It seems a never ending topic here on LiP, in my articles at least, that I write about learning the language, and also about acculturation. But, it is a big part of my life, and I believe that it is good information for anybody who decides that they want to move here. Today, I’d like to tell a little bit about my language learning routine, and particularly about one part of it.
Every Wednesday afternoon I have my weekly Bisaya class. My teacher, Bebe Metillo, comes to my house to give me my lesson. It usually runs between 1 1/2 to 2 hours. More towards 1 1/2 hours, but by the time Bebe goes home it’s more like 2 hours, because Bebe will hang around to talk with Feyma and the rest of the family for a while.
One of Bebe’s other students is named Lucky. Lucky is a German, a young man in his 20’s. Lucky and I have developed a nice friendship, and we enjoy getting together for different things. One thing that we started doing a few months ago is that every Thursday afternoon, we go to the Public Market (the Merkado or Palengke, also called the “wet market”). We go there and go shopping. Primarily, we are not really looking to buy anything, but we are more doing it as an opportunity to speak Bisaya with the people there. We go to various vendors and talk with them, haggle over prices, joke around with them, and develop friendships with many of them. We usually end up buying various things just as part of our interaction with various vendors there. I often like to purchase fish to eat for dinner that night, vegetables for our meal, etc.
In recent weeks, Lucky and I have been joined by another of Bebe’s students, Kurt. Kurt is also an American, and has been studying with Bebe for a while. Of the three of us, I have been studying the language the longest and probably am a little more advanced than the others. Lucky, though, lives with some Filipino people, so although he has been studying a shorter time than I have, he is pretty advanced and comfortable with using the language. Kurt’s study has been a little less formal, concentrating on just learning conversational skills, rather than a structured course of grammar and such. We all enjoy the opportunity, though, to go out to a place like the Merkado and talk with the local folks.
This past week, I would say, was our best outing yet. We were a little more adventurous, and we did more things at the market. Both Lucky and Kurt, in the past, have been a little shy in talking with the people at the market. This last visit, though, I could really see Lucky especially coming out of his shell. As a matter of fact, I really kind of backed off from talking too much, and kind of let him take the lead more, because it was clear that he was not only comfortable in doing so, but quite happy about it too.
One thing that we all try to do on these Thursday outings is that we try to do things “the Filipino way” as much as possible when we go out. We don’t drive to the market, we always ride a tricycle there. We try to only speak Bisaya there, and we try to do things that a normal Filipino person would do. It’s good for language practice, and it’s cultural practice too.
This past week, during our shopping trip, we found a place where there was a somewhat long line of Filipinos. Lucky checked it out and he found that Nescafe was having a promotion. If we stood in line, we could get a free sample of Netcafe Cold Coffee drinks! Wow, what an opportunity. So, we hopped in line and waited. During our wait in line, we talked with so many others in line, found out about them and told them about us too. Once we got to the front of the line, we each got a small sample drink, we drank it and enjoyed it. Next, there was a nice young lady working for Nescafe waiting for us with clipboard in hand. She was there to take a survey and find out what we thought of the product! Wow, this was a nice opportunity to interact, in kind of an “official” capacity, if you know what I mean.
Lady: Sir, lami ang kape? (was the coffee delicious?)
Me: Oo, lami kaayo! (Yes, very delicious)
Lady: Unsay imong komentarya sa kape? (What is your comment about the coffee?)
Me: Lami ug bugnaw daw. (It’s delicious and cold) (I didn’t know what else to say!)
Lady: Sige, sir. Kinsa imong pangalan? (OK, sir. What is your name?) (as she wrote all this on her papers).
Me: Si Bob Martin, ko. (I am Bob Martin)
We continued. I had to give her my address, phone number and such, then we parted company. It was all good fun, though, and I enjoyed it. It truly was a Filipino thing to do, because Filipinos love to get free stuff. I didn’t care too much about the freebie, but rather the experience itself.
Thursdays are always a fun day for me! Hope you can join us sometime!
A couple of other things, LiP related.
