I. Filipino (Tagalog) Language, Elementary I

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE OF THE COURSE:

The Filipino (formerly Tagalog) language course is offered to students who will learn the language for academic, professional and/or personal use. This course will generally enable students to speak, listen, read and write the Filipino language at the first elementary level.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the course, each student should be able to:

1. Acquire and appreciate the overview of the historical and cultural background of the Philippines in relation to its language development.
2. Familiarize, pronounce, and compare the alphabets and numbers to other languages.
3. Learn the basic grammar rules an dapply this in role playing and short-essay writing.
4. Build confidence to carry on a mini-dialogue using the language in any given situation.
5. Apply and practice the newly acquired skills in Filipino language for academic, business, and/or personal use.

METHODOLOGY:

Lecture-discussion, role-playing, oral reading and presentation, brainstorming and workshops. For Elementary level I, English will be the primary medium of instruction with Filipino as the secondary medium.

PARTICIPANTS:

Students, both graduate and undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, who want to learn the Filipino course and count it as one credit. No auditors or observers are permitted unless approved by the instructor in advance.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

• Attend all classes, unless excused by the instructor in advance. Two or more absences will affect the course grade.
• Submit exercises and projects on time. Non-submission of these will be considered incomplete.
• Towards the end, show the ability to speak, listen, read and write basic Filipino language with proper pronunciation and in accordance with Filipino basic structures (grammar).

READINGS:

1. Ramos, Teresita V. 1985. Conversational Tagalog. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
2. Ramos, Teresita V. 1994. Tagalog Dictionary. University of Hawaii Press.
3. Ramos, Teresita V. et al. 1993. Filipino Word Book. The Bess Press, Inc., Honolulu Hawaii.

• Wolff, John U. et al. 1991. Pilipino through Self-Instruction. Part one to four. Cornell University Southeast Asia Program. (On reserve at Van Pelt Library)
• Ramos, Teresita V. 1990. Modern Tagalog. grammatical Explanations and Exercises for Non-Native Speakers. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.

GRADING POLICY:

• 25%--Recitation and group work.
• 25%--Submission of homework exercises.
• 25%--Exams and Quizzes.
• 15%--Final Project (Group Presentation).