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My TagaLOG | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log |  | |
| CindytheKana Newbie Philippines NoneRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 3332 days ago 22 posts - 29 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Tagalog | Message 1 of 10 07 April 2015 at 4:06am | IP Logged |
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ABOUT ME:
I moved to the Philippines last year. I now live in Manila with my family. My husband is Filipino and is fluent in both English and Tagalog. His family moved to the US when he was in high school. Now he is living again in the Philippines where he grew up. I have three young boys (baby to PreSchooler). TAGALOG IN MANILA: English and Tagalog are the official languages of the Philippines. English is widely spoken and understood. English is the language of education. Even at my boys' preschool (age 3-5) the language is strictly English, no Tagalog aloud and even the kids at that age understand and speak English without any problems. In order to find a place in the Philippines that does not understand English you would have to go outside Manila in a province or go to a poor lower class neighborhood. I have come to notice that even if someone does not understand or speak English they will still not engage me in Tagalog because it reflects on them and their education. Also the Filipino people are very kind and warm and loving and "happy to serve" (as one of the biggest retail store's motto claims) so there is never pressure for me to feel like I have to learn Tagaog in order to get by or survive here. MY DESIRE - WHY? I have often struggled with "why bother" because of how much English is spoken. I told my husband that if feels like learning Tagalog is like having a spare tire in your car or having a well stocked first aide kit. Will you really use that tire? Maybe one day in the right circumstance. But it is wise and helpful in certain circumstances. That is what is feels like for Tagalog sometimes. Which istnt very motivating. But I have noticed that Tagalog is preferred among the locals here in Manila. They feel most comfortable with it and will always speak to each other in Tagalog. They will always switch to English for me when I am in the room or in hearing distance. Which is thoughtful. But I know it is not preferred and hard for them. They have a phrase "is my nose bleeding?" when they speak English. ha ha.... it means that it is a struggle to speak in English because it uses so much brain power it causes a nose bleed. The longer I live here the most I hear people say that. Now we have a local gal who lives with us. She helps around the house with laundry and the kids. She is from the province and a wonderful motivation because she does not know English well. It forces me to learn and practice Tagalog. MY GOAL I want to be conversational in Tagalog. I dont have to know how to read or write efficiently, but I want to be able to hold a conversation in Tagalog. I want the locals not to feel like they need to switch to English when I am in the room and be able to track and understand and contribute to their conversations. MY LOG I want to use this log to help track my progress. Writing helps me formulate my thoughts. I hope this log will also be a form of accountability and motivation to keep at it. MY PLAN I want to get a language helper to come and converse with me in Tagalog 1-2 times a week. I also want to start by focusing on the house. Because I am a stay at home mom and am home most of the time... and because my biggest need to learn the language lives under my roof.... I wanted to start by going room by room in our house and learning the vocab and phrases that I will use in every day life. For fun I want to get into kareoke. Kareoke is a big past time here. There are lots of materials of local Tagalog songs. I enjoy music and think is is fun. I think being able to see the lyrics on the screen and singing along will help my pronunication. There are also several words that are repeated, so I might catch on the meaning quickly. Plus I think it will be a fun thing to keep in learning in the language when I get tired or want to give up. Okay thats it for now. thanks!! 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Clarity Groupie United States Joined 3324 days ago 85 posts - 107 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 2 of 10 07 April 2015 at 4:18am | IP Logged |
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Hello from a fellow Newbie! I laughed when I read the "is my nose bleeding" phrase. I think I'm going to start using that one.
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| basica Senior Member Australia Joined 3338 days ago 157 posts - 269 votes Studies: Serbian | Message 3 of 10 07 April 2015 at 5:00am | IP Logged |
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Love the title of your log, good luck with your language studies! :)
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| CindytheKana Newbie Philippines NoneRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 3332 days ago 22 posts - 29 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Tagalog | Message 4 of 10 07 April 2015 at 6:06am | IP Logged |
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Thanks Clarity and Basica. Fun to connect with fellow "Newbies".
