Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Language Learning Styles and Learning Tips
Sorry for the delay in getting out this lesson, I have been out of town a lot during the last two weeks. I hope you all are continuing to listen and write down new words you hear. John had an interesting method for remembering new words! For me, this seems more complicated, but I know different people have different ways of remembering things. There are a lot of different learning styles.
My husband and I differ in the ways we learn. He is an analytical kind of guy and needs to know WHY the words are arranged the way they are. He wants to know the RULES to follow. He also needs to SEE a word written before it makes an impression on his brain. Reviewing words in a flashcard drill program he wrote really helped him learn vocabulary. He has to work harder on good pronunciation, and the more time he spends in conversation, the better he maintains his fluency. He tends to speak the way we learned to speak in school, and does not easily add local idiom to his conversation.
I am more of an auditory learner. This is true even though I wear hearing aids (all the more reason to wear them!). I hear sounds and can mimic them (if I hear them correctly). I am interested in HOW people say things, not so much why the say them that way. I wish I knew the grammar as well as my husband, but I am so grateful for the grammar training we got in school! I never would have learned it otherwise, and it is a huge help! I remember words best if I USE a new word in a sentence or conversation at least five times in one day. If I try the new word out, asking how it can be used, listen to some one else use it, and try it myself, I’ve pretty much got it.
John has mentioned using ‘word association’ as a method for learning vocabulary. His is probably good for learning things like numbers and words that otherwise would be hard to remember, but will be difficult to use for learning a whole language. But the more associations you can make with what you already know, from English or any Spanish or other language you have worked with in the past, the better! I remember having a breakthrough when I realized that at the bottom of the word “piniritong,’ (as in fried chicken) was the Spanish word ‘frito’ which means fry! The ‘fr’ sound is not used in Cebuano, so the ‘f’ and ‘r’ need to be separated by that ‘i’ in order to be pronounced. The ‘p’ and ‘f’ are interchangeable, with ‘p’ more used. Hence, we get ‘pirito’ (pee-REET-o), fry. And I then also understood the ‘in’ infix which makes something habitual or intrinsic, ‘pinirito +nga manok= pinititong manok.” (pee-nee-REE-tong ma-NOOK)
In our school, they had us count objects, and follow instructions given in Cebuano such as, “Give me three pieces.” “Give me six pieces.” “Take five bananas.” “Give two carrots to Paul.” etc. To learn the ordinal numbers, we had to show a picture of our family, and say who was the first, second, third, and so on.
For people who like to SEE a word to remember it, labeling items around the house may help, especially if you make a practice of calling things by their Cebuano name, even in English sentences. “Linda have you seen my libro? I left it on the lamesa ganina.” Move as quickly as you can to full sentences, but this is a good beginning.
Think about the way you learn things. Do you write them down? Makes lists? Think in terms of opposites? Repeat them in your mind, or out loud? Do you visualize a picture? Put it in a sentence? Do you easily remember songs, clever ditties and rhymes? Capitalize on what you know about the way you remember things. All systems do not work for everyone! Find what works for you.
Okay, I found a very helpful website with a free, downloadable book on Cebuano grammar! The fellow who put it together is an American married to a Filipina from Cebu. He has gone to great lengths to learn Cebuano, and has written up all of his learning notes! This page also lists many other resources available.
http://www.tomandcathymarking.com/cebuano/
Related Posts:
Language Learning TipsHi, I’m AmericanLola
Cebuano Grammar #2
About AmericanLola
Learning About Culture
# 1 Bob said:
Hi AmericanLola - Thanks for that lesson. I think that I am more like your husband (not so sure if he wants his actual name to be listed here), I learn better by seeing the words. A few years back, I did the thing about putting a card with the name on objects all over the house, and it did help me a great deal!
I just wanted to make one clarification. When you mentioned John, with his unique method of word association - I think you actually meant Kevin. Better be careful - John is very mean, and you don’t want to get on his bad side!
# 2 AmericanLola said:
Oops! You are so right! Sorry Kevin, for not giving you credit where credit is due! Sorry John!
# 3 AmericanLola said:
By the way, this free downloadable book is 248 pages long!
# 4 Kevin said:
AmericanLola,
Wow, what a goldmine. I downloaded the Cebuano Study Notes, all 250 page. I’m going to start tonight with the peg system and word association. I’ll print it out soon.
# 5 Bob said:
Hi AmericanLola - Yesterday I had my Cebuano lesson, I showed the downloadable book to my teacher, and she was VERY impressed with it!
# 6 Lea said:
American Lola,
Thanks for the link. Though I speak Cebuano (I’m from Gensan), this will come handy for teaching my son few words/sentences. I’m battling right now which dialect to teach him, either Cebuano or Tagalog. I don’t want the kid to be confused either if I’ll do both. What do you think?
# 7 AmericanLola said:
Hi Lea, I am not sure. Maybe you should think about how you will want him to use what he learns. Will he be speaking to his Lola and cousins in Gensan? Then Cebuano will be better. will he be going to school in the Philippines or spending a lot of time in Manila? Then maybe Tagalog would be better.
Bob, I’m glad your teacher liked it! I plan to print the whole thing, one of these days, to use for a reference.
# 8 Marilou said:
Hi AmericanLola - Thanks for the link. Jim and I had a look at it last night and downloaded the Cebuano songs. I had so much fun trying to teach Jim to sing “Pasayawa Ko Day”. It was so funny - I almost peed my pants! It’s amazing how much vocabulary he has learnt in one night. I intend to make him memorise and learn this song seriously. We will be in Talakag in April for my mother’s 80th birthday - we always have a family programme in her honour. I can’t wait to see my mother’s (and the others) face when she hears Jim and I duet to “Pasayawa Ko Day”.
