Can I teach my teens my language?

[YearningForAWinteryWinter]

I'm fluent in my mother tongue but English feels more natural to me. It's the language I think in.
Dh doesn't speak my language so the language in my house is English.
Dcs are annoyed that they can't speak my language and wish that I had taught them.
It's not a common language so finding teaching resources isn't easy.
I'm not sure how to go about teaching them now and I think teaching teens a new language isn't going to be easy.
Should I start with lessons or just start speaking it around them like I did with English?

I would start with speaking your language to them, OP. They're still at an age where learning it will come easier to them than if they were older, plus they're also motivated to learn. They can supplement with online content set to the target language, such as YouTube videos, and they can also converse with each other. Language apps do have a place - I'd recommend Babbel in particular.

If they’re teens, and they want to learn, they will! Just start speaking it around them all the time. Try fo find dubbed or original TV, podcasts, etc as well. This could be really exciting and meaningful for all of you! <3

Absolutely

Just start slowly

'pass the salt'

'Let's go for a walk'

Etc

Thank you so much. That's given me the confidence to start.

There’s no downside to trying. Best case scenario, they get quite proficient. Worst case, they learn a few phrases and that might be useful or interesting to them.

However - they are teenagers. If they truly want to learn it, they will have to put in some work. Don’t let them be pissed off at you because things like grammar don’t magically go into their heads.

Is the language on Duolingo or any other language app? If so that would make it a bit easier getting grips for basic words.

When I was about 13 and we started visiting family in my dad’s home country after having not gone for several years, I used to get very frustrated with him that he hadn’t brought me and my sister up bilingual. He said he had meant to but was too lazy! My parents always spoke English at home, though my mum did at the time have some basic proficiency in his language.

He started trying to teach me his language with books and tapes, but although I was good at languages at school it didn’t go very well. I don’t think my dad was the best teacher, it wasn’t the easiest language, and perhaps it’s just harder to have your parent as a teacher. On the other hand, this was in the days before the Internet. It’s probably a lot easier now with so many online resources - at least to get a basic knowledge of the language. I think the only way I could have got fluent is if I’d spent an extended period of time living in the country where the other language is spoken.

Never too late too teach them, and if they are eager to learn then you are already on your way. As others have said, start talking to them, in your language, today. Also, get some post it notes and start writing the terms for every day objects and sticking them on those. Also, and what I did, was write out the a verb, for example, „”to be”, and stick on the fridge, to get the basis of the language going. And just take it from there.

It's really nice that they want to learn. Teach basic phrases to begin - my name is, hello, how do you do etc

Then maybe a category of words like fruit, or body parts etc. some posters up on the fridge or bathroom might help.

Does the language use roman alphabet?

Get DH to learn too. Plan a trip to home country so they can immerse.

I'd also look online, I bet there's a 'first thousand words' type book unless it's a super obscure language.

Post it notes are a fab idea. I can do that easily.
Unfortunately, the language isn't on duolingo. It would've been so much easier if it was!

I bet though there are some good tutorial lessons on YouTube. Maybe worth having a look?.