Is your Indonesian getting a bit rusty?
Are you loosing your confidence as a speaker of Indonesian as a foreign language?
Is your Indonesian getting a bit rusty?
Are you loosing your confidence as a speaker of Indonesian as a foreign language?
Is your Indonesian getting a bit rusty?
Are you loosing your confidence as a speaker of Indonesian as a foreign language?
Is your Indonesian getting a bit rusty?
Are you loosing your confidence as a speaker of Indonesian as a foreign language?
For those of you who don't know me, I’m Zane. I have two main passions in life, helping those who are already fluent in Indonesian as a foreign language retain their Indonesian AND helping novices learn how to truly connect, collaborate, and build trusting relationships with Indonesian counterparts. I've been helping people with their Indonesian for three decades. My web pages are devoted to continuing my passion.
On this page I have a free guide for those wanting to maintain their Indonesian. It is designed specifically for people who have majored in Indonesian at university and then went on to visit or live in Indonesia. Yes, I mean language nerds! But I also mean lovers of all things Indonesian - Indonesianists if you like.
Being able to speak Indonesian fluently is a skill that required a lot of hard work for you to acquire. Like any skill, lack of use leads to skill degeneration. So, if you're someone who can't stand to see your hard won Indonesian skills getting rusty, then this guide is for you!
Rather than going it alone, this guide aims to help you get the most out of your language maintenance efforts. My guide is underpinned by contemporary thinking in the area of language learning and research on how languages are actually used in Indonesia, while drawing on the methods that have worked with the hundreds of Indonesian language learners that I have taught over the last thirty years. Below, you can see what some of my colleagues say about how my course, "Blueprint to Remaining a Confident Speaker of Indonesian", has helped reinvigorate their Indonesian and their knowledge of contemporary Indonesia.
Hey, I'm Zane
I'm glad you're here!
I help people who are fluent in Indonesian stop their Indonesian skills getting rusty when they aren’t in Indonesia so that they keep their confidence speaking Indonesian, protect a skill that they’ve invested thousands of hours in perfecting, and re-experience the deep sense of personal satisfaction that comes with using Indonesian. I do this by writing guides like this one as well as running an exclusive, invite only, language maintenance program.
My coaching is informed by thirty years of teaching Indonesian, and a similarly long research career, that has focused on who, when, where, and why different languages are used in Indonesia and how this relates to local notions of politeness. These activities includes over four years of living and researching in Indonesian neighbourhoods and government offices, researching Indonesian usage among Indonesians living in Japan, researching language in the Indonesian media, and most recently the use of Indonesian to spin the story of Indonesia's new capital.
In addition to holding a PhD on Indonesian language, I've published widely in the areas of language teaching and language use in Indonesia, included six major books with publishers such as Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, and Routledge. My peers and my students have very positively evaluated my efforts, evidenced through reviews, competitive research grants, and gushing teaching evaluations. All of these experiences, along with marriage to a putri Cirebon have not only helped me become fluent in Indonesian but have been pivotal in helping me maintain my own Indonesian despite long absences from Indonesia. This guide shares the lessons that I have learnt about the most effective ways of remaining a confident speaker of Indonesian as a foreign language.
60 TIPS FOR MAINTAINING YOUR INDONESIAN
"It’s about confidence as well as knowledge and the last four weeks have given me confidence."
I was delighted that Bu Ali became one of my new colleagues in my Blueprint to Remaining a Confident Speaker of Indonesian. Bu Ali took time out of her busy schedule for an interview about my Blueprint program. She majored in Indonesian at Monash
"It’s about confidence as well as knowledge and the last four weeks have given me confidence."
I was delighted that Bu Ali became one of my new colleagues in my Blueprint to Remaining a Confident Speaker of Indonesian. Bu Ali took time out of her busy schedule for an interview about my Blueprint program. She majored in Indonesian at Monash university over twenty years ago and went on to acquire a number of other languages while using her Indonesian on a couple of trips to Indonesia. After finding it difficult to maintain her Indonesian during COVID lockdowns, she enrolled in my course which enables her to spend thirty-two weeks a year on maintenance activities. You can watch the whole interview by clicking on the image below Bu Ali's picture, but here are some snippets:
Sebelum saya dengar tentang kursus ini saya merasa seperti tiada kesemptan untuk memperbaiki Bahasa Indonesia saya yang cocok untuk saya. Misalnya, saya tidak mau mengunakan buku sebab saya suka berbicara dengan orang. Dan tidak mengunakan app, tapi saya merasa terlalu malu mengikuti dalam conversation class sebab ketika saya berbicara Bahasa Indonesia saya merasa malu dan kecewa dengan sendiri, I feel disappointed in myself….If I took conversation classes, there might be a native speaker, but I felt nervous. Ketika saya merasa malu saya tidak mau berbicara. So, I feel sometimes too nervous to speak. And I ended up only going to conversation classes a few times. It’s about confidence as well as knowledge and the last four weeks have given me confidence….I’m very happy I started the course. It’s very good….. Saya mengerti kebudayaan, negara Indonesian, ya, tapi hanya sedikit. Dan saya kira kursus ini, ah sangat bagus untuk mengunakan Bahasa,tetapi mengunakan Bahasa secara cocok untuk berbicara dengan orang Indonesia dan saya, sebelum ini saya tidak ada kesempatan untuk belajar dalam cara ini….I think a lot of people consider different programs and different ways to either keepup their language or get back the language that they’ve lost. But I think the hardest thing is to just start. So, I guess my advice to people would be just do it, just sign up. And I think for me an app was never going to be enough. Um and I wanted the conversation, I wanted to talk with people uh and it has been a real opportunity to do that.
