How to Speak Tagalog

By learn at home, I mean learn Tagalog without ever going to the Philippines. You don’t have to immerse yourself in the language and culture to learn it. It helps considerably but it is not compulsory.

There are Filipinos all over the world so no matter where you are living the odds are there is one somewhere nearby. In many places where there are enclaves of ‘Balikbayans’ and ‘Pinoys’ they have banded together to form associations and offer Tagalog classes for children and adults to maintain their culture.

Years ago I had lessons with a Filipina who worked in the Philippines Consulate in our city. We met at lunchtime and she would try and improve my pronunciation of ‘mga’. It certainly helped a lot the next time I visited Manila and was able to greet people and order food and drink in Tagalog. That helped me make friends and I got to see sights most tourists miss out on.

In my city we can receive Filipino television by satellite hook up for about $20 a month. Before that was available I found an Asian food store that also rented out Tagalog videos. These are great for getting your ‘ear’ tuned in but some movies look great but you can’t follow the dialogue yet! I guess that just spurs you on to learn more.

I also bought a copy of Jose Rizal’s novels, which are historically very important to Filipino’s. My edition had both English and Tagalog texts and so I could compare the two. It was painstaking and I realise probably not too accurate but after a while it was amazing how much you could pick up and retain.

Of course by far the best way to learn Tagalog is to come to the Philippines and live amongst the Filipinos. Failing that, find a special Filipina and have them come and live with you, right after you say “Mahal Kita, Asawa ko!” (I love you, my wife!)

Learn to speak Tagalog