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[rpfromlv]

Hi guys: I just got back from trip to the RP where I met a really nice girl. Having a disability, my friend arranged for her to be my caretaker. It didn't take more than a few days before sparks were flying. She is widowed for almost 3 years and has dated a couple foreigners since, who in my opinion just used her. Just bringing this up as she was very open about her past. Anyway, I plan to go back again in 6-7 weeks and spend more time with her, with the goal of moving there if things work out. Her English is not real good, she speaks mostly visayan. We manage to communicate pretty well though and she is smart as whip and quick at picking up my lingo, and I'm learning hers as well. I'm just wondering if anyone else out there has gone through this. Any thoughts, feedback, stories, would be appreciated.

[Wayne Coutts]

We all feel the same way dude its why we are here, trying to find ways to improve their lives the ways that they have improved ours.

Wayne   

[Robm]

It goes both ways.... even after a few years. The other day while at a fast food drive through they asked me if that was all... I replied quickly "that'll do it". My wife asked me what I said. I repeated it, she asked again. I repeated again. She still didnt have a clue to what I was saying.  I had to slow it down to " that will do it". It's funny listening to her try an say it all the time now.

Robm

[Gray Wolf]

We all do our best to understand the local language.  What irritates me are those who complain about the quality of the English spoken by Filipinos.  I always want to ask them, "How well do you speak their language, jerk?"   

Just a few common phrases will go a long way to helping you to meld into the community. There are online tools that will assist you with learning more visayan.  Here's a good one to start with, provided by our friend and Moderator GregW (Goyo)

http://livinginthephilippines.com/forum/index.php/topic,2146.msg14385.html#msg14385

We have an entire board dedicated to learning:

http://livinginthephilippines.com/forum/index.php/board,8.0.html    Check out eh links for Cebuano and others as well.

Ingat pare!

[G&A Rizzi]

I can say that the Mrs. has a better grasp of the English language than many Americans do!  I still correct her from time to time about mixing up genders when she speaks or writes, but other than that...she's a fast learner and to me very bright.  I think the time she spent as an OFW helped her immensely with her language skills also. We have a long standing agreement that if I hear her say something wrong, I'm to correct her right away.  So far, I can count on one hand how many times I have had to correct her!

All I can say is what a woman!

[Robm]

We all do our best to understand the local language.  What irritates me are those who complain about the quality of the English spoken by Filipinos.  I always want to ask them, "How well do you speak their language, jerk?"   

Couldnt agree more. I can only speak one language. My wife can speak four and a half. The half is a language of facial expressions using only lips and eyebrows. Her English isnt that great.... but that is part of who she is and what makes her endearing to me.

Robm

[rpfromlv]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I guess all the girls are different in terms of their English. I was in Subic Bay in the early 70's and my girlfriend then spoke as well as I did. Now I got a great gal that has plenty of room for improvement English wise, but it's fun trying to explain words she doesn't understand, and we got a English/Cebuano dictionary. What's really interesting is we communicate better by email than telephone while I'm here in the U.S. Anyway, now I know I'm not the only one dealing with this, thanks again

[ezArt]

We all do our best to understand the local language.  What irritates me are those who complain about the quality of the English spoken by Filipinos.  I always want to ask them, "How well do you speak their language, jerk?"   

Just a few common phrases will go a long way to helping you to meld into the community. There are online tools that will assist you with learning more visayan.  Here's a good one to start with, provided by our friend and Moderator GregW (Goyo)

I find it that certain Filipino dialectics will have a harder time in learning and speaking the English language if they are seldom exposed to it. In some people, it comes as a born talent and some not.
I myself was born in the Philippines, but grew up in California since the age of 6 and forgot the Filipino language over the years. But ever since retiring in the Philippines, the basic Filipino language came back to me with a lot of practice in 5 years time! Now I can speak Tagalog fluently and can even text in Tagalog! It was a long and difficult experience! But now, I hardly speak English anymore other than here on this forum! But there's no way I'll forget the English language, hey I'm now bilingual!     

[BC Boy]

I fear i dont have the "Right Stuff" to learn another language...but i am trying, one word at a time.

http://www.everlastinglove.com/cebuano.htm

[Mr. Lee]

I too am learning one word at a time and I really cannot speak properly but people usually bare with me, that is when they are not laughing too hard  and I understand way more than I can speak.  Over 18 year we know each other and I am ashamed to say that I still cannot speak the language and then the worst part is trying to learn Bisaya as well as some Tagalog. Some of us just have too many other things in our minds to learn it all. 

[Colin]

I started thinking about learning Tagalog when I first met my wife 21 years ago, I am still thinking about it . One of the problems is that I can get by quite well on my own with just English, but do need Bing with me if there are a lot of explanations needed. The other thing now is that I do now have some short term memory loss which can very frustrating and I am sure would make learning more difficult. Still thinking about learning that language..... what was is called? 

Colin