Lesson 12 – Hiring Help

Initial Conversation and Training

Listen to the following conversation between Anne Turner and Linda.

Linda: Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng katulong.
I heard that you need household help.

Anne: Oo, pumasok ka.
Yes, come in.
****
Anne: Umupo ka. Anong pangalan at edad mo?
Sit down. What’s your name and age?

Linda: Linda Ramos ang ngalan ko. Labinsiyam na taon na po ako.
My name is Linda Ramos. I’m (already) nineteen (years).

Anne: Linda, kailangan ko ng marunong magluto, maglinis at mag-alaga ng bata. May karanasan ka ba sa mga ito?
Linda, I need someone who knows how to cook, clean, and take care of a baby. Do you have experience in these?

Linda: Opo. Nakapagtrabaho po ako sa pamilya na dating nakatira rito. Mayroon po silang bata.
Yes, ma’am. I worked for the family who lived here before. They had a young child.

Anne: Oo, mabuti. Puwede bang magsimula ka sa Lunes ng umaga?
Oh, good. Could you start next Monday morning?

Linda: Magkano po ba ang suweldo?
How much is my salary?

Anne: Tres siyentos pesos isang buwan ang suweldo mo. “Off” ka kung Linggo. Tama na ba yon?
Your salary is 300 pesos a month. You’re off on Sundays. Is that all right?

Linda: Opo, salamat po. Narito po ako sa alas nuwebe ng umaga sa Lunes.
Yes, ma’am, thank you. I’ll be here at 9:00 Monday morning.

Anne: Sige. Hanggang sa Lunes!
OK. Until Monday!

Now it is your turn to practice speaking.

Linda Ramos has heard that Mrs. Turner is looking for a maid.

Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng katulong.

“katulong” is male or female live-in household help.

REPEAT

katulong
katulong

As you know, “kailangan ninyo” means “you need”

REPEAT

kailangan ninyo
kailangan ninyo

na kailangan ninyo ng katulong.
na kailangan ninyo ng katulong.

“Nabalitaan” literally means “heard the news”

REPEAT

nabalitaan
nabalitaan

Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng katulong.
Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng katulong.

Mrs. Turner replies that she does, and asks Linda come and sit down.

LISTEN

Oo, pumasok ka. Umupo ka

REPEAT

Oo, pumasok ka.
Oo, pumasok ka.

Umupo ka.
Umupo ka.

She goes on to ask the young woman’s name and age.

Anong pangalan at edad mo?

“edad” is “age”

REPEAT

edad
edad

“edad mo” is “your age”

REPEAT

edad mo
edad mo

You already know that “Anong pangalan mo?” means “What’s your name?”

REPEAT

Anong pangalan mo?
Anong pangalan mo?

Anong pangalan at edad mo?
Anong pangalan at edad mo?

The young woman gives her name and says that she’s nineteen.

Linda Ramos ang ngalan ko. Labinsiyam na taon na po ako.

“taon” is “year”

REPEAT

taon
taon

Labinsiyam na taon
Labinsiyam na taon

Labinsiyam na taon na po ako.
Labinsiyam na taon na po ako.

“Ngalan” is the same as “pangalan” (name)

REPEAT

ngalan
ngalan

Linda Ramos ang ngalan ko.
Linda Ramos ang ngalan ko.

Linda Ramos ang ngalan ko. Labinsiyam na taon na po ako.
Linda Ramos ang ngalan ko. Labinsiyam na taon na po ako.

Mrs. Ramos tells Linda that she needs someone that knows how to cook, clean and take care of a baby.

LISTEN

Linda, kailangan ko ng marunong magluto, maglinis at mag-alaga ng bata.

“mag-alaga ng bata” is “to take care of a baby or child”

REPEAT

mag-alaga ng bata
mag-alaga ng bata

“maglinis” is “to clean”

REPEAT

maglinis
maglinis

“magluto” is “to cook”

REPEAT

magluto
magluto

REPEAT

magluto, maglinis at mag-alagad ng bata
magluto, maglinis at mag-alagad ng bata

“marunong” means “know how”

REPEAT

marunong
marunong

REPEAT

kailangan ko
kailangan ko

Linda, kailangan ko ng marunong magluto, maglinis at mag-alagad ng bata.
Linda, kailangan ko ng marunong magluto, maglinis at mag-alagad ng bata.

Mrs. Turner goes on to asks if Linda has any experience in these things.

May karanasan ka ba sa mga ito?

REPEAT

karanasan
karanasan

May karanasan ka ba sa mga ito?
May karanasan ka ba sa mga ito?

