Learning Tagalog

There are 28 of these videos, made by a group of 3 or 4 half Filipino lads, at least one of which is a Fil/Brit. One is half Canadian.

"Learning the Filipino language can sometimes be tough, so we have everyone send us tongue twisters to test how good we are."

Afternoon everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has successfully learn Tagalog to any degree by any means other than actually being out there? My Pinay friend is really busy so I wouldn't ask her to try and fit in teaching me on top of everything else. I know there are youtube videos and such out there, but I was thinking it would probably be better to be able to converse with a real person, and so maybe finding a native Filipino to talk to would be a good idea. Not a clue how I'd go about this.

One thing I would like to know how to say is, and I'm sorry about how lame this is, but was wondering if anyone knows how to say "She's a beautiful Pinay girl" - in Tagalog, of course.

I know it's not very original, but I was going to post it on my fb page, as I know my Pinay friend will see it and find it funny.

Also I want to learn Tagalog just because I do, not just for this trip I am going on.

Thanks for any help.

P.s. I used to use Google translate, but according to my Pinay Friend, none of the translations I used were correct, so I don't want to use that to find out.

I've actually just had a look online and found some places that do the thing with the native speaker. But I'm still interested in the translation if anyone can help, and any experience people have had regarding learn the language.

Thanks

Have you not picked up much from being married to your wife mate?

You not tempted to just move over there?

Oh right, sorry I don't know why, but I assumed your wife lives in Phil. Would you not be tempted by the weather/culture?

I don't like living in England. I'm only here as I look after my sister and she is still in school, and now I am also going back to university. If it wasn't for those things, I'd be out of here.

Just asked my asawa,
Siya ay magandang dalaga.
or
Siya ay magandang babae.

babae in English means girl, dalaga means lady or women.

Thank you. I call her girl when I talk to her, but she's 23. Does girl in Tagalog mean more like child/girl?

Whilst all Filipinos are taught Tagalog in school, most prefer to converse in their local dialect and in the eastern Visayas and Mindanao, that is Bisayan. There is a perceptable "them and us" attitude between Tagalog and Bisayan speakers.

Thanks, she speaks both her local dialect and also Tagalog. She goes to school in Manila, and speak Tagalog there.

Yeah it means child/girl, but she should not be offended.

Thanks for that mate. And salamat to your wife.

wala problema

Then I suggest you learn her dialect rather than Tagalog.

Would Tagalog not be more broadly used in the Philippines mate? She comes from Cabanatuan City, but I'm interested in learning a broadly used language. She speaks great English, Tagalog and her local dialect.

You have hit upon a conundrum. Which of the many languages of the Philippines to learn. Seemingly Tagalog is supposed to be the unifying language though some feel that English is doing just that. I guess if one was getting married to someone from the Visayas for example and / or settling there, then Visayan, but otherwise it is more of a tough call and perhaps better to err on the side of practicality and go for Tagalog.