I'm Filipino American and raised in the U.S.?

Question

I left when I was 3 year old and cannot speak tagalog, but I can understand most of the language. I went to the philippines last month and I was afraid to speak english because people will start talking about me and their nose might bleed if they continue to speak english with me.

My question is, how do filipino people feel about filipino americans that cannot speak tagalog?

from my perspective, I felt ashamed that I couldnt speak the native language and the filipinos look to me like I am a disgrace to the filipino race.

Answer 1

"Native" Filipinos (born and raised in the Phils.) exhibit a range of emotions regarding Fil-Ams who do not converse in any one Filipino dialect at least semi-fluently. Some are fleetingly amused at the sound of a Fil-Am "slanging it" in front of them. Others can be downright annoyed and even incensed. For the latter, their mindset is thus:

You look Filipino, have Filipino-speaking parents, are regularly exposed to the language and culture--so why don't you at least make an effort to further your skills? Additionally, they look around and have met other Fil-Ams who weren't even born in the Philippines (or even foreigners like actress Sandara Park and missionaries) speak to them in unaccented tagalog and that convinces them that you may actually be intentionally snubbing or "dissing" the language and therefore the very culture of your heritage. I suspect this is the core reason for their contempt. They feel that you are subconsciously looking down at them as somehow inferior.

Having said that, I understand that some individuals have learning disabilities that make it difficult to acquire secondary language skills. On the other hand, for the most part, I personally believe that it is at least partially an attitude thing. For example, if I was really interested in movies and cars, I would tend to want to learn all about these subjects, regarless if I knew little about it in the beginning. If someone is constantly exposed to the Filipino culture/language and somehow still over time does not inherit certain language skills and knowledge, then it can be safely assumed that they have little interest in that aspect of their lives--so there is some truth to your antagonists' contemptuous beliefs about you.

But take heart, anybody can change. If you're feeling a change of heart about learning the language it is never too late.

Answer 2

You can still understand Tagalog ( btw, Tagalog is a dialect, the official language that we are currently speaking is Filipino ) right? Then just tell them you do! It would be easier if you speak in english and they speak in Tagalog. You'd still be able to understand each other.

Also, you should at least try to learn Tagalog as Pinoys are generally social creatures and may want to talk all day :)) even though you can't speak the language you can still be able to comprehend what they are telling you. And it would make your relatives (especially your lolos and lolas) very happy to hear you speak the language.

P.S
Filipino jokes are best spoken in tagalog... :)
(actually they're funnier than american jokes)

Answer 3

Your situation is like my boyfriend. He barely speak Tagalog but he can understand. I don't feel funny if a Filipino American cannot speak tagalog, because I am Filipino/American/Arabic and I was thinking the same way like you before. But I realized the Filipinos cannot do anything about it if I speak English. I just act natural and communicate if I need to. It don't matter what they say.

Answer 4

There's nothing to worry about because most Filipinos can speak English. If they only know a few words, chances are they'll be amused by you and your accent. You only have to watch our noontime shows and see how the people cheer when a foreign artist says, "Mahal kow kayow" (thats "mahal ko kayo" or "I love you all" in american slang). If you ever encounter someone who might be a little intimidated, the chances would be very minimal. Besides, not all people can speak their native language well. You should read one of our columnist's articles about the English language horrors Bush himself committed.

Anyway, it's great that you feel that you should learn to speak the native language. Some Filipinos even feel more proud if they can speak English well rather than Filipino. You'll be marvelling at the number of call centers here who have thousands and thousands of applicants and employees trying to speak in an American accent, not to mention the rapidly increasing tutorial centers offering to teach Filipinos to speak the GI Joe way. My hats off to you and I hope that you can visit again sometime and learn more about our native language. I can even help you in translating if you want.. :P

Answer 5

you're not a disgrace. it's not your fault you cannot speak tagalog anymore but if you really want to, speak in tagalog to your parents and tell them to speak to you the same way. maybe the reason why you don't know how to speak it now is because your parents talk to you in english at home; that's how it is for my cousins who live there now. just let me clarify that it is not a bad thing at all.

i've noticed that in some of my fil-am friends, they can speak good tagalog even if they have an american accent (their parents talk to them in tagalog or other filipino dialect at home, depending on which province they came from). the combination sounds strange but then filipinos here would like it and would even encourage you to learn more tagalog. it's not a difficult language to learn anyway. :-)

Answer 6

Don't worry that you cannot speak Tagalog. Actually, Filipinos more adore person that speaks English. English is the 2nd language of the Filipino. From preschool to college to business, we learn and use English. Its really not a problem. Im sure that they will be interested to teach you Tagalog words that we usually do whenever we have foreign visitors. Im Filipino.

Answer 7

Ermmm...what is there to worry about? I was born and raised in London, UK, I managed to learn tagalog when I stayed there for 3 months when I was little and I can speak fluent tagalog near enough, but with a British twang.

Anyway, my fil-am cousins can't speak Tagalog. Everyone is different. Filipinos don't really care if you are from abroad and can't speak Tagalog, nearly everyone in the Philippines can speak English anyway.

Heck, my cousins who were born and live in the Philippines are fascinated by how fast I speak English.

Answer 8

You're at the age when you realize you should be learning more about your culture. That's good. Don't be ashamed though. There are so many Fil-ams and balikbayans in the Philippines, it's totally normal for many to not speak Tagalog. Worse are those who pretend to not speak Tagalog when they do.

Answer 9

I don't know about filipino but I'm Japanese and I had the same problem at first. When I was 5 or 6 my parents tried to teach me both languages so I know a little Japanese but when I went to go visit my relatives over in Japan they thought I was so weird for not knowing Japanese and being Japanese, even though I was raised in English and everyone else speaks English, they thought I was "wrong" for not being able to speak it and that I should've learned it right alongside English (though I tried, it didn't just go into my brain). Now that I'm older I'm fluent but it was embarrassing when I was little.

Answer 10

dont worry about it I understand tagalog too and I cant speak it either, when I went there most of the people tried to teach me tagalog and found it amusing which was cool with because I found there english amusing as well