What's the first thing you should do when learning a new language?

Question

I'm trying to learn Tagalog (Filipino), but I don't know what I should learn first and from then on. I would gladly appreciate any tips and advice when learning a new language. If there is any possible way, is there ways that can help me learn the language faster? How long does it take to learn Tagalog fluently? I am a Filipino born and raised in the US and am willing to learn the language.

Answer 1

What really helps (and I'm sure you've already taken this step) is to spend a while with a Tagalog-speaking Filipino. That way, (if you listen carefully enough, and are eager to learn it) you'll know a few basics. Tell them to speak it to you all the time, as if you knew it fluently as well, whether it be your Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister, Aunt, or Uncle.

Next, you want to start taking notes on it. You can find Tagalog dictionaries online or at book stores. Look up important words and phrases you want to learn. Then practice them each day, and try to make them a part of your life.

After that, you want to get deeper into the language. Once you're comfortable with the basics, and you can form many different simple phrases, then you can move on to the rest of the language. Ask Tagalog speakers "How do you say ________?" Keep filling your mind with the language, and make it the main language you speak (not to English speakers though, of course.) It might take months, or it might take years. But, if you're willing enough, and interested enough, I'm sure you will catch on quickly.

Also, if possible, you should visit the Philippines, and go to areas where Tagalog is most common, so your brain is surrounded with it.

Good luck! I'm fourteen years old, and I picked up on the Palauan language, and now I'm trying to learn Japanese.

Answer 2

Search for a website that teaches it {Google "tagalog"].

Then, read a page or chapter daily from a textbook: and reread, overtime: it'll start to stick.

Write your notes on yellow paper [supposed to increase memorization].

Also, memorization is aided by reviewing yesterday's notes for 5 minutes today and reviewing today's notes at the end of the day [Reader's Digest article].

Not fun. may take years. Then you can practice with a good speaker: You'll learn more from this speaker if you have something under your belt.  

Answer 3

English

Tagalog- informal, impolite

Tagalog- formal, polite

I am ______

____ ako

Ako po ay _____

I am (name of a person)

Si (name of a person) ako

Ako po ay si (name of a person)

He/She is _____

____ sya

Sya ay _____

You are ______

_____ ka

Ikaw ay _____

You(plural) are ___

___ kayo

Kayo ay ____

They are ____

____ sila

Sila y _____

I ___ you

___ kita

I ___ you(plural)

___ ko kayo

I ___ him/her

___ ko sya

I ____ them

___ ko sila

You(plural)___ me

_____ ninyo ako

You(plual) ____him/her

_____ ninyo sya

You (plural) __ them

___ ninyo sila

You ___ me

_____ mo ako

You ____him/her

_____ mo sya

You __ them

___ mo sila

She/He ___ me

___ nya ako

She/He ___ you

___ ka nya

She/He ___ you(plural)

___ nya kayo

She/He __ them

___ nya sila

They ___ me

___ nila ako

They ___ you

___ ka nila

They ___ you(plural)

___ nila kayo

They ___ him/her

___ nila sya

It's my ____

___ ko 'to

Ito po ang aking _____

You are my ____

___ kita

Ikaw ay aking ____

You(plural) are my ____

___ ko kayo

Kayo ay aking ____

She/He is my ____

___ ko sya

Sya po ay aking ____

They are my ____

___ ko sila

Sila po ang aking ___

Where is the ____

Saan ang ___?

Saan po ba ang ___?

What is ___?

Anong yung ___?

Ano po ba ang ___?

Where is your ___?

Saan ang ___ mo?

Saan po ba ang inyong ___?

Where is your(plural) ___?

Saan ang ___ ninyo?

Saan po ba ang inyong ___?

What is your(plural) ___?

Anong ___ ninyo?

Ano po ba ang inyong ___?

What is your ___?

Anong ___ mo?

Ano po ba ang iyong ___?

Which way to ___?

Saan ang papuntang ___?

Saan po ba ang daan patungong ___?

How much is ___?

Magkano ang ___?

Magkano po ang ___?

How much is one piece of ___?

Magkano ang isang piraso ng ___?

Magkano po ang isang piraso ng ___?

Can I get ___?

Pwede kumuha ng ____?

Pwede po bang kumuha ng ___?

I have ___

May ____ ako

Meron po akong ____

I do not have ___

Wala akong ___

Wala po akong ___

My (noun) is (verb)

(verb) ang (noun) ko

Ang aking (noun) ay (verb) po

His/Her (noun) is (verb)

(verb) ang (noun) nya

Ang kanyang (noun) ay (verb) po

Your (noun) is (verb)

(verb) ang (noun) mo

Ang iyong (noun) ay (verb) po

Your(plural) (noun) is (verb)

(verb) ang (noun) nyo

Ang inyong (noun) ay (verb) po

Their (noun) is (verb)

(verb) ang (noun) nila

Ang kanilang (noun) ay (verb) po

Why did I (verb)?

Bakit ako (verb)?

Bakit po ako (verb)?

Why did he/she (verb)?

Bakit sya (verb)?

Bakit po sya (verb)?

Why did you (verb)?

Bakit mo (verb)?

Bakit po kayo (verb)?

Why did you(plural) (verb)?

Bakit kayo (verb)?

Bakit po kayo (verb)?

Why did they (verb)?

Bakit sila (verb)?

Bakit po sila (verb)?

When did i (verb)?

Kailan ako (verb)?

Kailan po ako (verb)?

When did he/she (verb)?

Kailan sya (verb)?

Kailan po sya (verb)?

When did you (verb)?

Kailan ka (verb)?

Kailan po kayo (verb)?

When did you(plural) (verb)?

Kailan kayo (verb)?

Kailan po kayo (verb)?

When did they (verb)?

Kailan sila (verb)?

Kailan po sila (verb)?  

Answer 4

I think the first thing you should do is find a class of some sort.  They are generally organized into an order which makes sense.