Encouraging your Child to Learn Filipino

If you notice these days, Filipino children are more conversant and fluent in the English language rather than in the Filipino language, more known as Tagalog.

The initial assumption for this prioritization of speaking in English here in the Philippines is of course, rooted in socio-economic implications. However, if you look closely, it is actually harder for a child to learn Filipino than English because of the variety of the former's phonology (sounds). Pardon me for this over-simplified explanation:

From the original 20-letter ABAKADA (remember this song?) it has now metamorphosed into ang Makabagong Alpabetong Pilipino, all the 26 letters of the English alphabet plus 2: ñ and ng.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Beb5SU1yzX8&feature=related

Imagine all the possible consonant-vowel combinations of an expanded alphabet! Can the child go through all of these?

Apart from this, try asking your child to produce the ng sound as the first sound in the word. Example: Ang titik ng sa salitang ngipin, at ngayon. I'm pretty sure your child's lips will try hard to pull hard backward and his/her teeth will grind.

So how does a parent make the Filipino language easier and more enjoyable to the learning child?

The approach I can think of that can work best is using tools in the child's environment. One can start off by giving the Filipino equivalent to the things that the child sees around her. The first on top of my mind are the things that you see in the kitchen, probably because eating time usually takes looong for a child, thus, to make those feeding times much more enjoyable and productive, ask, "Ano ito?" Kutsara, tinidor, plato, baso. "Ano ito?" Kanin, ulam, gulay, tubig. Moving on to various ingredients: manok, baboy, isda, bawang, sibuyas, kamatis, etc, etc. This also works best when you are in the supermarket with your child.

Thus, the very first Filipino book I ever used in teaching is the classic Bahay Kubo:



















It is also easier to teach the child Filipino, or any new language for that matter, with the use of music. Remember how English nursery rhymes worked for kids? It works the same in teaching Filipino.

The Song Bahay Kubo can be found in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojSRxbwJmJE

Ako ay May Lobo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVsQVBvb7U4


Paa, Tuhod, Balikat, Ulo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb7n-2KTNo8


This is not a plugging for Knorr, but the song Makulay ang Buhay sa Sinabawang Gulay seemed to be a hit with kids at the time it was shown on television. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meCbmp0AUF0&feature=PlayList&p=E6CAFDD4E44891F0&index=17


Other Videos:
Learning Numbers 1-10 in Filipino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxBkvdchII0&feature=PlayList&p=E6CAFDD4E44891F0&index=10


There are so many Filipino children's books out there but I feel that some of these books are too text-heavy or that the message and values they want to impart are a little hard for a young child to comprehend.

It is best for the beginning Filipino language learner to start out with Filipino books whose main characters are animals because children recognize animals easily.













(don't mind the "moral lessons" tagline, sheesh)




If you are living abroad and want to purchase Filipino books over the internet such as Amazon.com, the books are so expensive! Better to ask a balikbayan friend to purchase for you when he/she is back home in the Philippines.

In the meantime, here are some free online story-telling videos in Filipino. Happy viewing with your child!


Ang Unggoy at ang Buwaya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBmBaqix8_0&feature=related


Ang Leon at ang Daga(music is weird though)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBnZXDb_JSQ&feature=related