Ha ha... yup I will have to figure out how to say "is my nose bleeding?" in tagalog. Then I can use it back at them when I start practicing and struggle. ha ha... :) 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| CindytheKana Newbie Philippines NoneRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 3332 days ago 22 posts - 29 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Tagalog | Message 5 of 10 08 April 2015 at 4:44am | IP Logged |
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Just checking in.
So I feel like since I am just getting started that I am more of in the planning phase rather than in the active learning stage. I had an official converstation. We have a neighborhood vendor who sells taho (warm silk tofu mixed with pearls and brown sugar syrup). I have ordered from him before but never understood what he would ask. But this time I clearly understood him ask "Ilan po?" and I answered "apat". Exciting! I always knew what what he asked me because of context but this was the first time I heard it and understood. Besides that I watch one 30 minute episode of a soap opera sort of thing. I maybe understood what was going on but not because I understood the words but only because of nonverbals. I could pick out a few words here or there (like he/she, sibling, want, what, it .... that sort of thing) but I couldnt understand what they dialogue was. I also listened to two songs over and over again for about 15-20 minutes. It was easier to follow the songs and I was able to hear and pick out more words when I listened to just one song over and over again and I was able to guess what it was about because of it. I am now trying to decide how to approach my Tagalog textbook I got. Part of it is review but I think I will still go over it. Minimum one lesson a week, but I think I can do more espeically in the beginning when its reveiw. I also made contacts to inquire about having someone meet with me about twice a week to help me practice verbally. Right now the only verbal practice I have is a handful of sentences and phrases I say throughout the day to my husband or kids or house helper. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| turorudi Triglot Newbie Philippines Joined 3371 days ago 24 posts - 30 votes Speaks: English, Tagalog*, Japanese Studies: Hungarian, French | Message 6 of 10 08 April 2015 at 12:15pm | IP Logged |
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This is awesome, Cindy!
I am a native Tagalog speaker and if you want help, just let me know. is my nose bleeding - Dumudugo ba ang ilong ko? :D (something is) nosebleed inducing - Nakaka-nosebleed naman If I remember correctly, the whole nosebleed thing came from a Tagalog comedy movie from years before. The protagonist is a pretty girl who is not so smart that her nose bleeds every time someone talks to her in English :P What songs are you listening to? Good luck!! Sana mag-enjoy ka sa pag-aaral ng Tagalog. (Sorry, Taglish...) (I hope you will enjoy learning Tagalog) 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| CindytheKana Newbie Philippines NoneRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 3332 days ago 22 posts - 29 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Tagalog | Message 7 of 10 08 April 2015 at 11:53pm | IP Logged |
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turorudi - What a helpful phrase thanks! Will have to practice that one.
Here are the songs: Nandito Ako by Noel Cabangon Huwag Mo Nang Itanong by Noel Cabangon Ulan by Johnoy Danao Ikaw at Ako by Johnoy Danao Ikaw by Yeng Constantino I like how they are slow enough to understand and hear the pronunciation. One song I heard on the radio that I instantly liked was by Gloc9. I have never liked rap music before but the words and sounds of the Tagalog language made it so beautiful. ha ha... so that is on my list of ones I want to learn. ha ha quite advanced because of speed of rap music, but so much fun! Oh the song I like is Ganda by Gloc 9. Oh is that movie worth watching? The one where the nose bleed reference comes from? If so I might have to add it to my list of movies to watch. I am assuming its in Tagalog? I guess Taglish maybe? Happy Day of Valor to you! Do you greet people on holidays like this? 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| CindytheKana Newbie Philippines NoneRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 3332 days ago 22 posts - 29 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Tagalog | Message 8 of 10 09 April 2015 at 12:26am | IP Logged |
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Turondi I just read about the Day of Valor and the Bataan Death March. I imagine you
probably don't greet people with such a greeting on this day. Forgive me for my ignorance. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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