Teach Yourself Tagalog

Rating:
Summary: A Good Buy
Review: I think this book was definitely helpful in helping me learn Tagalog, especially when there aren't many places to learn the language firsthand, such as a college or university. The tapes were also very helpful. The only complaint I have is that the book was made badly. The pages are only held together by a thin layer of glue. My pages fall out on a regular basis. Otherwise, an altogether good buy.

Rating:
Summary: Very readable.
Review: This book has a story which starts from their arrival at the airport. You will see dialogs of conversation. I am a local who is very familiar with Tagalog. I bought this for my European wife who wishes to learn. One thing we found is that the translations is around 98% correct. But the format is enough for one to learn the language. The approach is practical. We don't have the accompanying tape and I didn't know it had one as an option. So I would do the talking for my wife to get the proper pronunciation. I don't know how foreigners would read this book but I assume they are likely to get the wrong pronunciation without help. The phrases have no indication how you would pronouce them but I think it might be a distraction.

I found that the best way for a foreigner to learn is to be exposed to it by speaking it and being spoken to in Tagalog, or listening to an actual conversation. If this isn't available to you, then this book is close enough. I assume the tape would be a bonus if you can get it.

You can also join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tagalog-e/ Here you can learn with others how to speak it or write it.

Rating:
Summary: Easy to follow book
Review: This was an excellent English - Tagalog book. I also bought a cassette to properly HEAR the words. However, I wish they would have an American college course in Tagalog, I am tired of learning to speak Spanish or French. My wish is that we could have a college course professor who would teach this language as an elective in school.