Firstly, I would like to announce that we have a new writer here on LiP. Her name is Michelle McDowell. Michelle is a Filipina, but lives in the USA now. Michelle has told me that she hopes to relate stories about her childhood in the Philippines, the way she lived, and the things that she experienced here. Michelle has become a regular commenter here on LiP, and I am excited to hear what she has to say. I’d like to welcome Michelle aboard, and I hope that the readers will find her interesting.
Thanks for joining us, Michelle. It is my pleasure to welcome you to LiP. I am sure that you can provide a previously unheard angle on Living in the Philippines for our readers! I look forward to hearing everything you have to share.
Secondly, I would like to announce that LiP, and another site of mine, Mindanao Magazine are now available for subscription through the Amazon Kindle. If you own a Kindle, you can order LiP and Mindanao Magazine through Amazon for delivery to your Kindle!
Hi Bob – I'm really hoping that I can do some of the same first hand next year. First, hoping that we can make it there, and second, that I'm far enough along to converse at a basic level. I think that would really be a motivator for me.
Sound like you have a good time at the market Bob and to have friends to go with too makes a trip to the market more enjoyable …Welcome aboard Michelle McDowell nice to see you ….Phil n Jess
That sounds like a fun thing to look forward to every week, a follow-up to your great lessons from Bebe, and the shared experience of the language with your friends and the local people. In the beginning in learning Bisaya, I had trouble with the written style of learning, and still get bogged down with sentence structure and grammar. I felt that I was so preoccupied with that aspect that my pronounciation suffered. Being married, in the house even now, I most always fall back to laziness and comfort, an revert to English with my husband and the few neices and nephews that don't mind mixing up Bisaya and English together. One thing about being in our town in the rural province, there is very little English spoken, even among the majority of my neighbors, friends and even family so if one wants to communicate or just laugh and gossip, you have to be able to speak Bisaya. What has evolved for me is a funny vernacular "carabao Bisaya" that is unique to me, not really gramatically correct, but ful of shortened words, alot of Add-ins of "gyud" "Sus Moraseph!" "quan" etc. To make a long story short, anyone currently learning the language or hopimg to learn for the future, just remember that if your desire to learn is there, you'll be able to do it. And everyone will develop through there own way and find out their strengths and style. Filipinos are a kind and accepting lot, and are so happy with any humble attempts that you make, so don't be afraid or self- conscious. Go for it! Also welcome Michelle, I'm looking forward to your posts!
Thanks Phil n Jess and Queeniebee. And of course, thank you Bob for the opportunity. I am very excited and looking forward to sharing the wonderful childhood I had and the many many other stories and experiences that are uniquely Filipino.
I hope you all enjoy my stories in the future. I know I will enjoy writing them! 🙂
just one small note Bob… you "fell" in line, not hopped 🙂
Hi Tommy – Now, how do you know? You weren't there! I never fell down there! 😯 Just kidding…
Kamusta ka Bob,
Bob you are right on when it comes to your readers wanting more and more about the culture there, and your interactions with the filipino people there. So yes, I for one love to read about your "acculturation".
That is a great idea and fun to have your weekly trips to the mercado, and "trying out" your bisaya.
As for Michelle coming aboard, that is so great too. I know she will be a great addition to the LiP lineup. I really can't wait to hear from her, about growing up and living in the Philippines, and her new experiences of now living in the USA. I am not sure of this, but I would guess there are a lot of men on this site, that don't plan on living in the Philippines, but like to read the articles about where there wives or future wives come from, and there culture. So they would also like to hear about her transition to living in the USA as well..maybe I am wrong. 🙂 So welcome aboard Michelle!!!
Salamat kaayo,
Danny 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hi Danny – Glad that the language/culture articles are of continued interest for you. Gotta take the bisaya for a "test drive" from time to time! 😆
Glad also that you're looking forward to having Michelle come onboard!
Hi queenie – Nah, your other comment didn't make it through! I wonder what happened? Formal lessons are great, if you find the right teacher, which is why I am so thankful for Bebe. She is the best!
Hi bob, Admire that you can speak it so well,I seem to get a mental block when it comes to language. Even if i know the words to use I just blurt it out in english anyway. Kinda bugs me, maybe i,m either lazy or stubborn, I don,t know. Hope I can get past it one day.