Linda replies that she does and that she worked for the family that lived there previously.

She says,

Opo. Nakapagtrabaho po ako sa pamilya na dating nakatira rito.

“nakatira rito” is “lived here”

REPEAT

nakatira rito
nakatira rito

na dating nakatira rito.
na dating nakatira rito.

“pamilya” is “family”

REPEAT

sa pamilya
sa pamilya

sa pamilya na dating nakatira rito
sa pamilya na dating nakatira rito

“nagkapagtrabaho” is “worked for”

REPEAT

nagkapagtrabaho po ako
nagkapagtrabaho po ako

Opo, nagkapagtrabaho po ako sa pamilya na dating nakatira rito.
Opo, nagkapagtrabaho po ako sa pamilya na dating nakatira rito.

Linda adds that they had a young child.

Mayroon po silang bata.

REPEAT

bata
bata

Mayroon po silang bata
Mayroon po silang bata

Mrs. Turner is pleased and asks Linda if she can start Monday morning.

Oo, mabuti. Puwede bang magsimula ka sa Lunes ng umaga?

“magsimula” is “start”

REPEAT

magsimula
magsimula

Puwede bang magsimula ka
Puwede bang magsimula ka

sa Lunes ng umaga
sa Lunes ng umaga

Oo, mabuti. Puwede bang magsimula ka sa Lunes ng umaga?
Oo, mabuti. Puwede bang magsimula ka sa Lunes ng umaga?

Before Linda accepts the job she asks Mrs. Turner about her salary.

Magkano po ba ang sweldo?

“sweldo” is “salary” or “wage”

REPEAT

sweldo
sweldo

Magkano po ba ang sweldo?
Magkano po ba ang sweldo?

Mrs. Turner tells her it’s 300 pesos a month and that she would have Sundays off.

Tres siyentos pesos isang buwan ang suweldo mo. “Off” ka kung Linggo.

REPEAT

Tres siyentos pesos isang buwan
Tres siyentos pesos isang buwan

ang sweldo mo
ang sweldo mo

Tres siyentos pesos isang buwan ang suweldo mo.
Tres siyentos pesos isang buwan ang suweldo mo.

” ‘Off’ ka kung Linggo.” means “You’re off on Sundays”

REPEAT

“Off” ka kung Linggo.
“Off” ka kung Linggo.

She goes on to ask if that’s satisfactory.

Tama na ba ‘yon?

REPEAT

Tama na ba ‘yon?
Tama na ba ‘yon?

Linda accepts. She thanks Mrs. Turner and says she’ll be there at nine-o’clock Monday morning.

Opo, salamat po. Narito po ako sa alas nuwebe ng umaga sa Lunes.

REPEAT

sa Lunes
sa Lunes

alas nuwebe ng umaga sa Lunes
alas nuwebe ng umaga sa Lunes

“Narito” is “here”

“Narito po ako” is “I’ll be here”

REPEAT

Narito po ako.
Narito po ako.

Narito po ako sa alas nuwebe ng umaga sa Lunes.
Narito po ako sa alas nuwebe ng umaga sa Lunes.

Mrs. Turner says “OK, until Monday”

Sige. Hanggang sa Lunes.

REPEAT

Sige. Hanggang sa Lunes!
Sige. Hanggang sa Lunes!

Now, listen to the conversation again at normal speed. Repeat each line during the pause.

Speak loudly and clearly and try to speak at the same rate of speed as the speaker.

Linda: Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng katulong.
I heard that you need household help.

Anne: Oo, pumasok ka.
Yes, come in.

****

Anne: Umupo ka. Anong pangalan at edad mo?
Sit down. What’s your name and age?

Linda: Linda Ramos ang ngalan ko. Labinsiyam na taon na po ako.
My name is Linda Ramos. I’m (already) nineteen (years).

Anne: Linda, kailangan ko ng marunong magluto, maglinis at mag-alaga ng bata.
Linda, I need someone who knows how to cook, clean, and take care of a baby.

May karanasan ka ba sa mga ito?
Do you have experience in these?

Linda: Opo. Nakapagtrabaho po ako sa pamilya na dating nakatira rito.
Yes, ma’am. I worked for the family who lived here before

Mayroon po silang bata.
They had a young child.

Anne: Oo, mabuti. Puwede bang magsimula ka sa Lunes ng umaga?
Oh, good. Could you start next Monday morning?

Linda: Magkano po ba ang suweldo?
How much is my salary?

Anne: Tres siyentos pesos isang buwan ang suweldo mo.
Your salary is 300 pesos a month.

