29 Apr 2025
Language is a bridge to one’s cultural roots, even when living thousands of miles away. For Nepali families who have moved to Portugal for better opportunities, maintaining their children’s fluency in Nepali has become both a challenge and a heartfelt mission. While these children adapt to learning and communicating in Portuguese, many families find creative ways to keep the connection to their native language strong. Just as families send money to Nepal online from Portugal to support loved ones, they must also invest time and energy into preserving their children's connection to their native language.
Here are the challenges that nepali kids face in language fluency.
Living in Portugal means that Nepali kids are surrounded by Portuguese both inside and outside the classroom. At school, all lessons, activities, and interactions with teachers and classmates happen in Portuguese. Over time, Portuguese naturally becomes the dominant language for communication, learning, and even thinking.
Outside school, daily tasks like shopping, visiting parks, and attending public events further reinforce the use of Portuguese. This continuous exposure often results in reduced use of Nepali at home, making it difficult for children to maintain fluency. When kids start thinking or even dreaming in Portuguese, their ability to speak, read, or write in Nepali can begin to fade without dedicated efforts.
Another major challenge is the limited availability of Nepali educational materials in Portugal. There are few, if any, physical Nepali language schools or libraries that offer books, workbooks, or multimedia tools focused on teaching Nepali to children.
Most Nepali families must rely on resources from Nepal or online content, which can sometimes be outdated or not engaging enough for young learners. The absence of structured language programs makes it harder for children to practice reading, writing, and comprehension skills that are essential for fluency.
Kids naturally want to fit in with their peers. Living in a new country, children often feel the pressure to adapt to the local culture to be accepted socially. Speaking fluent Portuguese becomes a symbol of belonging, and unfortunately, this can sometimes make Nepali feel less relevant or even burdensome to them.
When children prioritize Portuguese over Nepali, they may begin losing interest in speaking their native language at home. Gradually, this can weaken their emotional connection to Nepali culture, traditions, and even their extended family back home.
A subtle but serious impact of losing Nepali fluency is the communication gap that forms between kids and their older relatives in Nepal. Grandparents and elder family members who primarily speak Nepali may struggle to connect with children who have difficulty expressing themselves fluently.
This gap can create emotional distance, making family conversations less meaningful or even awkward. Without regular and effective communication, children might miss out on valuable cultural wisdom, stories, and shared family experiences that shape their identity.
Here is how nepali families can help their kids with this issue.
One of the most effective strategies Nepali families use is maintaining a "Nepali-only" rule at home. Regardless of how much Portuguese is used outside, parents and siblings encourage speaking Nepali when they are together. This practice keeps the language alive in everyday conversations about meals, school experiences, and family stories.
Parents play a crucial role by modeling consistent Nepali speaking habits. Whether through casual talk, storytelling, or even jokes, creating a Nepali-rich environment inside the home strengthens children's vocabulary and comfort with the language.
Thanks to technology, families now have access to virtual classes taught by native Nepali teachers. These online lessons offer structured opportunities for children to practice grammar, writing, and pronunciation. Several platforms provide beginner to advanced courses tailored for expat children.
Additionally, language-learning apps like Drops, Simply Learn Nepali, and Memrise offer interactive exercises that make learning fun and convenient. These digital tools make it easier for kids to engage with Nepali language practice during their free time, building confidence and fluency gradually.
Communities play a powerful role in language preservation. In cities like Lisbon, Nepali families organize cultural events, festivals, and get-togethers where Nepali is the primary language. These gatherings offer children a real-world context where they can use their language skills naturally.
Participating in storytelling sessions, traditional dance performances, or Nepali singing competitions helps children experience their culture firsthand. It also fosters pride in their heritage, motivating them to maintain their Nepali language skills.
Maintaining regular contact with family members back in Nepal is another key strategy. Parents often schedule weekly or biweekly video calls where conversations are conducted entirely in Nepali. This provides children with authentic interaction, helping them stay connected to the nuances of everyday spoken Nepali.
Parents also encourage children to share updates about their lives, hobbies, and school activities during these calls, pushing them to articulate their thoughts clearly in Nepali. These conversations become precious moments of bonding and cultural reinforcement.
Preserving Nepali fluency among expat children living in Portugal requires conscious effort, creativity, and a lot of love from families. Between maintaining a Nepali-speaking home, tapping into virtual resources, engaging with community events, and staying connected to relatives, it is absolutely possible for kids to grow up multilingual and culturally rooted. If you are a Nepali parent living abroad, now is the perfect time to weave language learning into your family’s daily life. At the same time, for all your financial needs back home, trust ACE Money Transfer for a fast, secure, and affordable online money transfer from Portugal to Nepal today!
Parents can incorporate songs, games, and storytelling in Nepali to make learning engaging and exciting for children.
Yes, platforms like eNepali, Language Curry, and private tutors offer online Nepali language classes specifically designed for young learners.
Maintaining fluency strengthens children's cultural identity, improves communication with extended family, and ensures they stay connected to their roots.
Community events provide real-world practice and cultural immersion, which boosts children's confidence in using Nepali outside their homes.
Absolutely! Frequent video or voice calls allow kids to practice conversational Nepali, helping them stay fluent and emotionally connected to their family.
