Explore Indonesia’s language and rich cultural heritage in this engaging course. Designed for beginners, you’ll learn practical Bahasa Indonesia while gaining insights into Indonesian traditions, social norms, and values like gotong royong (community cooperation) and sopan santun (politeness). Through interactive lessons, you’ll discover local customs, traditional ceremonies, and everyday expressions, making your learning experience immersive and authentic. Whether you’re traveling, working, or simply curious about Australia’s closest neighbour, this course will help you communicate effectively and appreciate Indonesia’s vibrant culture.
Suggested reading
• Artawan, G., & Suarta, I. (2022). Learning the Indonesian Language: A Fact from International Students. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 22(1).
• Oey, T. G. (2011). Everyday Indonesian: Your Guide to Speaking Indonesian Quickly and Effortlessly in a Few Hours. Tuttle Publishing.
• Robson, S., & Millie, J. (2011). Instant Indonesian: How to Express 1,000 Different Ideas with Just 100 Key Words and Phrases! (Indonesian Phrasebook). Tuttle Publishing.
Session 1: Introduction to Bahasa Indonesia & Cultural Overview
• Alphabet, pronunciation, greetings
• Geography & diversity of Indonesia
Session 2: Everyday Conversations & Social Etiquette
• Self-introduction and asking about others
• Expressions of politeness (Mohon maaf, Permisi) and formal vs. informal speech
• Non-verbal communication in Indonesia (gestures, eye contact, personal space)
Session 3: Numbers and Lifestyles
• Numbers
• Using present, past, and future without conjugation (Saya makan sekarang. Saya makan tadi. Saya akan makan.)
• Indonesian lifestyles
Season 4: Days, Months, Telling time and Weather
• Counting, telling time (Jam berapa?)
• Talking about daily routines (Saya bangun pagi jam enam.)
• Indonesian climate
Session 5: Food, Shopping, and Bargaining in Indonesia
• Ordering food in restaurants (Saya mau pesan nasi goreng.)
• Using classifiers (sebuah, seekor, seorang) in sentences
• Common prepositions (di, ke, dari, dengan, untuk, pada)
• Culinary traditions
• Markets, bargaining culture
Session 6: Adjectives and Travels
• Common adjectives (besar, kecil, mahal, murah, cepat, lambat)
• Making comparisons (lebih murah, paling enak, tidak terlalu mahal)
• Talking about preferences (Saya lebih suka kopi daripada teh.)
• Travel and Directions Giving/asking for directions
Session 7: Traditions, Festivals, and Cultural Practices
• Traditions, Festivals, and Cultural Practices
• Major religions & national holidays
Session 8: Passive Voice & Formal Sentence Structures
• Passive sentence structure (Makanan ini dimasak oleh ibu saya.)
• Using passive voice in formal and written Indonesian
Session 9: Interactive Language Practice & Role-Playing
• Real-life scenarios: introducing yourself, ordering food, asking for help
• Watching and discussing short clips of Indonesian conversations
• Q&A session and pronunciation practice
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand and use basic Indonesian language structures – including pronunciation, sentence formation, and essential grammar rules.
- Engage in simple conversations – greeting others, introducing themselves, and using polite expressions appropriately.
- Express time and daily activities – using numbers, basic tenses, and describing routines in Indonesian.
- Apply adjectives and comparisons – to describe people, objects, and preferences accurately in Indonesian.
- Use formal and passive sentence structures – appropriate for professional and academic settings in Indonesia.
