diff --git a/django_translatable_fields/fields.py b/django_translatable_fields/fields.py
index 3eab78c..d8342b7 100644
--- a/django_translatable_fields/fields.py
+++ b/django_translatable_fields/fields.py
@@ -74,11 +74,12 @@ class TranslatableMixin:
         if not self.translatable:
             return value
 
-        # Check if we're in admin context by looking at the call stack
+        # Check if we're in admin or API context by looking at the call stack
         frames = inspect.getouterframes(inspect.currentframe())
         is_admin_context =  os.environ.get('DJANGO_ADMIN_OVERRIDE', False) == '1' or  any('admin' in frame.filename or 'forms' in frame.filename for frame in frames[:5])
+        is_api_context = any('serializers' in frame.filename or 'rest_framework' in frame.filename or '/api/' in frame.filename for frame in frames[:10])
 
-        logging.debug(f"{self.__class__.__name__} from_db_value - admin context: {is_admin_context}")
+        logging.debug(f"{self.__class__.__name__} from_db_value - admin context: {is_admin_context}, api context: {is_api_context}")
 
         try:
             translations = json.loads(value) if isinstance(value, str) else value
@@ -87,10 +88,10 @@ class TranslatableMixin:
 
             logging.debug(f"{self.__class__.__name__} from_db_value - parsed translations: {translations}")
 
-            # For admin/forms, return the full dict so widgets can access all translations
-            if is_admin_context:
+            # For admin/forms/API, return the full dict so serializers/widgets can access all translations
+            if is_admin_context or is_api_context:
                 logging.debug(
-                    f"{self.__class__.__name__} from_db_value - returning full dict for admin: {translations}")
+                    f"{self.__class__.__name__} from_db_value - returning full dict for admin/api: {translations}")
                 return translations
 
             # For regular use, return the appropriate language
diff --git a/django_translatable_fields/serializers.py b/django_translatable_fields/serializers.py
index c8dcd35..745dd9b 100644
--- a/django_translatable_fields/serializers.py
+++ b/django_translatable_fields/serializers.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class TranslatableSerializerMixin:
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self._setup_translatable_fields()
-    
+
     def _setup_translatable_fields(self):
         """Identify and setup translatable fields in the serializer"""
         self._translatable_fields = []
@@ -184,19 +184,8 @@ class TranslatableSerializerMixin:
                 if field_name in validated_data:
                     new_value = validated_data[field_name]
 
-                    # Get RAW value from database using raw SQL (bypass ALL descriptors)
-                    from django.db import connection
-                    model_class = instance.__class__
-                    table_name = model_class._meta.db_table
-                    pk_field = model_class._meta.pk.name
-
-                    with connection.cursor() as cursor:
-                        cursor.execute(
-                            f"SELECT {field_name} FROM {table_name} WHERE {pk_field} = %s",
-                            [instance.pk]
-                        )
-                        row = cursor.fetchone()
-                        existing_value = row[0] if row else None
+                    # Get existing value (model field returns dict in API context)
+                    existing_value = getattr(instance, field_name, None)
 
                     # Parse existing value
                     existing_translations = {}
@@ -271,10 +260,17 @@ class TranslatableField(serializers.Field):
     
     def to_representation(self, value):
         """Convert database value to API representation"""
+        # Get lang parameter from request if not set explicitly on field
+        request_language = self.language
+        if not request_language and hasattr(self, 'parent') and self.parent:
+            if hasattr(self.parent, 'context') and 'request' in self.parent.context:
+                request = self.parent.context['request']
+                request_language = request.query_params.get('lang') or request.query_params.get('language')
+
         if not value:
-            return '' if self.language else {}
-        
-        # Handle JSON string from database
+            return '' if request_language else {}
+
+        # Value is already a dict in API context (from model field's from_db_value)
         if isinstance(value, str):
             try:
                 translations = json.loads(value)
@@ -284,11 +280,11 @@ class TranslatableField(serializers.Field):
             translations = value
         else:
             translations = {'en': str(value)}
-        
+
         # Return specific language or full dict
-        if self.language:
-            if self.language in translations:
-                return translations[self.language]
+        if request_language:
+            if request_language in translations:
+                return translations[request_language]
             elif 'en' in translations:
                 return translations['en']
             elif translations: