 learners, used by numerous teachers and students.

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