Chatty Tolentino, Researcher

Imagine knowing very little English, and in the middle of your first year in school, you’re expected to be fluent in English because you got one hour of lessons every day. That’s exactly what some children experience when they start learning Filipino in school. It’s difficult enough to learn any language, more so if you're expected to learn at a certain pace (because you are, after all, a Filipino child).

Many schools expect their students to study Filipino as a mother tongue, and even parents expect them to have no difficulty learning it. When expectations are not met, it's easy for children to become discouraged: “I don’t want to learn Filipino anymore”.

THE LEARNING LIBRARY has been helping students learn Filipino as a second language since 2009 through its WIKA’Y GALING! leveled program. Here are best practices in motivating children to develop confidence in Filipino.

Know Where They’re At

According to Arlene Reyes, a veteran WIKA’Y GALING! teacher, there are many reasons why children hesitate to express thoughts in Filipino: poor vocabulary due to lack of exposure, being given material that assumes fluency in Filipino, fear of failure, etc. “Some don’t see the point of learning the Filipino language when everyone around them speaks English. Others resent it because it’s the only subject in school that they’re not good at,” she says. Learn more about why kids find Filipino difficult through this video.

Knowing the reason for their reluctance or lack of motivation is an important starting point. Find a good time to talk to your child openly about it -- create a safe space for them to express their feelings about the subject.

Provide Positive Reinforcement

No one feels good when their honest mistake is made fun of or used as a punchline to tease them. When you make fun or give negative reactions to your child’s mistake, they’ll feel more frustrated and stressed. Don’t be too harsh in pointing out their errors, instead, you can provide examples where their mistakes will be used appropriately. You shouldn’t be mad that they don’t know something, it just goes to show how much they have yet to learn. Mistakes are a part of the experience. Instead of laughing at their wrong answers, tell them that they can get it right next time!

Provide Encouragement

No one feels good when they’re teased or made fun of for honest mistakes. WIKA’Y GALING! pioneer online teacher Pearl Gervacio has this advice to parents: “Never make your children feel embarrassed.” Don’t be too harsh in pointing out their errors, which make them feel even more frustrated. They may not pronounce or use words right, but it’s the effort that counts. A good goal at home is “communicate to be understood, not to be correct.”

Be realistic with schoolwork expectations. When their report cards come out with lower-than-expected grades, gently ask what they found difficult and ask what help they need.

Be Mindful

One thing you don’t want to be called is “makulit”. There will be times when you want to teach your child and they’re just not in the mood to learn Filipino. Be on the lookout for what they call a “teaching moment” -- when the child is open to learning. It can be when your child asks you a question that is best answered in Filipino, or when they ask you for the right word in Filipino for something they want to describe.

Other good teaching moments are occasions such as birthdays and weddings, when there are more people speaking in Filipino. When they are genuinely interested and curious, that’s the best time to teach!

Model It

Practice what you preach. It’s difficult for your children to understand why they should be learning Filipino when they don’t their parents or anyone else use it. As Teacher Arlene points out: “It’s hard to teach children to do anything if you, the parent, are not really practicing what you’re asking them to do.”

Exposure to language is critical to fluency: kids will take to Filipino media if they see you enjoy it, too. Watch local shows or listen to local music in the common areas of the house. Speak the language constantly when they’re around, even if you’re not directly talking to them. Read Filipino books -- even comic books -- together. Exposure through multiple points teaches them how to think in the language and makes it easier for them to express themselves in it.

Make It Fun

Studying is not always enjoyable, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Start activities that don’t really feel like learning -- games are the best! Play “I Spy” or “Twenty Questions” in Filipino. Turn the pages of a Filipino book and take turns at guessing a word’s meaning or the English translation. You can even practice their pronunciation by singing Filipino karaoke songs!

Teacher Pearl recommends that parents focus on activities that their child can relate to: “As the parent, no one knows your children better than you, so find ways to incorporate Filipino into the things they enjoy.” Their interests can be used to motivate them into language learning. If they like to sing or rap, look for Filipino songs they might like. If they like to read books or comics, recommend local books.

Humanap ng Kausap

Contrary to most parents’ expectations, children will not pick up the language “from others”. Kids who speak English will most likely have classmates who speak English, too.

The best way to motivate children to learn to speak in Filipino is to find friends or playmates whose mother tongue is Filipino. Compared to adults, children will not be as accommodating towards those who speak another language: if I can’t talk to you, I won’t play with you. Your child will do his or her best to communicate with same-age kids that she wants to be friends with.

Appreciate and Understand

There is a key factor that affects your child’s motivation in learning Filipino—you. You must be motivated yourself. Be an active partner in building vocabulary. When they ask you for the right Filipino word, don’t shrug it off and say “just Google it”. Try to answer even when you’re in the middle of chores or are about to sleep. It’s actually fun to learn new words together!

Your mindset empowers and encourages your children. Show that you are genuinely interested and that you understand why they might be having a hard time. “They shouldn’t feel too pressured to meet your expectations about their progress,” says Teacher Arlene.

What if they want to stop learning?

Begin with the end in mind: paint a picture of the benefits they will enjoy if they become fluent in their second language. If your child is able to understand it, try explaining the advantages of mastering two languages: having good control over attention, becoming a better problem-solver, being more creative, and slowing down the brain’s aging process.

“Motivating kids in higher year levels is actually easier compared to kids in grade school,” says Teacher Pearl. High school students are more aware of the near-future – college. Filipino subjects required in college will encourage them to pay attention to their current lessons.

“Grade school level children can be encouraged to learn Filipino if you explain to them that there are people outside of their home and school that speak the language,” Teacher Arlene adds. “Make them understand how important it is to learn Filipino if they want to interact with their fellow countrymen. It may not seem necessary now but it will be hard for them to establish good relationships with their future clients, customers, or patients if they can’t speak the same language.”

Let us help you help your child learn Filipino!

We make learning Filipino fun at THE LEARNING LIBRARY. Our flagship Filipino enrichment program, WIKA’Y GALING! develops the 4 fundamental language skills -- reading, writing, speaking and listening -- to build confidence in Filipino. To avail yourself of our free online Filipino assessment, click here or email us at inquiries@learninglibraries.com. You may also call us at 0917 828 2669 or check our website at www.learninglibraries.com to know more about Filipino online for kids and how we teach Filipino as a Second Language.