"Even though I'd lived in Indonesia for nearly five years I got to learn something new about everyday Indonesian cultures each session."
I have been truly blessed with the calibre of colleagues who have joined my program. Pak Jeff also took time out of his busy schedule for an interview about my Blueprint program. He majored in Indonesian
"Even though I'd lived in Indonesia for nearly five years I got to learn something new about everyday Indonesian cultures each session."
I have been truly blessed with the calibre of colleagues who have joined my program. Pak Jeff also took time out of his busy schedule for an interview about my Blueprint program. He majored in Indonesian at the Australian National University nearly fifty years ago, and then went onto a career in the development space, including two stints working for the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). His posting amounted to nearly five years living in Jakarta. Pak Jeff continued his Indonesian after returning to Australia but wanted a program that would provide a structure and regular opportunity to maintain and grow his Indonesian, especially his abilities in non-standard types of Indonesian. You can watch the whole interview by clicking on the image below, but here are some snippets:
Semakin lama kemampuan [berbahasa Indonesia] menjadi lemah karena tidak ada kesempatan untuk berlatih berbicara dan itu seperti otak saya membeku “it sort of freezes” ya so, saya berjuang sering saya berjuang untuk menemukan atau mendapatkan kata-kata atau kalimat yang tepat….Dan saya sangat sadar bahwa gaya saya berbicara itu sangat formal…tapi orang Indonesia di luar situasi formal, mereka gunakan kata kata yang berbeda, tata Bahasa yang berbeda jadi saya mau belajar Bahasa gaul atau Bahasa informal …..walaupun [saya baru ikut programhanya selama] tiga minggu, saya merasa sudah ada dampak, mungkin dalam dua cara …yang pertama saya kira melalu berbagai materi-materi yang kita paparkan setiap sesi. Ada film Indonesia, ada iklan televisi, [film] documentaris, bahkan acara komedi. Saya masih ingat menikmati standup comedy hour…. berbagai materi materi tersebut itu memberikan saya wawasan “an insight” tambahan dalam budaya Indonesia. Meskipun saya hampir lima tahun saya tinggal di Indonesia, tapi sejak saya ikut program ini wawasan saya mengenai budaya Indonesia sehari-hari sudah naik….setiap sesi saya belajar hal hal atua aspek baru mengenai budaya Indonesia….Dampak kedua ada kerja rumah….dan itu memaksakan disiplin dan itu baik….Dan semakin banyak saya berbicara semakin baik jadinya. Itu sangat menyenangkan berbicara dengan orang Australia, teman-teman saya di kelas ini…. Dan semua teman-teman di kelas ini sangat ramah dan kami saling mendukung….itu bikin proses pembelajaran lebih mudah. Dan sangat relax juga.
"I get to study many aspects of culture, politics and society that are totally new to me."
I continue to be joined by high-calibre colleagues. Bu Paula has majored in Indonesian at university, done two in-country courses as a student, and then spent many weeks working in Selayar as part of a two year development project. Bu Paula was kind
"I get to study many aspects of culture, politics and society that are totally new to me."
I continue to be joined by high-calibre colleagues. Bu Paula has majored in Indonesian at university, done two in-country courses as a student, and then spent many weeks working in Selayar as part of a two year development project. Bu Paula was kind enough to provide the below feedback on my Blueprint program.
Saya sangat menghargai program Blueprint karena materi-materi yang disarankan oleh Pak Zane menarik sekali semuanya – film-film Indonesia, dokumetaris, comedi dll. Juga Pak Zane menciptakan suasana yang santai untuk ngobrol tentang materi-materi itu… tidak apa-apa kalau saya atau perserta yang lain membuat kesalahan, lupa kata-kata atau bikin kesalahan tata bahasa… yang penting percakapannya bisa dipahami dan diteruskan. Sesudah enam minggu, saya sudah mulai merasa lebih percaya diri berbahasa Indonesia di keadaan grup. Juga saya kira bahasa percakapan saya sudah menjadi kurang kaku sejak saya bergabung sama program Blueprint. Tapi saya harus berusaha terus!
Lewat program Blueprint, saya lagi belajar tentang banyak aspek-aspek budaya, agama, politik dan sosial tentang Indonesia yang sampai sekarang saya tidak tahu. Saya bersyukur karena selalu ada hal-hal yang baru untuk dipelajari tentang Indonesia. Pak Zane sangat berpengetahuan luas! Terima kasih Pak Zane.
