Known as an easy language and spoken by millions of people, many foreign speakers want to learn Indonesian language. If you are new to the Indonesian language, this article is perfect for you as we will talk about four main topics about learning Indonesian: what is Bahasa Indonesia? Why should you learn it? How can you successfully learn it? And where to learn Indonesian language?
What is Bahasa Indonesia?
Bahasa Indonesia or the Indonesian language is the official language of the Republic of Indonesia. With Indonesia’s 267.7 million population (2018 census), Bahasa Indonesia becomes one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It is adapted from Malay that has long been used as a lingua franca or a bridge language across what is now known as Indonesian archipelago.
As a big country with diverse ethnic groups, Indonesia has more than 700 local languages such as Javanese, Balinese, Sundanese, Acehnese, and Bahasa Biak. These local languages are still widely used at the speakers’ homes and within their local communities. In addition to their local languages, Indonesians learn and use Indonesian at schools. The official language is also used for mass media, administration, judiciary, and governance.
Why Should You Learn Indonesian language?
As mentioned above, Bahasa Indonesia has more than 26 million speakers in the country alone. It also functions as a working language in East Timor and it’s very similar to Malay’s Malaysian, Singaporean and Brunei standard varieties. Learning Indonesian means that you have the potential to communicate to millions of people with diverse cultures across 1700 exotic islands. Mastering the language will also be beneficial if you visit the three neighboring countries of Indonesia as you will understand most of their Malay varieties.
Another reason is that the language is an easy language to learn. Unlike English, Indonesian is a phonetic language, meaning one letter only represents one sound. It doesn’t have tenses, conjugations, and complicated grammar structures. The language has many English and Dutch loanwords, so if you speak those two languages, you will have a head start.
Last but not least, another key reason is Indonesian’s economic growth. Indonesia is one the fastest growing economies in the world. It’s a member of G20, a group of twenty of the world’s largest economies. It’s also classified as a newly industrialized country with the 7th largest economy in terms of GDP (PPP), gross domestic product converted to international dollars using purchasing power parity rates. Learning Indonesian will give you more opportunities for employment and businesses in the country.
How to Learn Indonesian language?
You can learn Indonesian in many ways as there are many resources on the internet. A quick Google search for the keyword “learn Indonesian” will provide you with an array of videos, audio files, and articles on how to learn the language.
There are also a lot of great books to learn Indonesian. Some of them include ‘The Indonesian Way’ by George Quinn, ‘Easy Indonesian’ by Katherine Davidsen, and ‘Basic Indonesian’ by Stuart Robson. If you start learning Indonesian grammar, two books that we think are great resources and easy to understand: ‘A Student Guide to Indonesian Grammar’ by Dwi Novirini Djenar, and ‘Understanding Indonesian Grammar’ by James Neil Sneddon.
Like learning other languages, the best way to learn Indonesian is by using it actively. If you live in the country, then you have a great advantage as you have a massive ‘library’ to improve your Indonesian. You can learn from a taxi driver, local vendors, and local people in your neighborhood. If you are a beginner, this can be intimidating though so language classes are a great idea to help you get started.
Where to learn Indonesian language?
If you want to learn Indonesian in Bali or online, then look no further. We are a professional and highly rated Indonesian language school based in Bali, Indonesia. We can help you master Indonesian language quickly and naturally. Here is why:
- All of our teachers are experienced and certified to teach Indonesian
- We try to have our lessons entirely in Indonesian
- Our course includes audio lessons of daily conversations and mini stories
- We provide scientifically proven flashcards app to remember vocabulary long term
- Our teaching materials are the things that Indonesians really use in everyday life
- We adapt our teaching to meet your learning styles and language needs
If you are ready to start your learning journey with us or want to ask any questions, feel free to reach out to us at hi@jembatanbahasa.com.
