Tagalog language classes may soon be offered at Yale

After Harvard, Yale may soon offer a Tagalog language course. Photo by Element5 Digital on Pexels

When translated to English, “KASAMA,” an organization at Yale, means “together” or “companion.” This name perfectly captures the Filipino American group’s mission to build a supportive and close-knit community. 

One of their latest projects is proposing a credit-bearing Tagalog course, because after all, Tagalog is the fourth most spoken language in the United States.

According to Yale News, this initiative came about after a survey showed strong interest. An open letter was sent to University President Peter Salovey and other administrators, supported by the Yale College Council, which called for Yale to offer credit-bearing Tagalog courses and a Certificate in Advanced Language Study in Tagalog.

Currently, students can learn Tagalog through the Directed Independent Language Study (DILS) program, which pairs them with a language partner. 

However, according to the report, many students find the program lacking structure and believe that a credit-bearing course would provide a more comprehensive learning experience.

An excerpt from the letter reads: “As of Spring 2024, Yale has yet to offer any Filipino language course outside of the Directed Independent Language Studies (DILS) program. Students have expressed their dissatisfaction with the absence of a credit-based course, citing grievances with the current DILS program, an inability to maintain their native fluency and a disconnection from their culture on Yale’s campus.”

This initiative at Yale mirrors a similar effort by Harvard, which introduced Filipino language courses last fall. 

According to The Harvard Gazette, these Filipino courses, spanning beginner and intermediate levels, have garnered enthusiastic participation from students eager to reconnect with the Filipino language. 

Yale hopes to follow suit, enhancing its academic offerings and celebrating cultural diversity, as the members of KASAMA declared, “Language representation matters.”

“Offering Tagalog at Yale would affirm decades of Filipino membership in the university’s community and show Filipino students that an inextricable part of themselves can be systemically valued in an academic setting,” the letter continued.

KASAMA’s Tagalog initiative has made significant progress and is now in the final stages of approval. The faculty language committee has given its nod, and the next steps include hiring a full-time Tagalog instructor. KASAMA leaders hope that this will lead to more Filipino studies and language courses at Yale. They envision a future where Filipino studies and language courses are a vibrant part of the university’s curriculum.