Thelma Cleto-Salumbides has written the perfect course for students wishing to learn and master Tagalog, the national language of the Philippines. The course is based on her many years of teaching the language to expats living in Manila. I speak from personal experience, since Thelma has been my own patient and dedicated teacher for the past three years! Using her extensive experience and credentials, Thelma has presented a thorough, lively and entertaining course that progresses logically from the basic building blocks of the language to an easy conversational level.
The main course book is a pleasure to read, with detailed explanations, examples, stories, scenarios, interesting background material and colourful pictures of all aspects of Filipino life. Whilst easy and interesting to follow, the book is nevertheless detailed, comprehensive and complete in its presentation of Tagalog. As a native of the Philippines, Thelma has ensured that all the material in the book is relevant and contemporaneous.
Accompanying the main course book is a companion Student’s Book with further examples, practice and comprehensive exercises that reinforce and drive home the lessons learned from the course book. One can dip in and out of the Student Book according to one’s needs, or simply work one’s way through the course book, which can of course fully stand on its own if required.
Thelma has helped expats from all walks of life experience the pleasure of becoming familiar with the Tagalog language and I am delighted to see the fruits of her extensive experience appearing on the written page. I heartily recommend her excellent book!
JOHN WALLINGTON
Third Secretary
British Embassy Manila (2006 – 2010)
------
Salitang Pinoy aims to transform the novice Filipino speaker by taking them through a series of grammar-focused lessons. Each lesson introduces new vocabulary and grammar rules, challenging learners to participate in real-life dialogues and other activities to reinforce the target language. Moreover, cultural elements embedded in this book will give learners confidence when facing everyday situations in the Philippines, thereby reducing culture shock.
MATTHEW HARRISON, B.A., M.Ed.
------
As a result of Thelma Cleto-Salumbides’s passion for teaching Tagalog, she has come up with a book – Salitang Pinoy. It has unique features:
· The Tagalog words are accented. This will greatly help non-Tagalog learners in the proper pronunciation even without a teacher.
· There are sufficient drills to augment the learning process.
· Dialogs are practical that a foreigner is likely to encounter and situations that reflect the Philippine culture.
I believe Tagalog language teachers will find Salitang Pinoy a useful tool to facilitate their students’ learning, speaking, reading, writing and understanding the Filipino culture.
EDNA I. GARANTUZA
Tagalog Language Instructor and Coordinator
1968 – present
------This book is written by one of the most talented and trustworthy Tagalog teachers in the Philippines. Thelma teaches not only Tagalog but Philippine culture as well.
"Marami kayong matututunan sa Salitang Pinoy!"
SHIGE and YUKO MATSUDA
