#learning tagalog

so far, i've downloaded this app called "drops" because people on reddit said it helped them, but it doesn't really give me things i can use in day-to-day conversations?? i've also been trying to listen to more filipino songs and p-pop but don't really know where to start either 😭😭😭 i'm also thinking of starting to watch more filipino shows, so if anyone has any recommendations please let me know 🙏🙏

thank you!

love,

(Galing sa Tagalog for Beginners: An Introduction to Filipino, the National Language of the Philippines 2011)

Disclaimer: I'm learning tagalog, not fluent at all! Cannot guarantee the accuracy of these notes but I'm sharing them as I learn more about the language. Open to corrections!!!

Just as the English Language has verb "tenses", nasa Wikang Filipino ang mga aspekto o "aspects". Sa ilalim ng itong post ay yung mga basics ng mga aspekto at ang mga kanilang english equivalent.

Completed/Perfective = Past Tense

Action started and finished in the past

Ex: Nanood - watched

Incompleted/Imperfective = Present Tense

Action started in the past and is not yet finished

Ex: Nanonood - watching

Contemplative = Future Tense

Action has not yet started

Ex: Manonood - will watch

Recent Perfective = Past Perfect and Present Perfect

Action finished JUST before speaking

Ex: Kanonood - just watched

Filipino verbs have different forms such as:

Tulog (Sleep): Natulog -> Natutulog -> Matutulog

Salita (Speak): Nagsalita -> Nagsasalita -> Magsasalita

Takbo (Run): Tumakbo -> Tumatakbo -> Tatakbo

Depending on the word, the changes made between different aspects vary. Though generally it's:

"na"/"nag" + root word (Completed Aspect)

"na"/"nag" + first syllable of root word + root word (Incomplete Aspect)

"ma"/"mag" + first syllable of root word + root word (Contemplative Aspect)

Sa mga pandiwa na may "-um-" sa gitna katulad ng "tumakbo", ito ang kanilang general structure:

ro- um -ot word / T-UM-AKBO (Completed Aspect)

ro- um -o- root word/ T-UM-A-TAKBO (Incompleted Aspect)

ro-root word/ TA-TAKBO (Contemplative Aspect)

So generally, as it moves forward through time, syllables are added and "n" turns into "m"

Ka- prefix is typically used for something that just happened before IN CONTEXT OF VERBS.

Kumusta! Salamat sa tanong mo. The process went like this:

Basic grammar using text books and YouTube videos.

Vocabulary via constant reading & listening. I used fan fiction, songs, YouTube videos, shows etc. For the first 2-3 months I did not understand more than a few words but if you persevere you’ll see slow but rewarding progress.

I wrote down & repeated aloud words that would frequently be used. More importantly I wrote them with context; I used the words in sentences, not just in isolation.

As for “other skills”, I’m not sure what you mean exactly but I hope this can help you:

Speaking - I talk to myself a lot lol. I also talk to my Filipino friends

Writing - I wrote about my everyday life & thoughts in a journal using Tagalog & I texted my filo friends.

In summary:

learn basic grammar then focus on input; reading & listening.

Use methods you enjoy by incorporating your hobbies into language learning like how I used fanfiction and music.

Keep in mind the context of each word/ phrase

The Pinoy Grammar

For in-depth explanations of Tagalog grammar rules.

Talk to Me in Tagalog

To hear useful everyday Tagalog phrases spoken slowly and clearly.

Easy Filipino

français

Gained 180 XP on Duolingo

(Unrelated to French but related to the above point) I turned off notifications for when I go down on the dashboard because I would get so stressed about wanting to advance to the next level but that’s not necessarily what language learning is about. Because I would want to stay in top 7, I would direct a lot of energy doing Duolingo when I could be doing more effective language learning (no offense). 

I responded back to my French penpal. One of the lasting topics of our conversation is Twilight and right now our subtopic is that Twilight is fucking weird and it's so fun to be talking about this and in a foreign language.

tagalog 

I was supposed to have a 1-hour long class at 10am, but since I got back home around 3am and didn’t get any sleep, guess who slept through their alarm ? Language learning during the holidays really is an extra challenge

I wrote a small introduction text. I began by writing what I wanted to say in English, then, using tagalog.com (the BEST) and google translate, I rewrote the text in tagalog.

Reviewed how to conjugate -um verbs using this lovely video

Overall, spent around 1 hour studying :)

español 

Did a journal entry! (Did I look up every word? Yes. But did it help to jog my memory and get re-acquainted with the language? YUP.)

Began my quest for a language exchange partner for Spanish! I'm currently speaking to someone, but I'm not sold quite yet on if we're compatible. At first, I was gonna wait to find a partner, but speaking is the best way to improve a language so I'm putting myself out there.

Did the italki language test and I received [drumroll] B2 ? I really though I would get A2 MAYBE B1 if a miracle happened. If you are not familiar with the Italki Language Test, I included my results down below :

It is interesting how A1+ and B1-B2 makes B2. It's as if it's rounding up rather than finding the average.

I found myself laughing a lot throughout the whole test because I realized how SHIT my speaking is, but, hey, I'm all about that abundant mindset and I guess I got a lot to catch up on.

My interest lies mostly in languages and history, and I study Celtic Languages and Culture at university.

Here are some of my notes!

^ celtic studies and some classical archeology ^

^ Tagalog and Baybayin ^

🌼 Filipino Nature Vocab 🌼

here's a few nature related words i've learned recently :-)

1. kalawakan - outer space

2. bituin - star

3. ulap - cloud

4. hangin - wind

5. ilog - river

6. isda - fish

7. bulaklak - flower