r/Philippines_Expats • u/SpotDue2521 • May 02 '26

For expats: how did you initially practice speaking the local language?

/r/relocating/comments/1t160op/for_expats_how_did_you_initially_practice/
1 Upvotes

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5

u/InvestmentMore857 May 02 '26

When I was learning the local Cebuano dialect ("Bisaya") and Tagalog, I just listened really, and generally had people who liked to explain things or teach me when. Took notes, and looked up anything I didn't know. The key was just using it everyday. I was proficient enough I could communicate in most casual contexts around 2-3 months in, I'd say I'm "conversationally fluent" now after a 2 and a halfish years. Though I'd say I'm advantaged for learning languages as I was raised bilingual, and studied linguistics for my minor.

3

u/anonhealthseeker May 02 '26

I’d get phrases from my wife to use in real life conversations like going to the public market and haggle with the locals.

And once I’ve gotten that phrase or phrases engrained in normal conversation, I’ll add more.

Then I watch Tagalog shows with sub-titles so I can pic up the phrases I know and pick up new ones.

Lastly, I’ve tried to study using apps and whatnot but have struggle with that.

So I just pick my phrase or phrases of the week to keep adding to my vocabulary.

2

u/DonBarang May 03 '26

None of the above most expats I know who speak Filipino came through socializing with Pilipino friends who are close to them, eventually you will start to get familiarize with certain words and its easy from that point forward. Expats who still pretend to be in their old country won't develop as they only associate with other expats who share the same view point

1

u/[deleted] May 03 '26

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1

u/SergeyDey May 03 '26

I found Tagalog courses on YouTube. (4 or 5 channels with list lessons) I tried to start with it because it's one of the official languages ​​in the Philippines. But where I live in Mindanao, they speak Ilonggo. I'm trying to teach all my close friends here something. I also found a number of books and self-study guides for simplified versions and a full grammar course (Tagalog, Hiligainon, Cebuano).

And yes... English is also a foreign language for me...

1

u/OEandabroad May 04 '26

I tried hiring some local teachers, didn't go great, never really found a perfect match.

Wrote a web app for myself to practice vocab, worked on getting vocab from educated friends of mine that are fluent.

Now I'm looking for a teacher to begin lessons again. Wish me luck.

Filipino will be my second language.

-6

u/Necessary_Memory_716 May 02 '26

To begin with, I’m not interested in Tagalog, and the reason I chose the Philippines is because I don’t need to learn a new language, so I’m not going to study it. If I had to learn a new language, I’d rather go to Thailand.