Finally, an international university has finally recognized our national language!
Yale University will offer Tagalog classes beginning next autumn, around September 2025. Since Tagalog is the fourth most spoken language in the United States, they believe they made the proper decision.
This news spread when the Council on Southeast Asian Studies at Yale posted a job advertisement for Filipino lecturers who will begin to teach courses in the next school year.
Advocates like Janine Gbenoba emphasized the importance of offering the Filipino language. Efforts included gathering over 380 signatures to demonstrate student interest, leading to a formal proposal approved by the Yale College Dean’s Office and other relevant academic offices.
The label “Filipino (Tagalog) was chosen to acknowledge the diversity of Filipino languages, as there are over 180 spoken in the Philippines. The lecturer will teach six courses which involve reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, as well as courses on literary, social, political, cultural, and sociolinguistic topics related to Filipino. They will also be responsible for developing curriculum and teaching materials, as well as creating overseas study opportunities in collaboration with lectors of Vietnamese and Indonesian language to enhance Southeast Asian studies at Yale. This position represents a unique opportunity to be part of a pioneering program at an Ivy League institution.
To all our fellow Filipinos, do you have what it takes to teach those amazing Yale students our national language? If you are, take this opportunity now and apply to become the best Tagalog lector around the globe. Accept that Filipino pride. Good luck!
