Job Discussion Forums

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

How many of you speak Indonesian and did some of you take a course at one of the language schools in Indonesia to learn the language?

Whenever ghost teaches in a new country (Turkey - 2003-2004), and Taiwan (2005-2006) it always "invests" in at least a two month intensive course in the language, and Indonesia will be no exception when ghost finally gets there.....possibly as early as late 2007, after completing a contract in Korea.

And ghost always made sure to take the new language courses in the country where the language is spoken, and not in the home country, which ghost usually feels is a waste of time and money.....as the "home country" (e.g. Canada/UK/U.S.A./Australia) lacks the immersion setting necessary for practice and listening to the language and getting the "ear" used to the language.

Also, how much of a factor are regional dialects in Indonesia....that is to say - if one learns the "lingua franca" - "Bahasa Indonesia" - will that be understood by most from Bali to Medan......or are the regional languages so dominant there that Bahasa might not prove of much use? Also, is there a big difference between the language spoken in Java and Sumatra?

In Turkey, ghost was not able to work at the same time as studying Turkish at "Tomer University of Ankara," but in Taiwan, ghost was able to combine 2 hrs of daily study of Mandarin at the local University in the morning and work in the afternoons......might the same situation be possible in Indonesia - that is study the language at a University or Language school (minimum 2 hours a day with Indonesian teachers) and then work in the afternoons and evenings?

"Bahasa" Indonesia being recognized as one of the easiest "user friendly" languages in the world, one assumes that many of you simply picked up decent conversation skills by just living in the country, but it would be interesting to hear from people who actually took the time and went to the trouble and expense of taking a formal language course in Indonesia, and how much progress they felt they made by taking the course?

Thanks for any input..

Ghost

beefer · Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 238 Location: java

when i first got here, i was always to lazy and hungover to even attempt to sit through any morning bahasa lesson...simply couldn't be bothered. i've been here for years now and my bahasa has developed quite well. it is simple to pick up and if you just put the effort into it, your strength in it should develop quickly. still, some people are good with languages and some are not......i fancy myself to be in or around the middle of the pack

..wish i had taken a course though, sure would have sped things up for me.

gugelhupf · Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 575 Location: Jabotabek

I had a head start having picked up some Malay (very similar) as a young kid and since then I have learned mostly by myself although I do ask Indonesian colleagues about problems I encounter. I recommend doing a class or two per week rather than an intensive course. Remember that few people in Indonesia speak English so it sort of forces you either to learn or - as some do - to spend your time inhabiting expat-riendly 'bubbles' and thus avoid having to experience real life.

BI is understood by all Indonesians who have ever been to school, and most of the local dialects and lingos are actually quite similar, being derived from old Malay. Javanese and Balinese are distinct languages each with its own multi-level structure but I have yet to meet a Balinese or Javanese that couldn't communicate just as well in BI. All TV news, official documents, airport announcements etc are in BI whether you are in Aceh or Manado.

Andror · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 34

As I was visiting Bali a lot and was in need of some uni electives I chose to study Indonesian at Uni, which i don't regret.

This is probably one of the languages where you could go a long way with self study. It's known as one of the world's easiest languages, one reason being that there are no surprises with pronunciation. Grab yourself a coursebook with some CDs and you'll be off to a flying start.

xsbir · Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 81 Location: The Big Durian

gugelhupf · Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 575 Location: Jabotabek

Very true about the difference between survival BI and 'proper' usage. People often go on about how there is no grammar in BI but that is definitely not the case. Prefixes and suffixes change meaning and switch between active and passive, some verbs need an -i on the end with some prefixes - the list goes on and on. The trick is to recognise the root word wrapped up in all the prefixes and suffixes.

BlakeS · Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 87 Location: Xian

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

xsbir · Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 81 Location: The Big Durian

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

Zorobabel · Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 82

ghost: You'll be quite happy to know that Bahasa Indonesia is far easier than Turkish or Mandarin/Taiwanese (Southern Min). Three months of intensive study and you'll be speaking quite fluently.

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

I taught myself using a grammar book called "Colloquial Indonesian". It covers the prefixes and suffixes and how and when to use them. From there I usually use a dictionary and watch the news in the morning as I find myself always picking up new vocabulary. I agree with xsbir that the basic vocabulary won't be enough to read a newspaper but only time can improve one's grammar. It is a never ending learning cycle.

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

-3E- · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 2:30 pm Post subject:

II learned it at the Panggilan Ojek... hanging out with the Ojeks...

Vertumnus · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 142 Location: Indonesia