Learn Tagalog with Lola Nena
Story-led Tagalog for families: printable workbooks with audio, following one family as they visit their Lola in Bulacan. The Tagalog people actually speak at home, at the market and around the dinner table.
Written by a Tagalog speaker born and raised in Bulacan.
Made for families between two homes
Keep the language alive for children growing up in the UK, so they can talk to Lola and Lolo in their own words.
Meeting the family? Learn the greetings, the respect words and enough Tagalog to join the conversation at the table.
Work alongside Filipino nurses? A few warm words go a long way on a long shift.
Everyday Tagalog for getting around, shopping, eating out and making friends.
Learn the way children do
Listen, repeat, notice the pattern, then use it in real life. There's a little grammar, explained in plain English, but no lectures. Every unit has the same six parts:
A short story moment in Tagalog with the English underneath, plus audio to listen to.
Twelve useful words and phrases, each with an easy say-it guide.
The pattern behind the words, then short practice with answers at the back.
A small challenge to try for real, and the culture behind the words, like when to say po.
Arriving at Lola's gate
Magandang hapon po, Nay!Good afternoon, Mum!
Ay, Rose! Kumusta kayo?Oh, Rose! How are you all?
Magandang hapon po, Lola!Good afternoon, Lola!
Ang galing! Marunong ka nang mag-Tagalog!Brilliant! You can speak Tagalog now!
Salamat po sa pagtanggap sa amin.Thank you for welcoming us.
Walang anuman. Tuloy kayo!You're welcome. Come in!
From the front gate to the airport
- 1Kumusta po! Hello and respect
- 2Ako si Mia Introducing yourself
- 3Ang pamilya ko My family
- 4Magkano po? Numbers and money
- 5Kain na tayo! Food and eating
- 6Nasaan ang…? Around the house
- 7Saan ka pupunta? Getting around town
- 8Anong oras na? Time and days
- 9Masakit ang ulo ko Feelings and health
- 10Tara, tulungan natin si Lola! Helping and saying goodbye
Coming after Level 1: packs for children, for meeting the family, and for moving to the Philippines.
I was born and raised in Bulacan, just north of Manila, where Tagalog is spoken every day in homes, markets and jeepneys. Today I'm a nurse in the UK. Like many Filipino parents abroad, I want my children to speak Tagalog, not just hear it. I made this program for families like mine. More about me
Join the waitlist and get the free phrasebook
Your free phrasebook, 50 Tagalog Phrases Your Filipino Friends Will Love, has six destinations, passport stamps to collect, missions and a quick quiz. You'll also hear first when Level 1 is ready, with an early-bird price just for the list.
No spam. You can unsubscribe any time. See our privacy policy.
Good to know
Is it Tagalog or Filipino?
Filipino, the national language of the Philippines, is based on Tagalog. Everything in the program works for both, so you can use it whichever word your family uses.
Can my children use it?
Yes. It's written for families learning together. Children who can read along can work through each unit with a parent, and younger ones can join in with the listening and the games. It's printable, so it's kitchen-table learning, not more screen time.
Do I need an app or an account?
No. You get a PDF workbook you can print or fill in on a tablet, plus audio files. Each unit has a QR code that plays its audio. No logins and no subscriptions.
How long does it take?
About 15 minutes a day, four or five days a week. One unit takes most people about a week, so Level 1 is roughly ten weeks of little-and-often learning.
I'm not Filipino. Is this for me?
Very much so. Tom, Mia's British dad, learns alongside you in the story, one mistake at a time. It's ideal if you're married into a Filipino family, work with Filipino colleagues, or are moving to the Philippines.
How much will it cost, and when is it out?
Level 1 is being finished now. Everyone on the waitlist hears first and gets an early-bird price that's just for the list.