The Indolence of the Filipino
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English books for C1 level (advanced) · Essays in English for learners, with translation · Short English books to read with translation
A satirical essay by Filipino national hero José Rizal, critiquing the perceived indolence of his countrymen under Spanish colonial rule. He argues that this trait is a result of historical and environmental factors, not inherent laziness. The text is persuasive and analytical, with a clear argument structure, offering learners practice in reading reasoned discourse and understanding a pivotal perspective in colonial history.
Learn English with The Indolence of the Filipino
- Suits learners around level C1: you read the original, not a simplified retelling.
- Who it suits: a short but demanding text (C1), for readers at B2 and above, or any level with the translation shown.
- 3,357 distinct words, each one a tap away from your personal vocabulary list.
- Translation into Russian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Turkish or Arabic, aligned to every sentence, shown under the text or beside it.
- Read-aloud audio for every chapter, with the current sentence highlighted as it is read.
- Read in English, glance at the translation under any sentence you are unsure of, and listen to natural read-aloud voices to train your ear.
How it works
- Open the book: no installation, it reads in the browser on any device.
- Read a sentence in English. Its translation sits right under it, so you never lose the thread.
- Tap a word for its meaning and save it; listen to the chapter read aloud.
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Questions about this book
Can I read The Indolence of the Filipino in English for free?
Yes. The first chapters of The Indolence of the Filipino open without an account, with the translation, audio and dictionary included. A free account unlocks the rest of the book.
How much English do I need?
The text is estimated at level C1. Because every sentence has its translation underneath, lower levels can follow along too.
Is there audio?
Yes. Each chapter can be read aloud by a natural-sounding voice while the current sentence is highlighted.
Is The Indolence of the Filipino available in Russian?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Indolence of the Filipino is shown with its Russian translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Russian whenever you need to.
Is The Indolence of the Filipino available in Spanish?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Indolence of the Filipino is shown with its Spanish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Spanish whenever you need to.
Is The Indolence of the Filipino available in Brazilian Portuguese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Indolence of the Filipino is shown with its Brazilian Portuguese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Brazilian Portuguese whenever you need to.
Is The Indolence of the Filipino available in Japanese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Indolence of the Filipino is shown with its Japanese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Japanese whenever you need to.
Is The Indolence of the Filipino available in Chinese?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Indolence of the Filipino is shown with its Chinese translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Chinese whenever you need to.
Is The Indolence of the Filipino available in Turkish?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Indolence of the Filipino is shown with its Turkish translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Turkish whenever you need to.
Is The Indolence of the Filipino available in Arabic?
Yes. On Booklern the English text of The Indolence of the Filipino is shown with its Arabic translation under every sentence, so you read the original and check the Arabic whenever you need to.
Can I download The Indolence of the Filipino as a PDF or EPUB?
Not from Booklern: the book is read online, in the browser, with nothing to download or install. Your place in the book is saved to your account.
