How Learning Tagalog Changed My Approach to Languages
From a school friendship to a lifelong passion.
Some days ago, I shared how I discovered the Cyrillic alphabet and fell in love with Russian - though back then, with so few resources, it was way too complicated for me to actually learn.
Why Local Languages Matter, Even for Tourists
One memory from that Russia trip stuck with me: I basically became the “mascot” of our tour group. I was the youngest, sure, but also the only one who could read Cyrillic signs.
It felt huge at the time. When I went back to Russia in 2017, most people still didn’t speak English. Imagine what it was like 13 years earlier! I still remember the pride of recognizing words like выход (vykhod = “exit”) while wandering around on our free time without a guide.
My First Year in a Public School in Italy
After finishing primary school at a Catholic private school, I was craving a change. Most classmates wanted to stay connected, but I didn’t care. I was done with daily religious routines and ready for a public school environment.
Meeting Migrant Classmates and Discovering Diversity
The biggest change at my new school? Diversity. My old school had zero immigrant classmates.
Seeing foreign names on the class list? Totally thrilling.
But reality hit fast: Italians stuck with Italians, migrants stuck with migrants. It was like an unspoken apartheid. And honestly? I found my Italian classmates boring.
I became more withdrawn week by week.
How a Filipino Classmate Sparked My Love for Tagalog
Then Cecilia joined our class - she came from the Philippines.
She didn’t speak Italian yet, but her English was excellent, which immediately set her apart from the rest of us, whose English… let’s just say, was not great.
For some reason, my English was a bit better than average, so we started connecting. It wasn’t perfect - we struggled to understand each other - but a real friendship formed. And we’re still in touch, nearly 20 years later.
My First Words in Tagalog
One school break, she mentioned her native language.
I had no idea what she was talking about - but I asked her to teach me something.
Her response? She taught me to say “What’s your name?” in Tagalog: Anong pangalan mo?
That tiny phrase lit a fire in me. If Russian had given me a peek at the world of languages, Tagalog blew the door wide open. It wasn’t European, it was completely outside anything I had ever been in contact with.
Exploring Asian Language Families
That one phrase turned into an obsession.
I started reading about Maleo-Polynesian languages and other Asian languages. In Milan, I bought Tagalog books and began writing short texts.
With Cecilia’s patience, we even exchanged simple messages on our Nokia’s 3410. I never became fluent, but I still remember tons of words and phrases. And yes - I still have those books. One day I’ll actually learn to speak Tagalog properly.
Resources That Helped Me Learn Tagalog
Back then, SEAsite – Tagalog (Northern Illinois University) was a lifesaver. Old-school website design, but packed with beginner-friendly content. Absolute treasure.
Why Tagalog Meant So Much
Tagalog wasn’t just another language - it was the shift from passive curiosity to active passion. It was the first language I chose out of love, not obligation.
It gave me my first real connection with a foreign friend. It showed me how languages can bring people together.
Keep Your Language Journey Going
Thanks for reading! If my stories resonate with you, remember: you don’t need to follow anyone else’s path to learn a language. You can create your own, starting today.
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