If you need more practice with languages of the Philippines, check out these recommended apps, available for both iOS and Android! I’m not affiliated with the developers, just sharing because they are good apps.
Drops Language Learning App – Tagalog version
Drops is an app that combines minimalist images and word games into an fun, interactive, language-learning adventure! There is plenty of vocabulary that is broken down into categories such as essentials, food, and even prison. The free version provides 5 minutes daily of word games and puzzles. The paid subscription provides unlimited time, all categories are unlocked and additional learning features like the Tough Word Dojo, and it allows offline access.
I can speak and understand conversational Tagalog, but I learning by hearing only, I never read in Tagalog. This app was great for me to get the visual side of learning a language. Seeing the word spelled out and a cute icon to associate it with, really made it stick! Even with just the 5 minutes a day, I retained a lot. My 8-year-old son also enjoyed playing the games and said it didn’t seem like learning!
And if you love learning multiple languages, the subscription is an awesome deal! You get 30 languages with over 1700 words each! At the time of this article, the prices for subscription are: $9.99/month, $39.99/year, and $159.99 for lifetime access.
Random Ilokano App
The Random Ilokano App is a free flashcard app. The user interface is simple, there’s a word in Ilokano and you tap it to flip the card and see the English translation. You can choose from seeing the cards with either the Ilokano side up or the English side up. Just tap on the menu at the bottom of the screen.
There are a few downsides however. Currently it only has computer-generated audio for the English words, and no audio for the Ilokano words. Then there are Yes and No buttons for “Is this entry correct?” directly below the word, these buttons are actually to report that the translation is incorrect to the developers.
Once you get past these issues, the app is good for learning new words. And since there are so few Ilokano resources, this is a great start.
Learn Cebuano Phrasebook App
Learn Cebuano Phrasebook is an app primarily for travel. The best use is when you are actually in the Philippines and you need to ask a local a question in Cebuano. But the great part about this app is that it includes audio, so you can hear the correct pronunciation. There’s a ton of mainstream Tagalog (Filipino) language resources, but not a lot yet for Cebuano (Bisaya), so I highly recommend this one!
The free version is limited, so you will need to upgrade to the paid version to access all the categories, as well as the cool feature where you can record your own phrase. You would probably ask a local speaker to say a phrase and record them, if you want correct pronunciation. The upgrade is affordable, just $4.99.
Leave a comment below, if you have a favorite Filipino language app.
My grandsons family are from cebu and bohol is their language cebuano? I’m Irish myself but want to support the dad to help my grandchild to be able to speak with his other grandparents in their language. Help! Also traditional concepts, foods customes and thinking, whether social customs, etc. Daddy very homesick.
I have no comment
I’m wanting to learning bisaya