[kinhason]

While in my new home at Negros, I have discovered that no one seems to know how to teach the language to a foreigner. I hired a elementary school teacher for private lessons. The reason that it is difficult to learn is in part based on the lack of knowledge of the GRAMMAR which is formal as any language I have ever attempted to learn.
Please download "Cebuano Study Notes" by Tom Marking...its 250 pages, its free for non commercial uses. Also obtain the fat red Visaya-Cebuano-English Dictionary at National Book Store, also of use is Conversational English-Cebuano Made Easy by CS Canonigo.
My teacher who as all folks here know their langauge, however not the grammar so its difficult for them to teach you unless you have a formal tool...the above helps! also the 1904 version of English-Bisaya Grammar also on the net....go to it.
It's rewarding and fun...the people here are delighted that you are making the effort to learn their tongue. Sure, it is tuff at first, but remember that you will reap the rewards with this effort.
I just hope that you aren't shy about it, "just Do It" as you have done in your life...after all you are here in the Philippines...how did you get there, you made an effort, an effort that maybe your friends and relatives back where you came from don't share your passion for a beautiful place which has its more than fair share of friendly, warm, intelligent, and lovely inhabitants.
I just hope that the locals affirm their
love of their own tongue which is always evolving by rediscovering their structured grammar so that the culture of the past is not lost.
Maayong suerte(suerte comes from the Spanish)
K