Hi Daryl – You can do it! Don't be down on yourself. Honestly, what you really need is a good teacher who knows how to teach a language, and it will come to you! Don't give up! Speaking the language adds a lot to quality of life if you are living here. It makes living here a totally different experience.
Thank you very much, Danny! I definitely have "adjustment" stories to write about. Actually becoming a wife alone needed a lot of getting used to. Add a completely new environment minus the ability to drive and let me tell you they make for hilarious stories!
I honestly think I am still in the process of transition. So there are even more stories in the making. 😉
Hi Bob – thanks for the encouragement. I probably should be well past 20, but for various reasons I'm at 16. I do feel like I've gotten back on track lately, so I feel good about that.
Understanding the spoken word, as in sentences, is a real challenge. Other than a couple of parties, the only time I've gotten to hear full sentences is in my lessons. Even when Bebe converses in Bisaya at the start of our lessons I usually need to have her repeat it a couple of times. I can often get the idea because I can pick up certain words. I really have to think it through. Written is much easier for me so far.
I'll work on particular phrases before I visit so I can get past the obvious stuff. Having a couple of live lessons with Bebe would be great, too.
Hi Michelle – Oh, I can imagine some hilarious stories! I know that Feyma and I could tell some very funny stories from her time in the States!
BTW, I think that you will be in the process of transition for years. I've been in the Philippines more than 9 years, and consider myself to still be in the process of transition!
Randy C – You know what, my friend? You should not worry about it if you are on lesson 16 rather than 20 or 25 where you "should be." Forget about that. Just go at the pace that you are comfortable with. Look at me. I have been studying for 21 months, that is what, roughly 91 weeks. I have missed a few lessons, so maybe I've had 85 lessons or so. I am on lesson number 49, roughly half of the number of weeks I've studied. I spent nearly 6 months on lessons 31 through 40, because they were very difficult for me. But, I just kept plugging away. I'm going slowly, but I get better every week. I have roughly 11 more lessons to go before I have completed the course. That might take me 6 months, and it doesn't worry me, because I am going at a pace that is comfortable for me. So, I am moving slow, and I have a huge advantage over you in that I hear the language every day of my life everywhere I go. You don't. So, don't get worried about being behind on the lesson number from where you feel you should be. There are not many people even on lesson 1, after all, and you are on lesson 16. Be proud of it! I know foreigners who have lived here 10 years and have not started the first lesson. You're way ahead of them!
First, welcome Michelle, I'm looking forward to your articles.
Second, I'm glad, Bob, that you took some time to differentiate between the formal language study and conversational study … something many who haven't really worked with a second lanagauge have trouble visualizing.
I loved the story about the palangke visit becuase that's excatly what I used to do frequently with my students when I taught conversational English in Japan. I'm not qualified to teach English formally, let alone Japanese, but all my students had much more "book learning" in English thna I did. They came to my school because they needed help mainly in practicing pronunciation and figuring out how to apply the formal structure of the lanagauge to day-to-day situations. Rather than use the clumsy textbook my school provided (can you imagine four pages on the proper way to ask your landlady if it was permissible to hang laundry on your apartemnt balcony?;-)) I would generally throw the book aside and take my students shopping. I brought a list of things I needed (or that I was interested in finding out more about) and my students had to research the answers and explain everything to me in English … no Japanese allowed. It was tough for them at times, but they all universally loved it and some even took the time to call my boss and compliment my work … very pleasant surprise for me.
Real-world exercises are so much richer and more fun than droning through practie lists.
Hi Michelle …. you do great butterflies !
jonaky, Thanks!
Bob, Congratulations on your transition to Kindle! You sound like the proud Papa that is a little shy to brag on his child. Hehe. I am so jealous of and exited to hear about your progress in Bisayan and now including some of your local friends and their progress.
Michelle, Congratulations and welcome. Like the others, I look forward to learning about the culture from your experiences growing up. Your writing skills seem very good. And now you will even be on Amazon. All the best!
Hello R L Graham – Thank you very much. I am very proud of the site we have built up here. And, I am also very proud of my progress in learning to speak Bisaya. I thank you kindly for your great words!