I mean what do they think of the foreigners? Do they think that these are really bad people? I am talking about Filipino society as a whole. How do Filipinos view these white people that are visiting their country? Are those smiles that they flash at the foreigners fake smiles? Is their kindness put on?

I am very interested in learning Tagalog. Mainly to become closer with my family there in the Philippines. Also, to experience the culture by first hand going to markets to buy my own food, catching a tricycle & paying the fee myself, ect. I cannot do all this now, I do not speak Tagalog jaja.

But if there are any foreigners who have learned the language fluently, can you please share your experiences with me & yahoo answers.

First off, what drew your interest to pursue fluency in the Filipino National Language?
How did you actually learn the language itself, through a dictionary, online program?
How long did it take you to learn learn, & speak the language clearly and concisely?
Was it difficult? Is Tagalog a hard language to learn?

How has it changed your relationships with the Filipino people?
& your overall experience in The Philippines?

Your feedback is appreciated lots!

I was surfing in the internet a while ago about weddings and I found this: lol

(This joke was found on the Internet and has circulated and been forwarded many times over via email. Foreigners planning to marry Filipinos should note that these are exaggerations, but they will somehow get the idea. It was written by an American man who loves his Filipina wife despite what follows.)

http://www.weddingsatwork.com/culture_filipina1.shtml

http://www.weddingsatwork.com/culture_filipina2.shtml

Some of it are funny and I think maybe the guy was just exaggerating but I also think it might be true.. who knows. (to each their own) lol
I just want to hear your opinions from you guys after reading the content of these pages.especially from those who are already married. Feel free to add something/ anything especially about weddings and marriage. Thanks.

Shouldn't you be more proud of your National language? You should have your own identity instead of trying to be like foreigners.

Could you help me, I honestly dont speak a word and my school is international, but they just don't know how to teach foreigners, it's pretty insane.

And akin magiging kabiyok ng buhay ay isang binatang puti, binatang sibol sa kanluran. Magundat pulot-gata sa bibig ng isang munolong kaibigan.

Im sorry if some of the words are misspelled or so. What the instructions are is that I need to choose any word and find its synonim. So could you please help me out?? Thanks!!

I appreciate it so much.

I'm a filipino and I just want to know how our language sounds like for foreigners. does it sound it good or bad?

Just curious- how many have you seen that can converse in Tagalog beyond just a few phrases-meaning ''fluent'' ( as in flowing- making sentences, conveying ideas, asking directions, etc).
Joryday, I tried to email you to congratulate you but you do not allow emails- you said you speak to foreigners in their own language? Wow, you mean you are fluent in Japanese, Korean, Hindi and all the Chinese dialects as well as German, Swedish and Spanish?
Paolo, you have met 800 foreigners on a website who all speak fluent Tagalog? Where is that website?

What is that one trait that makes us uniquely Filipinos?

Or would you rather write about our trait that has been grossly misunderstood by foreigners (examples: our manana habit, our tendency to be late, etc.)

Foreigners living in the phils, have you learned to speak tagalog, how long did it take you to learn? How do filipinos react to you when you speak their language?

Could you help me, I honestly dont speak a word and my school is international, but they just don't know how to teach foreigners, it's pretty insane.

And akin magiging kabiyok ng buhay ay isang binatang puti, binatang sibol sa kanluran. Magundat pulot-gata sa bibig ng isang munolong kaibigan.

Im sorry if some of the words are misspelled or so. What the instructions are is that I need to choose any word and find its synonim. So could you please help me out?? Thanks!!

I appreciate it so much.
Ok, im sorry.. I can't quite understand what it says in this paper either.
I dont need the translation, I need the synonim.

My friend, who was born in the US and is now in the Philippines, wants to learn to speak tagalog fluently. He said he has learned a bit just by speaking with other Filipinos, but wants to learn more. He wants to take classes, ideally in a classroom setting, with other non-tagalog speaking foreigners as classmates. Is there one in Quezon City or around that area?