Tagalog language classes are now part of Harvard’s curriculum.

Harvard University’s Department of South Asian Studies will offer a Tagalog-language course starting in the academic year 2023-24. Additionally, the department will hire three instructors for Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia, and Thai languages. Professor James Robson of Harvard Asia Center said that the $1 million budget would primarily be used in finding a position for a Tagalog preceptor. Harvard Asia Center Elizabeth Liao was hopeful that these positions could bring a long-term impact on Southeast Asian studies at Harvard, as well as increase the university’s engagement with the region. In addition, Tagalog language is the fourth most spoken language in the United States, which has 1.6 million speakers among 4.2 million Filipino Americans.