As a first-generation Filipino-American, I never had the opportunity to learn Tagalog growing up. I believe many others at ASU (especially within the Filipino and broader community) feel the same. Despite this, ASU does not currently offer a Tagalog language class; the university has indicated this is due to perceived lack of demand. I’ve created this petition to demonstrate the genuine interest among students for such a course.

"Tagalog is the fourth most commonly spoken language in the U.S., with 1.7–2.2 million speakers as of 2025 "
Sources: Circle, Quantumrun, Axios, Jagranjosh

"There are approximately 4.1 million Filipino-Americans nationwide as of 2024"
Sources: languagetesting, Elmura Linguistics

"The U.S. is increasingly multilingual—nearly 22% of residents aged 5+ speak a non-English language at home"
Source: AP News

At ASU, as of Fall 2024, 45.3% of undergraduates identified as ethnic minorities, and 32.7% came from historically underrepresented groups (Black, Hispanic, Native American) demonstrating ASU's growing cultural and linguistic diversity 
Source: uoia.asu.edu, Arizona Board of Regents

Introducing a Tagalog course would not only support Filipino heritage and language preservation, but also enrich ASU’s inclusive, diverse learning environment. Let's show the university that there is strong student demand for Tagalog at ASU.