Learning Tagalog (9780804855815)

A complete beginner's Tagalog language course—plus a pocket dictionary—all in one!

Whether you're planning a trip to the Philippines or reconnecting with your roots, Learning Tagalog is the perfect place to start. Developed by Filipino language experts Joi Barrios and Julia Camagong, this comprehensive guide introduces the basics of speaking, reading, and writing Tagalog—the national language of the Philippines—through fun, engaging, and practical lessons.

Designed for absolute beginners, this book uses a step-by-step approach with a strong focus on real-life conversational Tagalog. You'll learn how to form sentences, understand grammar, and master essential vocabulary through lively manga-style illustrations and interactive exercises.

Inside you'll find:

• A focus on everyday spoken Tagalog as heard in contemporary Manila
• Manga-style dialogues that bring conversations to life
• Simple, clear explanations of grammar, sentence structure, and verb conjugation
• Cultural tips on etiquette, expressions, and how Tagalog reflects Filipino values
• Extensive practice drills and free native-speaker audio recordings for listening and pronunciation practice
• A built-in mini-dictionary of essential Tagalog words and phrases

Whether you're learning Tagalog for travel, heritage, or personal enrichment, this book gives you everything you need to build confidence and fluency from day one.


About the Author:
Joi Barrios teaches Filipino and Philippine literature at the University of California, Berkeley. She previously served as an associate professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman and taught at the Osaka University of Foreign Studies, UCLA, and UCI. She has won fourteen national literary awards and was among the 100 women chosen as Weavers of History for the Philippine Centennial Celebration for her contributions to literature. In 2004, she also received the TOWNS (Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service) Award.

Julia Camagong teaches Filipino at the College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale, New York, and is the Co-Executive Director of Philippine Forum, a non-profit community organization based in New York City. She is also Vice President for Programs of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), a U.S.-wide alliance of community organizations and institutions working for the rights and welfare of Filipinos.