Before I took a short term trip to Manila, I consistently heard phrases like “everyone speaks English.” As I’ve been processing my experience there, I’ve realized that I basically learned English all over again. As I learned how to adapt to my new culture, I also learned some basic Tagalog. Learning English and Filipino enabled me to communicate with my host family.
I very quickly learned that not everyone in my host community speaks English. My host mom speaks English very well, but my host dad spoke very little English. The little Tagalog I learned was essential to communicating with my host dad in various situations, such as when my host mom was at work. As I learned more and more Tagalog, I also learned more about Filipino culture.
Normally, Filipinos communicate indirectly. Nonverbal communication and tone are essential because it can be the difference between saying yes or politely saying no. Since I was clueless about indirect communication before my trip to Manila, locals often interpreted what I said differently than the way I intended. For example, I didn’t recognize any of the nonverbal cues until someone pointed them out to me. My host mom is allegedly one of the most indirect communicators in my host community, and I didn’t notice how indirectly she was communicating for a week or so.
That’s why I felt like I had learned English all over again. When I started learning how to speak English like a Filipino, my relationships flourished. It took significantly more effort for me to choose my words and to listen closely to what my new friends were saying. However, near the end of my time in the Philippines, my host mom said that I was like a big brother to her three young children.
After I returned home, I noticed that some people I see regularly also speak indirectly. My challenges and learning in Manila helped me better communicate with the people around me. I’m still learning English, and the way I speak English is more direct (“dull”) than Filipino culture. I’m grateful for the ways God has changed me and allowed me to support others through new communication methods.