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Bob speaks Bisaya!

Language Learning / by

Good morning.  Today, I want to write something different.  I will also post an audio of this.

Last week, when I wrote an article about pomelo, and I visted a fruit stand in Santa Cruz, I showed a video of the visit there.  Some people commented that they were impressed with my Bisaya.  I was surprised to hear that, because the Bisaya that I used on the video was very simple, and my skills are far better than that.  So, I wanted to write this, and include an audio of myself saying this in Bisaya so that everybody could hear.

I have been studying Bisaya for one year now.  My teacher is Bebe Metillo.  I am so happy with the things that Bebe has taught me, because this has made a big improvement on my daily life.  I really have to thank Bebe for that.

Today, as I write this, it is Wednesday (I am writing on Wednesday, it will be posted on Friday), I have my weekly Bisaya lesson this afternoon.  I am writing the English for this first, and when my lesson starts, I want to translate it to Bisaya, then record it so that I can include it on my website.

For anybody who wants to live here, I really encourage you to learn the language that is used in the area where you will live.  Learning a language is not as hard as you think.  Just a few hours per week of study, and you can speak in a year or so.  You will be happy that you took the time to learn it!

Thank you to Bebe and to everybody who has helped me in my studies.

Listen to this post in Bisaya by clicking on on the gray “Play” button below:

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wow, some of the words you are using are deep Visayan – or maybe it is just me – Ive been away too long. I should try Bebe's style – learn the words and grammar first, then the pronounciation and intonation later. I noticed you are still using the English way of pronouncing 😀 but I can understand – that's the main thing. Congratulations, Bob. It is not easy learning a new language. I was learning Norwegian whilst in Norway, self-study, and my attention span is very short. Doing written exercises too. I think it is different when you have a teacher, or going to classes. She can correct you. For me, I found that friends or family sometimes don't dare to correct you.

  2. Maayong buntag Bob
    Maayo ra kuya Bob. Even the little bit if Bisayan I know has been very helpful when traveling and being around the Filipino group in the area. I am hoping to get better at Bisayan when I move to the RP. Right now I know just enough bisayan so I can tell if my asawa is talking about me.
    😉

  3. Hi Ellen – Thank you, Ellen. In my classes, I have written exercises to do too. I enjoy the learning very much. My only regret is that sometimes I can't find enough time to spend on it, at least not as much as I want to. Regarding pronunciation, Bebe says that my pronunciation is much better now compared to a year ago, and getting better all the time!

  5. Hi Bob,

    I contacted Bebe a week ago so John can start his Visayan lesson. But her and our schedules don't meet. Hence, John hasn't started his study yet.

    May I have Bebe's number again?

    Hopefully, John will be able to start soon. He needs to learn Bisaya, considering that he'd be in Samal most of the time on his own , when we start developing Costa.

    Thank you.

    Lea C. Walker

  6. Hi Lea C. Walker – I am sending you Bebe's number privately, because I don't want to post it publicly on the blog.

    I can't recommend Bebe highly enough, she is a great teacher, and a good person too. My lesson is just one hour per week, which I originally thought was not enough time to make a big difference, but really I found that just one hour per week is really about perfect.

    Good luck to John!

    Take care.

  7. Hi again Bob,

    Thank you very much. We need her help as well because I'd feel
    better if John knows how to speak Bisaya. That way, I am assured that
    even if I am not around, the people he talks to will understand him and
    vice-versa.

    Just saved Bebe's number. Forgot to do that the last time. 🙂 Must be
    the age! he he…

    Thanks again. Regards to Feyma!

    Lea C. Walker

  8. Sounds like you're really coming along well Bob. My wife takes a slightly different approach where she really emphasizes my pronunciation of words. It's hard though because I can't get it exactly right… especially those darn nga/mga combinations. I think I really need to learn from a proper teacher if I am ever going to learn to speak like a native.

  10. Hi BrSpiritus – For me, trying to learn from my wife was a non-starter. It just didn't work. I believe that having a real teacher who is trained in how to teach a language is indispensable.

