Learning Tagalog

[CyberGlitch]

I'm curious for those of you have been married for a few years now with your filpina wife. Have you tried to learn tagalog? How far did you get? Only a few words here and there or can you semi-hold a conversation? Completely fluent in it?


Even before thinking about dating and wife hunting I was interested in the language and have learned a little bit here and there. Even record a few shows I watch on TFC and GMA Pinoy, have to admit my favorite being Eat Bulaga. 


Now that I am talking to a lovely girl and mentioned wanting to learn the language we have started doing a couple new words each week and forcing me into trying to use them in Taglish sentence.

[Ray]

Hi Glitch,
 
Yes, I have been interested in learning Tagalog since my first visit to the Philippines 44 years ago. With a total of 36 years of marriage to Filipinas, and living and working over there for a time, I managed to pick up a lot of vocabulary and common phrases mostly by listening and imitating.
　
Tagalog is a moderately difficult language for native English speakers to master, but if you have a very good grasp of the English language, then you shouldn’t have too difficult a time learning. I have been told that it generally takes about 7 years of serious effort for the average person to become conversational, but having the opportunity to practice by using it daily would be invaluable.
　
Keep in mind that there are something like 170 distinct languages spoken in the Philippines but Tagalog is the primary language, along with English. Most Filipinos here in the States will use Tagalog as a common language, along with English, to communicate with each other. Neither of my two Filipina wives were native Tagalog speakers, but they use Tagalog when speaking with other Filipinos over here in the U.S.
　
Tagalog (or Filipino) is taught in schools in the Philippines, but English is the primary instructional language.
　
Everyone has his/her own preferred method of learning so there is no right or wrong way to go about learning Tagalog. Even with a decent vocabulary knowledge, my big problem was pronunciation. I have noticed that most Americans who attempt to speak some Tagalog mispronounce a hell of a lot of words and make a lot of mistakes in usage and grammar.
　
What helped me immensely was taking some formal Tagalog courses at the local community college. I got to use Tagalog in practical situations with immediate feedback on any pronunciation errors. I recently completed a total of 15 semester hours of formal Tagalog instruction at a very reasonable cost.
　
There are all sorts of Tagalog language programs available, including computer programs, on-line learning aids, college or university courses, etc… The Philippine government had a nice looking on-line Tagalog language program offered through the CFO about a year ago, but it looks like it is no longer available through their Web site. It was geared primarily toward English-speaking Americans and other western country citizens of Filipino decent. They only charged USD $20 per semester but maybe they dropped it due to lack of participation.
　
I think the method you are using is an excellent way to start to learn the language. I would strongly suggest that you insist that your lady friend be very strict in correcting your pronunciation, or you will have problems being understood.
　
Also, try to find a good English-Tagalog-English dictionary with all the accent marks on the Tagalog words to aid in pronunciation. I have a really good one that I purchased many years ago in a bookstore in the Philippines, but I don’t think it is published anymore. Most of the dictionaries I have found here in the States, and even the ones in the Philippines, are sadly lacking.
　
If you become really serious at some point about learning the language, then I highly recommend some formal training in a school setting if it is available in your area. Studying the grammar, verb usage, and keying on proper pronunciation I feel is invaluable. Most formal courses also include valuable instruction in the Filipino culture and history.
　
Ray

[judy]

Hello Glitch,
   My husband and I have been married 32 years this January.  Most of my Tagalog I have learned by osmosis.  In the beginning of our relationship, I learned some  very valuable phrases, "What is that ", (Ano dito/ito) "Where is that"(Saan dito/ito) and "How do you say it/that"(  Paan ano sasa bihin ito/dito).  I think I have the spelling right.  Also yes (oo) no (hinde) and one more (isa pa).  I have also invested with the Rosetta Stone computer program.  The Tagalog taught on that program is a bit more in depth and teaches proper grammer.  In family gatherings though the inlaws will not  be speaking proper grammer and will probably make fun of you, mine did.
Ilocano ( second most common dialect in the Philippines) is a whole differant universe and I will never grasp it.  I have seen Ilocano on Rosetta Stone.
Good Luck and remember, you will make mistakes and people will laugh at you, but that is the way that you will learn.
Yours Judy

[CyberGlitch]

Thanks for the comments.


The pronunciation is what I always worry about. At first it was just her texting things to me with meaning. I didn't want to say them to her because I knew I would screw it up. I've gotten over that now and sometimes do ask if 1 way is better then the other.


I got the Rosetta Stone set last year and got deep into it doing well. Never used it in a practical sense but a few of them are started to come back to me.