Maayong buntag{5}
I’m about a month into my Bisaya lessons. With a few exceptions it seems to be going well. Bebe, my maéstra (teacher), is very good at what she does. She is also very patient, which is very much needed in my case.
As I mentioned previously, there were quite a few details to work out. What time (15 hour time difference), what software to use, how to make payments, etc.
It turns out that between our schedules there was only one time that really made sense for the both of us. I take my lessons on Friday night, which is her Saturday morning. Since she doesn’t have internet at home, so she travels to Bob Martin’s house to give the lessons.
We tried a couple of different programs, including iChat/AIM, Skype and WizIQ. Problaby any of them would work but we have settled on Skype at the moment. The biggest problem we are encountering is freezing of the audio and/or video during the session. This can be quite bad, or not too much of an issue depending upon the day. I believe the problem to be the connection in the Philippines, as I have a fast pipe here and have not had similar problems with video chats with people in the States.
In addition to Skype, I’m using an add on program, Call Recorder for Skype, that allows me to record the lesson. I find this useful to review the pronunciation, as I have a hard time with that. I convert those and download them to my iPhone so I can listen to them when I have a chance, and I’m not at home.
Another very useful tool I’m using is a flash card program, StudyCards, that is also for the iPhone or iPod Touch. I use this for my vocabulary words. I can pull it up if I’m waiting in line, out at my son’s practice, sitting around the house watching TV or any other time that for that matter. It is my preferred way to learn the vocabulary words.
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Sep 15, 2008 @ 19:30:00
I am really delighted to get this report, Randy. Hopefully, bebe will find a colleague equally skilled for Tagalog lessons. I’m a receptive potential student.
Secondly the reason this report pleases me so much is I have long advocated Filipinos losing this inherent ‘third-world’ idea where we have doctors becoming nurses to go overseas to empty bedpans and teachers moving to Saudi Arabia to clean toilets.
The Philippines and the Filipino are not “third-world” or “second class”, especially in the area of teaching. I have a nephew working as a teacher in a private school who is just finishing a masters in education program. I’d love to get him interested in something like Bebe is doing … his only dream is to flee to the US as soon as he can because “you can’t make a living in the Philippines”. Bull!
Kudos to you and Bebe for breaking the trail here … I think you already know my views about the lead dog
Sep 16, 2008 @ 06:26:00
Hi Dave – I believe Bebe also teaches Tagalog. I’ll have to confirm that with her though.
I know the Kevin Smith will also be continuing his lessons with Bebe online soon, too. I hope this can become a regular additional source for Bebe, as it is truly a benefit to both sides.
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Jan 26, 2009 @ 06:27:04
[...] I reported previously, we settled on Skype as our platform after trying a few different options. We’ve stuck with [...]
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Jan 23, 2011 @ 16:57:50
[...] I’ve mentioned previously, I take lessons online via Skype with my teacher, Bebe Metillo, who lives in Davao. I have only had a couple of lessons in person, [...]
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May 08, 2011 @ 09:56:41
[...] pipeline, so you are going to be limited regardless. Just try doing something like video chat with Skype, or streaming video. Sure it works (sort of) sometimes, but most of the time you are going to get [...]