“Off” ka kung Linggo. Tama na ba yon?
You’re off on Sundays. Is that all right?

Linda: Opo, salamat po. Narito po ako sa alas nuwebe ng umaga sa Lunes.
Yes, ma’am, thank you. I’ll be here at 9:00 Monday morning.

Anne: Sige. Hanggang sa Lunes!
OK. Until Monday!

Exercise 1: Names of Household Help

Exercise 1. Let’s learn some names of people a military family might employ.

LISTEN AND REPEAT

hardinero
gardener

bebi-siter
baby-sitter

mananahi
seamstress

plantsadora
ironer

katulong na lalaki OR muchacho
houseboy

katulong na babae OR muchacha
housegirl

kusinera/kusinero
cook-female/male

labandera
laundress

tsuper
chauffeur

katulong
household help

Exercise 2:  Practice Pronouncing Sentences

Exercise 2. In the conversation Linda comes to the door and says:

Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng katulong.
I heard that you need household help.

She could have said:

Kailangan ba ninyo ng katulong?
Do you need household help?

Let’s practice some more sentences.

LISTEN AND REPEAT

Kailangan ba ninyo ng hardinero?
Do you need a gardener?

Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng tsuper.
I heard that you need a chauffeur.

Kailangan ba ninyo ng bebi-siter?
Do you need a baby-sitter?

Kailangan ba ninyo ng katulong na babae?
Do you need a housemaid?

Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng katulong.
I heard that you need household help.

Kailangan ba ninyo ng mananahi?
Do you need a seamstress?

Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng kusinero.
I heard that you need a cook.

Exercise 3:  Comprehension Practice- Tagalog to English

Exercise 3. Translate these sentences into English, then listen to the confirmation after the pause.

Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng hardinero.
I heard that you need a gardener.

Kailangan ba ninyo ng muchacho?
Do you need a houseboy?

Kailangan ba ninyo ng kusinero?
Do you need a cook?

Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng labandera.
I heard that you need a laundress.

Kailangan ba ninyo ng katulong na babae?
Do you need a housegirl?

Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng bebi-siter.
I heard that you need a baby-sitter.

The response to the questions above can be either:

Oo, kailangan ko.
Yes, I do. (I need)

Or

Hindi. Hindi ko kailangan.
No. I don’t. (I don’t need).

Exercise 4: Vocabulary for Household Chores

Exercise. 4. Let’s practice some expressions related to household chores. Repeat during the pause.

maglaba ng damit
to launder clothes

maglinis ng bahay
to clean house

magluto ng manok
to cook chicken

mag-alaga ng bata
to take care of a child

magwalis sa kusina
to sweep the kitchen

maglampaso sa banyo
to mop the bathroom

maghain
to set the table

magpunas ng mesa
to dust/wipe the table

magplantsa ng pantalon
to iron pants/slacks

mamalengke
to go marketing

maghugas ng mga plato
to wash dishes

magpakain ng bata
to feed the child

magpakain ng aso
to feed the dog

magpakain ng pusa
to feed the cat

magbakyum sa salas
to vacuum the living room

magpainom
to serve / offer drinks

magpatuyo ng damit
to dry clothes

magdilig ng halaman
to water plants

Notice that “sa” is used instead of “ng” when referring to a specific location.

For example:

Mula sa Baguio, from Baguio

OR

“Para sa Olongapo“, to or for Olongapo

Exercise 5:  Expressing What Help You Need

Exercise 5. In the conversation Mrs. Turner says that she needs someone who knows how to cook, clean the house and take care of the baby.

“Kailangan ko ng marunong magluto.” is  “I need someone that knows how to cook.”

REPEAT

Kailangan ko ng marunong magluto.
Kailangan ko ng marunong magluto.

Let’s replace the verb to-cook, with other words.

For example, if you hear, “to iron the clothes” you say:

Kailangan ko ng marunong magplantsa ng damit.

Ready?

to launder the clothes
Kailangan ko ng marunong maglaba ng damit.

to vacuum
Kailangan ko ng marunong magbakyum.

to take care of the child
Kailangan ko ng marunong magalaga ng bata.

to go marketing
Kailangan ko ng marunong mamalengke.

to clean house
Kailangan ko ng marunong maglinis ng bahay.

to serve drinks
Kailangan ko ng marunong magpainom.

Exercise 6:  Softening Commands

Exercise 6. In the Philippines it’s perfectly alright to give an order to your household help.

But if you feel uncomfortable giving a direct order you can always soften it by the tone of your voice or by adding “nga” (please).

Let’s practice the two ways to telling your housegirl or houseboy to do something.