# 9 Jim said:
Hi AmericanLola-My wife gets me into many predicaments and thanks to you this is another Ha!Ha!Ha! They will call me “Stevie no wonder”
# 10 Tina said:
Hi Marilou & Jim,
I think that’s a great idea! I was just humming it in my head, trying to remember the lyrics…
We do have a lot of beautiful Cebuano songs. I’m sure your duet will be a hit at your mom’s 80th!
# 11 Marilou said:
Hi Tina - Check thiis link - it will take to you back to memory lane!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1X8fe6ip7kM
# 12 Tina said:
Hi Marilou,
Thanks for the link, I really enjoyed it!
BTW, what does “hanlulokay” mean?
# 13 Marilou said:
Hi Tina - Never heard of the word before. Like you I don’t know what it means? AmericanLola, Feyma, Jul, CherylAnn HELP!
# 14 AmericanLola said:
I looked it up in my Wolff’s Cebuano/English dictionary and it said, Hanlulukay, a harmless garden snake,light yellow-green in color, about a meter long and around 1 1/4 cm. in diameter. It resembles a cocnut palm leaflet (lukay).
What fun! Go for it Jim! Remember, singing here is about having a good time and putting out a good effort, not about a perfect perfomance! Paningkamot lang!
# 15 Tina said:
Hi Marilou and Jim,
Can you do us a favor? Can you take a video of your performance and put it on this site? That will be really great! Not poking fun, I’m really serious! Think about it…
American Lola, according to this song, Jim thinks Marilou dances like a “hanlulukay”!
I haven’t appreciated this song as much as I do now, understanding that word. Thanks! 
# 16 Marilou said:
Thanks AmericanLola
# 17 Marilou said:
Hi Tina - A video of our performance? I doubt it! I don’t want to put-off the visitors on this site
# 18 Tina said:
Hi Marilou,
Oh c’mon… it will be fun! After all, isn’t this the essence of living in the Philippines - having fun with family and friends? I really think you should do it.
Bob, Feyma, Everyone!
Help me here, will you???
# 19 Jim said:
Hi Tina-Hang on a minute or better still maybe three months till I perfect the song don’t want to spoil all the computers from here to Florida. HeHeHe!!!
# 20 Tina said:
Hi Jim,
No, I don’t want to cause you unnecessary stress here now. I meant for you to have a video of your performance in April, on your mother-in-law’s 80th! This means you have 6-7 months to practice and perfect the song, including choreography. You know, it’s like getting on Broadway, you’ll need to practice and rehearse, do a premiere, etc.
Deal??? Oh, please, please, please…
# 21 Jim said:
Hi Tina-I think your having a laugh at our expense, only joking.
Maybe one day we will surprise you.
# 22 Tina said:
Hi Jim,
It’s all for fun! We can also return the favor, you know. We can do a “Live in the Philippines” funniest home videos gallery. Now, I’m not saying your performance will be funny - far from it. I’d say it would be delightful and charming.
I really do hope you would do it. Yes - surprise us!
# 23 Jul said:
Hi Jim and Marilou:
This comment might be bahaw, but we’d all be thrilled to see you both dancing to the tune of Pasayawa Ko Day on video. My colleagues (8 pairs) perfomed it on stage years ago in CDO and we brought the house down! The composer of this song (Ben Subere or Zubiri (sp ?) a.k.a. Iyo or Lolo Karpo was also the composer of Matud Nila, immortalized by Pilita Corrales.
Matud Nila is also a good piece to literally translate line by line into english while one sings it. Marilou perhaps sings it while Jim will do the translation or the other way around. Must be funny, guys!
# 24 Marilou said:
Hi Jul - We are in Stirling, Scotland at the moment visiting our daugther. We sang Pasayawa Ko Day to her last night, just to get a reaction. You sould have seen the look on her face. She could not believe that her Dad could actually sing in Bisaya. So watch this space!
With regards to Matud Nila - Hey Jul, one song at a time ha!
# 25 Jepoy said:
To Leah:
I didn’t realize that it is very challenging to teach children your language in a foreign land.
My family and most of my friends are Cebuano speakers so my children are very exposed in the language; however, they are more comfortable speaking in English rather than Cebuano. I realize that children can learn the language faster if they regularly hear it on tv; unfortunately, there are no Cebuano movies or programs available on DVD’s.
Luckily, I received a tip from a Chinese friend on how to teach children speak their parent’s native language.
First, pretend that you don’t speak and understand English. When your kids talk to you in English, don not respond, instead say “unsa?. If they are not uttering the Cebuano word or phrase after third “unsa” teach them the word/phrase and have them pronounce it correctly.
Second, once they learn a few vocabulary and you feel that they are ready to listen to what you are teaching, you can start to correct them immediately when they talk to you in English.
I mean translate what they say in Cebuano and have them pronounce it.
It needs a lot of patience and determination, but it’s worth.
The strategy works to my two daughters and the filipino community here in Vancouver are very impressed with them as they maybe the only two of every five thousand Filipino Canadian children who can speak a Philippine language.
# 26 Bob said:
Hi Jepoy - Thanks for sharing your experiences in teaching your kids to learn Cebuano. I find your experience quite interesting!