05 September 2018 LONDON—One of London’s most prestigious universities will be offering a taster class on Filipino this September.

SOAS University of London, will be offering a Filipino language class on 12 September at the SOAS Language Centre in the university’s Russel Square campus.

“SOAS has, for a hundred years now, been home to the teaching and learning of ‘minority’ languages in the UK,” said Dr. Cristina Martinez-Juan, a Senior Teaching Fellow of SOAS’ School of Languages, Cultures, and Linguistics Southeast Asia Section. “Filipinos make up the most number of South East Asians living in the UK- so it makes sense that SOAS would offer Filipino as one of its strategically important languages.”

Presently more than 200,000 Filipino live and work in the United Kingdom. The number could be significantly higher if second- and third generation Filipinos are included in the count.

Juan, who hails from Cebu, will be teaching the Filipino tasters language course. She also serves as the Executive Officer of SOAS’ Philippine Studies programme which has successfully hosted the annual Philippine Studies Conference in London for the past few years, with the support of the Philippine Embassy.

“Language is an important link to one’s culture,” said Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo. “The availability and accessibility of Filipino language classes in the United Kingdom provides a bridge for second and third generation Filipino-Britons to reconnect and rediscover their Philippine heritage.” END