SOAS LANGUAGE CENTRE

Tagalog (Filipino) Beginners 1

Materials: Aspillera, P. (2007) Basic Tagalog for Foreigners and Non-Tagalogs (+ MP3 Audio CD). Tuttle Publishing: Singapore.

Overview of course contents *

Introduction to the Tagalog (Filipino) language

- Brief overview of the Tagalog language

- The evolution of the Filipino alphabet

- Consonants and vowels

- Syllables and stress/intonation in Tagalog

Basic phrases and sentences

- Introducing oneself

- The Filipino family and its members

- Asking for directions/locations

- Shopping and bargaining at the market

- Eating out

Vocabulary

- Greetings, occupations, names, nationalities

- Days and months

- Numbers: cardinal and ordinal (1-100)

- Public transport

- Market products and Filipino food

- Locations

* contents are subject to revision from year to year

Synopsis

This course is for ab initio learners who would like to establish a good

foundation in the language. With the focus being on the ability to use the

language from the outset, dialogues form part of each lesson with a careful

balance being struck between speaking, listening, reading and writing.

In the first few weeks, students learn how to greet, introduce themselves, ask

and answer simple questions regarding name, nationality, occupation and

place of residence. Succeeding weeks focus on basic grammatical structures

and the formation of simple declarative sentences.

By the midway point in the course, participants are able to engage in dialogue

that is essential in the situation of meeting new people. There is a midway

revision and practice test, where students have an opportunity to hone their

language skills and to practice what they have learned.

The second half of the course focuses on situational contexts that are likely to

be encountered when visiting the Philippines: shopping in markets, taking

public transport, ordering food and drink in a restaurant, etc. The vocabulary

and cultural contexts of these daily activities area also investigated.

By the end of the course, students are able to converse in Tagalog in limited

situations and context, as well as read and write short sentences.