This fall, the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu will offer a new Ilokano 101 course. This introductory course increases reading comprehension and develops linguistic skills in Ilokano as well as promotes the appreciation and awareness of Filipino culture. Interested students from other UH campuses are welcome to take Ilokano 101 that will be offered at the UH West Oʻahu campus.
“We are excited to be able to offer our first Ilokano language class, which will provide many of our students an opportunity to deepen their connections to their family heritage and ethnic homeland,” said UH West Oʻahu Humanities Division Chair and Associate Professor of History Alan Rosenfeld. “In addition to UH West Oʻahu’s current offerings of language classes in Hawaiian and Samoan, this Ilokano class demonstrates our desire to serve the interests of the greater Leeward Oʻahu community and create a more welcoming campus environment. Ad-adu a sao, ad-adu nga ammo (More languages, more knowledge).”
UH West Oʻahu has the highest population of Filipino students of all the four-year UH campuses with more than 20 percent of the student body identifying as Filipino. UH West Oʻahu is one of just three UH campuses that currently offer Ilokano language courses. Ilokano 101 will be taught Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. at UH West Oʻahu beginning this fall.