Learning Filipino at The Learning Library this Summer
Our previous experience with The Learning Library is nothing short of memorable. It was the first time we sought help in teaching our kids Filipino, and was also the first time I crossed EDSA on public transport all by myself with just the three of them.
They were so much younger. Pablo was around 10 years old and Lukas was 6. Pablo joined their Wika’y Saya class, while Lukas was recommended to attend the Talas – Salitaan class.
Judah, then, was too young, but he came along and hung out with me at the nearby Circle K while we waited for his older siblings to get off their classes.
But this summer, it will be Lukas and Judah who will be attending TLL’s summer program, and both will be in the school’s Wika’y Galing class.
Wika’y Galing Assessment
We took the kids to The Learning Library last April 1 to have the kids assessed. Assessment is important because it will give the teacher the idea where the kids are in the language and meet them there.
The kids will be attending the The Learning Library here in BGC, however, since their BGC summer venue is not yet open to receiving students last week, we went to their Makati branch in Pamana Language International Building, Pasay road, to meet with Teacher Nezette.
Teacher Nezette sat with the two separately. She asked them questions in Filipino and took note of their answers. After the basic questions, she handed them clear books with photos and asked them to point to the pictures that represent their answers to her questions on uses and places.
Lukas and Judah are both placed in Level 1 and will attend classes twice a week starting on the 23rd when the BGC branch opens. Each class runs for 45 minutes.
Just so you know, Lukas is doing well in his Filipino PACES and can understand a bit of Filipino. However, we cover more history and grammar than conversational skills, which is why he didn’t do so well in the assessment. I suspect that he’ll do well in the program.
Judah, on the other hand, just started on his Filipino PACES last month, which also means it’s the only time I resumed teaching him the language. I tried teaching him when he was 3 or 4, but I stopped and focused more on helping him in his fine motor skills development.
I think every parent should understand that while there are a lot of great supplementary programs out there, the success of each child’s learning is primarily our responsibility. That’s why they’re called ”supplementary.”
Programs at The Learning Library
The Learning Library is the first and only one of its kind (that I’ve heard of) that offers programs that promote and enrich Filipino language skills. And I’m glad they exist because there is a need!
While there is nothing wrong with being fluent in English and other languages, Filipino is part of our identity. It keeps us connected to our roots and our culture. I didn’t understand this before, but I’d like for my children to one day speak and write in Filipino as well as they do in English.
I have high hopes, after all, the kids’ great grandfather was a Filipino poet and writer by profession. Their lolo (my dad) was the last real makata in their lineage. Who knows? Something just might click and the kids would turn out to have a gift in Filipino literature that they have yet to unravel. We’ll see….
Here are the programs they offer at The Learning Library:
Reading Safari (ages 3-6)
A fun workshop for children getting ready to read: teaches letter sounds plus word reading strategies and develops the love of reading.Wika’y Saya! (ages 4-10)
This workshop builds vocabulary and listening comprehension through different interactive activities. Guaranteed to make learning Filipino fun!Speak Up, Write Now (ages 9-14)
A one-of-a-kind writing and speaking workshop that builds good composition and effective oral presentation skillsPanitikang Filipino (High School)
A one-of-a-kind workshop that builds understanding and appreciation of the literary works read in high school.
The Reading Advantage (ages 3-16)
A complete reading and writing program with exposure to children’s literature, from beginning reading to comprehension and compositionWika’y Galing! (ages 3-16)
Anchored on Philippine culture and literature, this unique language program helps students acquire fundamental skills, confidence, and enjoyment in expressing themselves in Filipino.
The Learning Library uses stories and books in teaching kids to communicate , read, understand and appreciate our language. I will definitely update you on my kids’ progress in the program this summer. I promise that I’ll be more consistent in following through what they learned in class.
Enrollment fee is PHP 2,800/month, which already includes 8 sessions with seat work materials. You also need to pay a one-time fee of PHP 500 for use of books which they can borrow and bring home with them after each session.
For more details on their classes, you may visit The Learning Library’s official website or Facebook page.
20 Comments
Des
How long is the class duration? 2 months? when will it start?
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Hi Des! There are 8 sessions in a month, but yes, the classes run for 2 months. BGC branch will open on the 23rd. 🙂
Karla Nina Mallannao
Wow. I’ll forward this to my sister to enroll her daughter here. Seems interesting! Lalo na’t masyado na silang into English speaking. Lol
Out On A Mission
This is amazing and needs to scale up to other urban places. I hope more children will grow up with much respect and value to our language, culture and tradition
Kath
This is amazing! Such a fun kind of learning. Hope your kids learn the language well.?
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Thank you. I hope so, too!
Jelly Beans
I sometimes worry that many of the stories native to us will not be learned nor imbibed by the younger generations because they have little facility for the language. Such a shame as our culture is rich and diverse.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
I so understand what you mean. We’re trying to help our kids catch up.
Karla
This is great! I’m happy that they offer Filipino subjects. I used to teach Filipino subject in an international school. They find it hard because they don’t practice it at home and at school. I hope they more people can attend these courses.
Blair villanueva
This is interesting. I will share this to our expat group where they also looking for Filipino classes for their kids.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Thanks Blair!
theresa
I hope to have this here in the province. I can teach (I’m a Filipino subj. teacher) during vacay if possible. Or I can also enroll my son here.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
That would be wonderful. I hope they do reach your area soon. 🙂
Wendy
I love this!!!! I enrolled my sons with a private tutor last summer when we went home. Problem was, the tutor was talking in English to teach them Filipino, lol. kaloka! I hope the teachers here speak in Filipino. Seriously, I can’t understand why children in the Philippines who have Filipinos as parents and haven’t even gone out of the country can’t speak Filipino. It’s very distressing hearing children speak Taglish. they can’t speak straight English, they can’t speak straight Filipino.:-(
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Haha, guilty!!!
I guess it’s because English is one of the two major languages we speak here in the Philippines. English was my primary language when I was growing up. 🙂
When my kids were younger, I was hoping our babysitters would speak to them in Filipino to help us out in teaching the kids the language, but instead, they used our kids to develop their skills in English. Labo! LOL!
Happy and Busy Travels
Learning Filipino is also important because this is our language. It’s just so sad that our language is always put aside.
She Guinto
This is nice especially now if you are looking for ways para malinang ang kids kasi it’s vacation.
Danica Marasigan
Interesting! Kids nowadays are used to speaking English at a young age. Not that I am against it, but language should be a balance of your native tongue and English. It’s good they have summer programs as these to teach our kids the native language.
Adventures with Docah
Great Idea! Its not often that we see posts about filipino language learning center since most of the people in our country wanted to learn others so much! But hey, our language is very unique and would be a great add to their skills!
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