  11. Hi Bob – I've only had one lesson with Bebe, but I can already tell she is a great teacher. I think she will have her hands full with this student, though 🙂

    Thank you fro recommending her, and of course for all the help in getting our lessons set up. I'm going to try the recording software tomorrow. I think it will be fine and a big help.

  12. nice work, bob. i played the audio while painting. i had my earphones on like i always do & i understood everything you said. mind you, i was looking away from the screen while listening so i didn't have the text as a guide.

    i am just a tad disappointed that you said "website" in english… just kidding.

  15. Hi Bob, What i found to be easier is to listen to people talking – not word for word – but like music – following the melody, not exactly what is sung. Follow the intonation and accents that way. Come to think of it, that was how I studied morse code. I know you were active in amateur ham before, so you know what I am talking about.

  16. Hi Randy C – I am sure you will do well with Bebe! Good luck with recording your sessions… I think that is a great idea!

  17. Hi macky – Sorry to disappoint! 😆

    I will say this… seriously… in a situation like this, where I wrote it in English, then translated to Bisaya, then read it, it is hard to read it in a way that it sounds natural. Anytime you are reading instead of just speaking, the naturalness does not come through.

    I'm glad that you could understand me! 😆

  19. Hi Bob
    Keep on trying with the Bisaya, you`ll get there. Having the desire to do it is half the battle
    All the best
    Malcolm

  20. Hi Malcolm – Thank you… not sure I would say that I am "trying" rather that I am in the midst of learning. I appreciate your support!

  21. WOW!!! Very impressive….there were words you said I have not used in years….42 yrs in the US now….I hope my husband will be as successful as you. Laura

  24. Wow, after having lived in Mindanao for a year I thought my Bisaya was good!!! Yours is great! Then again, I lived in Surigao, therefore I speak Surigaonon better than Bisaya so that's not surprising.

    I love this and am really excited at your efforts at integration. I understand the depth of interaction with having learned the language of your adopted town (I know, I've had to do it 3 times already!) so I really think this is a huge step forward to improving your quality of life in Davao and the Philippines as a whole.

    I really admire what you've done here and hope to meet you and your family someday!

  25. Hi mia – Thank you, and keep up the work on your language learning too! We will be looking forward to meeting you. Let us know anytime you plan to be in Davao.

  26. Wow Bob! You impressed me. Your Bisaya is 100% pure without any mixed of strange words like Tagalog, English, etc. How fast you have learned it. Although as what you have mentioned last time, inside your house the whole family are only speaking English.

  27. Hi LAURA MCMILLON – Thank you very much. I am sure that your husband can do it too. It is not that hard, but you have to have a personal commitment to do it.

  29. Hi Dan Mihaliak – Having been around Tagalog for a great period of time like that, you have a real advantage if you decide to take some formal lessons. My situation is similar, in that I had been exposed to Bisaya for 17 years at the time I started my lessons. The more I studied, I found that I already know a LOT of vocabulary, and learning the rules of how to use that vocabulary to make sentences was a lot easier for me.

    Personally, I don't have any interest in learning Tagalog, as it is not the language that is widely used in Mindanao.

  30. Hi Luz B – Thank you! Yes, we still do make our kids speak English inside the house, most of the time anyway! 😆

  33. It must be Cebuano language or Sinebuano Cebuano version
    Visayan(bisaya) has many defferent languages Cebuano,Ilongo,Waray, Capiznon etc. http://www.binisaya.com/content/word-bisaya-cofusion-answered http://www.pagadian.org/bisaya.htm Heavy migration to Mindanao of people from Cebu and Dumaguete etc in 1940’s, spurred by government-sponsored resettlement programmes,is the reason that mostly people in Mindanao are Cebuano or 90% speak the Cebuano language.
    Also Ilonggo people from Panay and Negros islands who speak Hiligaynon migrated in Mindanao and most of them settled in Pigkawayan and Midsayap North Cotabato areas. Also the reason why mostly people in these areas are Ilongo.