8 Easy Ways To Learn Tagalog With Ibong Adarna

You might be wondering: How do you learn Tagalog With Ibong Adarna?

If you try to ask any Filipino locals or students in the Philippines, you will be shocked at how every high school student seems to know the story of Ibong Adarna. Personally, among many stories taught in Filipino literature, reading this Tagalog literature would make anyone allured by the poetic Tagalog phrases and Filipino culture. Want to learn more about it? Keep reading below!

Ibong Adarna (The Adarna Bird)

The magical bird known as the Adarna, which can heal or harm with its melodious songs, is the focus of the classic Filipino epic story known as “Ibong Adarna” or “The Adarna Bird” by an unknown author. The story follows the journey of three princes—Don Pedro, Don Diego, and Don Juan—as they set out on a quest to capture the Adarna bird, whose songs can cure their father, King Fernando’s, mysterious illness. The king is eventually miraculously healed by the bird’s song, and the story ends with morals about the value of love, grit, honesty, and the significance of choosing the right path to pursue.

How Can You Learn Tagalog With Ibong Adarna?

1. The Basics Of Tagalog Pronunciation

Understanding Tagalog pronunciation is crucial before exploring the depths of Ibong Adarna. Concentrate on learning the distinctive vowel and consonant sounds, which will build a solid foundation for efficient communication. Similar to how it is taught in schools in the Philippines, it’s a must that you try to read it aloud so you can practice speaking while reading.

2. Immersive Learning

Trust me – you’ll be drawn into a world of wonder and enchantment as you read the story of Ibong Adarna. As you read line by line, we urge you to fully immerse yourself in the language and interactions of the characters as the story develops spontaneously. Pay close attention to sentence constructions and colloquial expressions as you gradually learn the rhythm and flow of the language.

3. Building Vocabulary

Although it contains poetic words, most of the newer versions of this story use regular Tagalog words. So while reading, we highly recommend that you write down new words and phrases that you encounter in the story. To improve your memory, make flashcards or use language learning applications. Try adding these words into your everyday interactions to help you remember what you’ve learned.

4. Grammar Made Simple

If you wish to communicate clearly, you must be able to use grammar. As you increasingly master the language’s grammar, pay attention to sentence patterns and word placement. Don’t worry, though, because the sentences in the story are pretty straightforward for beginners.

5. Cultural Insights

Filipino culture and customs are seen through Ibong Adarna. While reading, it would be best if you try to compare your culture’s ideals, practices, and actions to those of the characters. As you go along, you might also realize that there are lots of similarities in your home country.

6. Exploring Themes

Ibong Adarna teaches essential life lessons in addition to linguistic skills. Consider themes like courage, honesty, and forgiveness as you read the novel. If you are learning Taglog with a buddy, you can ask them to read the story at the same time so you can discuss these topics with them to get new insights and deepen your understanding.

7. Role-playing And Retelling the Story

If you are reading this story because it’s part of your school work while learning Tagalog, we highly recommend that you join role-playing activities related to this. You see, by acting out the characters, you’ll get to truly understand the story and practice speaking Tagalog. If you can’t do role plying, you may also consider challenging yourself by retelling the story in your own words.

8. Ibong Adarna In Modern Context

Can’t understand some portions of the story? Consider seeing theatrical productions, movies, and animated films that are modern Ibong Adarna adaptations during your visit to the Philippines. These adaptations make an in-depth comprehension of the language and its development possible, which provides a new perspective on the narrative and its cultural relevance.

Ibong Adarna-Related Vocabulary

Want to impress the locals? If yes, then you have to check out the basic translations for words you’ll come across with in this book! Check out the table below!

Learn Tagalog With Ling

And there we have it, my friends! If diving into the world of Ibong Adarna made you happy, then you’ll be surprised to know that there are other Filipino stories you can try reading. For instance, you can try out El Filibusterismo, Flortante At Laura, and Noli Me Tangere. Don’t worry, we’ll also create a post for those next time so that you can be guided.

And speaking of “guidance” in the Tagalog language, would you like to try learning with an app? If yes, now is the time to check out the Ling app! Ling is a language learning platform that is made specifically to help you master Tagalog and 60+ other languages. From basic lessons to advanced drills and chatbot, this app has it all!

Ready to give it a try? Download it now from any device in Google Play Store or App Store for free!