Based on The Harvard Crimson’s report on March 24th, the Department of South Asian Studies has planned to hire three preceptors to teach Tagalog, in addition to Bahasa Indonesian and Thai. These courses will be available starting in the academic year 2023-2024.
Executive Director Elizabeth K. Liao stated that she expects these new positions to have a significant impact on the Asia Center’s mission of promoting Southeast Asian studies at Harvard and the university’s engagement with the region.
James Robson, the director of the Asia Center and a professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, disclosed that the Tagalog preceptor position would be funded with one million dollars from the Asia Center’s budget. However, he also noted that sustaining funding for the position beyond three years may not be entirely feasible.
Robson stated that the Asia Center aims to raise awareness of Southeast Asia at Harvard. He hopes that by demonstrating a demand for these languages and seeing enthusiastic student participation, they can convince the administration to provide further support for Southeast Asian studies and language instruction.
According to Eleanor V. Wikstrom, co-president of the Harvard Philippine Forum and a Crimson Editorial chair, the inclusion of Tagalog in the university’s list of courses has been a longstanding goal. She expressed that they are working against a historical memory that erases the significance of the Filipino-American relationship.
The Harvard Crimson reported that Tagalog is the fourth most commonly spoken language in the United States. Those interested in the preceptor position for the Tagalog course at the university can find out more about the role and apply through the provided link.
5