Indonesian

Why Indonesian is important to learn

Indonesian, usually known as Bahasa (=language) Indonesia, is the official language of Indonesia and is widely spoken by approximately 225 million native speakers in the country. The fact that Bahasa Indonesia is used in communities, at schools, in public offices, and in the mass media makes foreigners feel relieved. They do not need to learn the other 300 regional languages spoken in each different area.

Indonesian people themselves are nearly always at least bilingual. They can speak both Indonesian and their regional language. The older generation can also speak Dutch due to the Dutch colonization that happened before the proclamation of Indonesian Independence on August 17, 1945. Many in the younger generations, especially those who are living in big cities—namely Jakarta, the capital city, Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Medan and Palembang—however, are at least trilingual. They can speak Indonesian, their regional language, and English. The era of globalization has had a great impact on the educational system in Indonesia, particularly in the big cities. This impact includes the requirement to learn English and use technology in schools. In addition, some people in Bali (the most famous island in Indonesia for tourists) can speak English fluently even without having received formal instruction in English. They learn English from the visitors who try to communicate with them.

English is a foreign language in Indonesia. Most people only use it in learning and teaching environments and in some foreign companies, but not in society in general. Indonesians prefer using Indonesian, mixing Indonesian with their regional language, or using only their regional language. If you travel to Indonesia, you will find that you cannot rely on English for all of your daily needs. It is estimated that fewer than 25% of the people in Indonesia who learn English are active English speakers, and those who do have a knowledge of English will have focused mainly on the mastery of grammar and vocabulary instead of on listening and speaking. Once you master Indonesian, on the other hand, your ability to communicate and meet your daily survival needs will be guaranteed. If you later feel you need to learn a particular regional language, the Indonesian that you will have mastered will be a great help to you.

What students can expect to learn

At the elementary level, students master a great deal of Indonesian vocabulary and formal expressions, basic grammatical patterns, and also pronunciation.

At the intermediate level, students are encouraged to use Indonesian not only inside but also outside the classroom. They learn more vocabulary, dialogues, and also colloquial expressions used in some literary works, such as poems, short stories, songs, and movies. Students at the intermediate level are also introduced to informal Indonesian so that they will not talk like a book. They have conversation sessions with the teacher and other classmates for about 30 minutes each week, and they also converse with OU students from Indonesia for about 1 to 1.5 housr every week. They are also encouraged to perform in university public events, such as Poetry Night and the Southeast Asian Festival.

At the advanced level, students gain a deeper understanding of authentic Indonesian materials, literary works, and the rich culture of Indonesia. They also engage in active learning activities, such as discussions, interviews, email, chatting, presentations, and much more. These activities are not limited to the classroom setting; students are encouraged to engage in frequent communication with Indonesians at Ohio University and in Indonesia. Students are also introduced to samples of the regional languages in Indonesia. This level basically prepares students to come and experience Indonesia.