Learning Indonesian and Understanding Indonesians

Learning Indonesian and Understanding Indonesians
Anyone who stays in Indonesia for more than just a few weeks should make an effort to speak Indonesian.
Most Indonesians, especially the younger generations will do their best to speak English.

You may run into groups of youngsters who ask you lots of questions trying to practice their English.
Nevertheless, most Indonesians only speak their local language plus Indonesian and nothing else.

If you make an effort to speak Indonesian, even if you don't master the complexities of the grammar, everyone will sincerely praise your mastery of the language and even help you to improve it.
There are many language schools in Indonesia that offer courses for just a few weeks or up to two months.
Most of those institutions are in the major cities in Java and in the island of Bali.

But learning the language is not all. Even if you speak Indonesian but don't understand the mindset of the people you will be in for many communication breakdowns. Investing in an inter-cultural program before you fly to Indonesia is a wise decision.

The government has announced that newly arriving expats soon will have to pass a language test in Bahasa Indonesia as a prerequisite to obtain a work permit.

On the Links page you will several options for language courses and links to inter-cultural programs.
Language and culture are closely linked to history; for those who are interested in history, we have a brief overview.