"Waktu saya mulai kursus Blueprint saya sedikit malu pakai bahasa Indonesia karena kemampuan berbicara saya terhenti-henti, tapi sesudah saya ikut bergabung beberapa kelas saya bisa berbicara lebih lancar lagi dan mengingatkan kosa-kata."
In October 2022 we were joined by another high-calibre colleague, Pak Peter. Pak Peter did his undergr
"Waktu saya mulai kursus Blueprint saya sedikit malu pakai bahasa Indonesia karena kemampuan berbicara saya terhenti-henti, tapi sesudah saya ikut bergabung beberapa kelas saya bisa berbicara lebih lancar lagi dan mengingatkan kosa-kata."
In October 2022 we were joined by another high-calibre colleague, Pak Peter. Pak Peter did his undergraduate studies of Indonesian at the University of Melbourne before then spending a semester in Yogyakarta with ACICIS in 2006. Pak Peter was kind enough to provide the feedback below on my Blueprint program.
Saya berasal dari Victoria dan sedang tinggal di Melbourne Australia. Saya bekerja di bidang lingkungan. Tugas saya mengelola survei kelautan yang menunjukan dan menilai dampak dari bermacam proyek dari pembuangan air limbah ke laut sampai membangunkan kincir angin di laut. Dampak itu bisa yang terjadi saat ini atau untuk proyek perkembangan baru, dan dampak itu juga akan ada kemungkinan terjadi pada masa depan.
Saya sudah jarang pakai Bahasa Indonesia sejak lebih dari sepuluh tahun yang lalu. Karena itu, kosa kata saya sudah menyusut dan ketrampilan membaca, mendengar dan membicara bahasa Indonesia sudah kurang juga. Kursus Blueprint paling cocok buat saya karena melibatkan tugas-tugas dan kegiatan yang bisa memperbaiki semua ketrampilan itu.
Waktu saya mulai kursus Blueprint saya sedikit malu pakai bahasa Indonesia karena kemampuan berbicara saya terhenti-henti, tapi sesudah saya ikut bergabung beberapa kelas saya bisa berbicara lebih lancar lagi dan mengingatkan kosa-kata. Setiap minggu Pak Zane kirim bermacam-macam pedoman untuk dua kelas minggu itu, dari menonton film pendek (atau panjang), cari berita Indonesia untuk dibicarakan di kelas, sampai cari foto-foto sendiri yang dari Indonesia untuk diceritakan di kelas. Pedoman itu selalu menarik. Karena cara membicarakan topik-topik dan film-film itu dalam kelas sangat baik sekali karena bisa mendengarkan pengalaman-pengalaman atau cerita Pak Zane dan Bu Eni dan juga teman kelas tentang topik, masalah, masyarakat atau tempat itu. Karena kami menonton beberapa film setiap pekan, dan membaca beberapa tulisan berita, dan nanti membicarakannya bersama teman kelas dan Pak Zane dan Bu Eni, saya cepat menjadi lebih lancar dan seusai mendengar, membaca dan berbicara bahasa Indonesia lagi.
Kejutan yang menyenangkan adalah saya menjadi lebih sadar lagi tentang peristiwa-peristiwa dan soal-soal budaya, ekonomi dan lingkungan di Indonesia lagi. Saya juga mengetahui bahwa Youtube dan Netflix penuh isi-isi bahasa Indonesia yang sangat menarik dan berkualitas tinggi. Sumber itu sangat baik sekali untuk belajar kejadian, budaya dan bahasa wilaya Indonesia. Waktu saya belajar bahasa Indonesia dulu, belum ada Youtube dan Netflix. Yang paling baik, Pak Zane sudah buat daftar-daftar isi yang berkualitas tinggi dan sangat lengkap, berarti mudah cari isi-isi yang sesuai minat sendiri.
“It had been almost two decades since I had lived in Indonesia and ten years since I had visited and although I had once been fluent, that was no longer the case. I was very excited to come across Pak Zane’s course as I intended to spend an extended time in Indonesia in 2023. It was so great to find myself among likeminded individuals wit
“It had been almost two decades since I had lived in Indonesia and ten years since I had visited and although I had once been fluent, that was no longer the case. I was very excited to come across Pak Zane’s course as I intended to spend an extended time in Indonesia in 2023. It was so great to find myself among likeminded individuals with a similar passion for Indonesia, its people and its language(s). I felt extremely comfortable speaking Indonesian in their company. Over the course of one term, my confidence grew and my recall of my Indonesian vocabulary grew too to the point I felt comfortable speaking Indonesian during my time in Indonesia in 2023. I feel as if I became a member of a new community and gained some new friends and colleagues from the experience. I am so pleased I chose to join this course.”
60 TIPS FOR MAINTAINING YOUR INDONESIAN
Remaining a Confident Speaker of Indonesian
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