How do I Know if my Child Really Understands Filipino?
By Vanessa Bicomong
“Nakakaintindi pero hindi nakakapagsalita” – can understand but can't speak the language. That’s what a good number of parents say when they enroll their children in our WIKA’Y GALING! Filipino tutorial program. It’s a way of describing Filipino proficiency, at times apologetically (“he understands, at least”).
But how do you know if your child really understands the language and not just certain words?
Understanding a language but not speaking it—known as passive knowledge or receptive bilingualism—means you can interpret input (listening/reading) but can’t produce output (speaking/writing). Listening usually comes first because it requires less effort than speaking. Knowing Filipino means passing the following "stress tests":
Complex Task Handling: They can perform high-level tasks like writing reports, giving instructions, or find their way in a new city by asking directions.
Emotional Expressiveness: They can naturally express complex emotions such as anger, sarcasm, or affection.
Unmodified Input: Native speakers do not "dumb down" their speech or adjust their pace when talking to them.
Some children can write in Filipino but cannot speak it. Why is that?
Because they can copy words and sentences from books and notes, many students have more confidence in writing. Speaking is more difficult; here are some reasons why:
Passive Learning Focus: They learned via immersion or textbooks, focusing on input rather than vocal training.
Anxiety and Fear of Mistakes: Social anxiety or pressure to speak perfectly makes it difficult to speak in real-time.
Vocabulary Discrepancy: They recognize words while listening but cannot recall them quickly enough to create sentences.
Lack of Active Practice: Without regular, consistent conversational usage, the ability to formulate sentences is never fully developed.
How can I help my child communicate better in Filipino?
Over 15 years of WIKA’Y GALING! helped us gather these best practices for parents:
Begin with acknowledging it’s not easy. Your child will not immediately pick up the language through exposure. Learning any language takes time and effort; there is no way around this.
Exposure is indeed key and frequency is important. In WIKA’Y GALING!, students are encouraged to either listen, speak, or read in Filipino every day. We have different book recommendations for teens (https://www.learninglibraries.com/learning-center/what-filipino-books-teen) and young children (https://www.learninglibraries.com/learning-center/what-filipino-books). But more than age, we base the selection on language skill. Some high school students can only read basic Filipino texts and that’s where they start.
Be generous with time and help. If they want to answer questions but don’t have the words, supply them with the vocabulary they need to compose a sentence. (“Do you mean Misa or simba?) Give them the tools to build confidence. As we say in Filipino, “Sa gusto, may paraan.”
Encourage effort and not just results. Fluency develops when children actively use the language. If they are doing their best and trying as often as they can, consider it good progress. In developing language skills, practice makes permanent.
Need help in assessing your child’s listening and speaking skills?
If you’re not sure whether your child truly understands Filipino—or want to know where they need the most help—a proper listening and speaking assessment can provide clarity and direction.
WIKA’Y GALING! begins with a 20-minute online assessment with an experienced teacher who identifies the child’s current level and the next best steps for improvement. It’s absolutely free, and you can sign up for a slot here.
Identifying the objective, taking time to strategize, and action with commitment leads to language learning success. It’s never too early or too late to start!