Magluto ka ng manok.
Cook some chicken.

Magluto ka nga ng manok.
Cook some chicken, please.

Maglinis ka ng bahay.
Clean the house.

Maglinis ka nga ng bahay.
Clean the house, please.

Magpatuyo ka ng mga plato.
Dry the dishes.

Magpatuyo ka nga ng mga plato.
Dry the dishes, please.

Magplantsa ka ng pantalon.
Iron the pants/slacks.

Magplantsa ka nga ng pantalon.
Iron the pants/slacks, please.

Magpakain ka ng bata.
Feed the child.

Magpakain ka nga ng bata.
Feed the child, please.

Maglaba ka ng damit.
Launder the clothes.

Maglaba ka nga ng damit.
Launder the clothes, please.

Exercise 7:  Practice Expressing Salary Amounts

Exercise 7. If you remember, Linda asks Mrs. Turner:

Magkano po ba ang sweldo?
How much is the salary?

Mrs. Turner answers:

Tres siyentos pesos isang buwan ang suweldo mo.
Your salary is 300 pesos a month.

Let’s try answering the same question using Tagalized Spanish numbers.

For example, if you hear:

Magkano po ba ang sweldo?
How much is the salary?

and you see in your book, 300 pesos, you say:

Tres siyentos pesos isang buwan ang suweldo.
The salary is three-hundred pesos.

Ready? Let’s begin.

Magkano po ba ang sweldo?
200 pesos
Dos siyentos pesos isang buwan ang suweldo.

Magkano po ba ang sweldo?
400 pesos
Kuwatro siyentos pesos isang buwan ang suweldo.

Magkano po ba ang sweldo?
350 pesos
Tres siyentos singkwenta pesos isang buwan ang suweldo.

Magkano po ba ang sweldo?
250 pesos
Dosientos singkwenta pesos isang buwan ang suweldo.

Magkano po ba ang sweldo?
325 pesos pesos
Tres siyentos baynte-singko pesos isang buwan ang suweldo.

Magkano po ba ang sweldo?
275 pesos
Dosientos sitentay-singko pesos isang buwan ang suweldo.

Exercise 8: Practice Translating English to Tagalog

Exercise 8. Say the sentences in Tagalog.

I need someone who knows how to cook.
Kailangan ko ng marunong magluto.

Your salary is 250 pesos a month.
Dos siyentos singkuwenta pesos isang buwan ang suweldo.

Cook the chicken, please.
Magluto ka nga ng manok.

Feed the child.
Magpakain ka ng bata.

Clean the house, please.
Maglinis ka nga ng bahay.

I need someone who knows how to take care of a child.
Kailangan ko ng marunong mag-alaga ng bata.

Mop the kitchen.
Maglampaso ka sa kusina.

I need someone who knows how to vacuum
Kailangan ko ng marunong magbakyum.

 

Exercise 9: Review and Practice Expressions of Time

Exercise 9. Let’s review and practice some expressions of time.

Repeat the following.

Lunes
Monday

Martes
Tuesday

Miyerkules
Wednesday

Huwebes
Thursday

Biyernes
Friday

Sabado
Saturday

Linggo
Sunday

ngayon
now/today

bukas
tomorrow

sa makalawa
day after tomorrow

ngayong umaga
this morning

ngayong hapon
this afternoon

ngayong gabi
this evening

mamaya
later (same day)

kahapon
yesterday

noong Lunes
last Monday

noong Martes
last Tuesday

noong Miyerkules
last Wednesday

Exercise 10: Learn and Practice Some Completed (past tense) Action Words

Exercise 10. To ask whether a certain task has been completed. You use the completed action form of the verb.

This form may be translated as an English past tense, present-perfect, or past-perfect.

For example, the past of:

magluto, to cook, is “nagluto” and can mean cooked, has cooked or had cooked.

REPEAT

nagluto
nagluto

Let’s practice the two forms of the verb.

magpakain
nagpakain

magpunas
nagpunas

magplantsa
nagpllangsa

mag-alaga
nag-alaga

magpainom
nagpainom

maglampaso
naglampaso

maglinis
naglinis

maghugas
naghugas

maglaba
naglaba

magdilig
nagdilig

Exercise 11: Pronunciation Practice

Exercise 11. Repeat these sentences.

Magpakain ka ng bata mamaya.
Feed the baby later.

Nagpakain ka ba ng bata?
Did you feed the baby?

Magdilig ka ng mga halaman bukas.
Water the plants tomorrow.

Nagdilig ka ba ng mga halaman kahapon?
Did you water the plants yesterday?

