Speakin' Ilonggo 1.0

Speakin' Ilonggo is a language-learning application that emphasizes sentence construction. The app features over 2,300 Hiligaynon (or Ilonggo) phrases accompanied by audio recordings from a native speaker hailing from Negros Occidental, Philippines.

A significant portion of the phrases found in Speakin' Ilonggo were adapted from "The Giant Ilonggo Phrasebook" authored by Paul Soderquist. As a former LDS Missionary on Panay Island from 2010 to 2012, Soderquist endeavored to compile his language learnings from the region. While the original phrases were initially tailored to missionary life, the app's development in later years involved revising and organizing content to support a broader audience interested in Ilonggo.

Speakin's philosophy underscores the importance of extensive exposure in language acquisition, asserting that phrases, rather than isolated vocabulary words, serve as the fundamental units of conversation. Although not the originator, Soderquist aligns with the principles of "the 10,000 phrase method," advocating for repetitive exposure to real sentences word by word to achieve fluency over time.

The app guides users through a trial-and-error approach to learning each sentence. Users receive an English translation and are prompted to construct the equivalent Ilonggo phrase word by word. Incorrect attempts result in the phrase being placed in a review queue for subsequent attempts until correctly completed.

Initially, guessing individual words may pose a challenge. To aid users, a long-press option is available to reveal the meanings of multiple-choice words without negative repercussions. With continued app usage, users are encouraged to gradually reduce reliance on this feature for a more immersive learning journey.

An additional review functionality permits users to revisit and listen to completed phrases stored in a "done" collection, along with accessing individual words learned across specific sets of phrases.

For inquiries or feedback, users can reach out directly to Paul Soderquist via email at [email protected].