Harvard’s first-ever Filipino classes foster cultural connection, community

Photo by Pascal Bernardon on Unsplash

“Mabuhay,” “kumusta,” “salamat,” and more Filipino words now echo through Harvard University’s halls.

Last fall, the Ivy League school took a significant stride in acknowledging the linguistic and cultural diversity of the Philippines and its community in the United States with the introduction of Filipino language courses.

As reported by The Harvard Gazette in their Feb. 7 article, these courses, spanning beginner and intermediate levels, have garnered enthusiastic participation from students eager to reconnect with the Filipino language at Harvard. The inclusion of these courses aligns with a broader initiative by the Harvard University Asia Center to enhance offerings in Southeast Asian studies.

James Robson, the William Fung Director of the Asia Center, underscores that this initiative reflects Harvard’s commitment to fostering global understanding and engagement, particularly in regions of increasing economic importance and geopolitical influence.

Aligned with the varied backgrounds of its students, the courses have fostered dialogues on Filipino society, traditions and contemporary issues. Intermediate students, for example, engage in activities such as reading news articles and sharing opinions, promoting a deeper understanding of Filipino culture and perspectives.

“It also acknowledges the contribution of the overseas Filipino workers, the migrants, and the growing Filipino diaspora in the world,” Preceptor Lady Aileen Orsal shares to the publication.

Hailing from Cavite, Orsal is among the instructors for this new language offering at Harvard. Affectionately addressed as “ate” (older sister) by her students, she emphasizes the impact of the courses, not only on the university and its students but also in highlighting the significance of language, notably one of the most widely spoken in the US.

In a recent study, Tagalog emerged as the second most spoken language, following English and Spanish, in numerous US cities. In Nevada, it stands as the predominant language spoken after English and Spanish.