Maglinis ka sa salas ngayon.
Clean the living room today.

Naglinis ka ba sa salas ngayon?
Did you clean the living room today?

Maglampaso ka sa kusina sa Lunes.
Mop the kitchen on Monday.

Naglampaso ka ba sa kusina noong Lunes?
Did you mop the kitchen last Monday?

Exercise 12: Practice Translating English to Tagalog

Exercise 12. Say the following sentences in Tagalog.

Wash the dishes later.
Maghugas ka ng mga plato mamaya.

Iron the clothes on Tuesday.
Magplantsa ka ng damit sa Martes.

Cook the chicken today.
Magluto ka ng manok ngayon.

Did you clean the kitchen last Wednesday?
Naglinis ka ba sa kusina noong Miyerkules?

Feed the baby at 11 o’clock, please.
Magpakain ka nga ng bata sa alas onse.

Baby-sit this evening, please.
Mag-alaga ka nga ng bata ngayong gabi.

Mop the bathroom now.
Maglampaso ka sa banyo ngayon.

Water the plants tomorrow.
Magdilig ka ng halaman bukas.

Did you vacuum last Monday?
Nagbakyum ka ba noong Lunes?

Clean the living room on Friday, please.
Maglinis ka nga sa salas sa Biyernes.

Exercise 13: Listening Comprehension – Dialogue

Exercise 13.  Listen to the following conversation. See how much you can understand without referring to your book.

Linda: Gusto ko pong pumasok na katulong sa inyo.
Anne: Marunong ka bang magplantsa at mag-alaga ng bata?
Linda: Opo, at marunong din po akong magluto ng adobo, lumpia, at pansit.
Anne: Anong pangalan m~? lIang taon ka na?
Linda: Linda Ramos po ang ngalan ko. Labing walong taon na po ako.
Anne: Puwede ka bang magsimula sa Lunes, Linda?
Linda: Magkano po ba ang suweldo?
Anne: Dalawang daan at limampung piso. Tama na ba yon?
At saka* “off” ka kung Sabado at Linggo.
Linda: Maraming salamat po. Hanggang sa Lunes ng umaga.

Linda: I would like to work as a maid for you.
Anne: Do you know how to iron and take care of the baby?
Linda: Yes, ma’am, and I also know how to cook adobo, lumpia, and pansit.
Anne: What is your name? How old are you?
Linda: My name is Linda Ramos. I am (already) 18 years [old].
Anne: Could you start on Monday, Linda?
Linda: How much is the salary?
Anne: Two hundred fifty pesos. Is that OK? And you will be off on Saturday and Sunday.
Linda: Many thanks. Until Monday morning.

Self-Evaluation Quiz

This is the self-evaluation quiz. You will hear ten situations. Respond to each during the pause.

If you can respond correctly to the situations during the pause you are ready to go on to the next unit.

SITUATION 1:
You would like to ask someone’s name. What do you say?
Anong pangalan mo?

SITUATION 2:
When you ask the maid her age, she says, “Dalawampung taon ako.”. What did she say?
She said, “I am 20 years old.”

SITUATION 3:
Anne tells a Filipino friend that she needs someone who knows how to take care of the baby. How does she say it in Tagalog?
Kailangan ko ng marunong mag-alaga ng bata.

SITUATION 4:
You would like to ask the helper if she could start working on Tuesday morning. What do you say?
Puwede bang magsimula ka sa Martes ng umaga.

SITUATION 5:
The housegirl tells you, “Nabalitaan ko na kailangan ninyo ng katulong.” What did she say?
She said, “I heard that you need household help.”

SITUATION 6:
You want to tell the houseboy that his salary is two hundred pesos a month. What do you say?
Dos siyentos pesos isang buwang ang suweldo mo.

SITUATION 7:
The maid says, “Marunong po akong magluto at maglaba.” What did she say?
She said, “I know how to cook and launder.”

SITUATION 8:
Mrs. White wants to ask the maid if her salary is OK. How does she say “Is that all right?” in Tagalog?
Tama na ba yon?

SITUATION 9:
You want to ask your houseboy to water the plants tomorrow. How do you say it in Tagalog?
Magdilig ka ng mga halaman bukas.

SITUATION 10:
You want to ask your maid to do some chores for you while you’re away. Say each of the following in Tagalog:

a. Dust the living room later.
Magpunas ka sa salas mamaya.

b. Iron the blue pants, please.
Magplantsa ka nga ng pantalong asul.

c. Clean the kitchen on Tuesday.
Maglinis ka sa kusina sa Martes.

This concludes the self-evaluation quiz.