Find Indonesian class quality is surprisingly difficult in the capital of the nation. And as interest grows, it may become more difficult.
Back in 2006, when he was teaching English in a school in Jakarta, Desmond Breau did what many expatriates in the capital to move forward: he sought an Indonesian language teacher. And then he looked for another; and then another.
Find a language tutor, it turns out, was the easy part. But outside of Yogyakarta, where the teaching of Indonesian language is well established, find a teacher with a rigorous program is more difficult.
"I asked the Director of the secondary school where I taught, where can I get a serious education in Indonesia?" Remembers Breau.
options, it is a said: Either go to Yogyakarta or enroll in the University of Indonesia, where during many hours are rigid and long semesters "I found it really discouraging."
mainly. specialized basic Jakarta expatriates - essentially a professional group and government related jobs held, a huge private tutors pool and a general indifference to Indonesia as a language has crimped the supply of high schools quality in the capital. While the Indonesian authorities to ratchet up language requirements to secure work permits and neighboring countries like Australia do a better job promoting the Jakarta Indonesian authorities demand will grow , experts predict.
Surprisingly, however, specialized courses of Indonesian language is still hard to find. Breau and business partner Rahdian Saepuloh possibly set up Language Studies Indonesia after hitting some Canadian investors and spend 18 months to design their own program. They claim that when they began taking students in 2007, they were the first commercial Indonesian language school in Jakarta specializing in language. It is difficult to verify, but searches, even now turn to a few competitors who make their money by teaching in Indonesia.
The biggest headache at the moment, the couple said, the challenge is to find teachers with this Breau called leadership capacity. With a staff of 15 Saepuloh Breau and instructors say they need two more immediately. They interviewed more than 40 candidates for three weeks and still have not found suitable person.
"Every single teacher I had was incredibly nice. And if you tell them you want to be able to talk to your pilot they will tell you what to say, "says Breau.
" I am not a good person. I want a teacher. "
Saepuloh said developing the school program was a learning experience for him, challenging the notions that just because Indonesia was its language, it does not mean that he could teach. He also exposed him to the little everyone has been done to promote and protect its language.
"When you get to the airport of Milan, are the first words you see? Italian, right? When you arrive at the Jakarta airport you see English. "
For most Indonesians in Jakarta their common language is standardized product cobbled together by the Dutch in the 1920s with roots in Malay. For many here, it is a second or third language, varying considerably from what is spoken in their hometowns such as Javanese or Sundanese says Lilie Suratminto. Suratminto was lecturer for 30 years at the University of Indonesia Dutch language and culture and Indonesian language teacher for students foreigners.
Lilie organized the first international conference of the University of Indonesia for the Indonesian language teachers in 2010. He said that many Indonesian dealing here with little love, just a tool to get out with someone from another part of the country. "speakers of the Indonesian language pick up early at school or in everyday life and, honestly, many wonder why foreigners are not the same thing," says Lilie. In the absence of real government plan to promote the language, English loan words proliferate and educational standards are difficult to nail down. "You can learn from everyone, they think."
"Many people are not proud of their own language," says Lilie, who comes from Central Java and speaks Javanese with his family. "There is English, English everywhere. I want people to enjoy Indonesian ".
This benign neglect is inconsistent with the government's requirements for the regulation of the Indonesian language for Kitas work permit and the largest study of the language in neighboring Australia.
Nia Indrakusuma was the director of Berlitz language schools Jakarta since 2007. She says about a quarter of pupils Berlitz Indonesian study, the study remains mostly English. She bet a greater proportion of its students will want to study the national language. The trouble is that the government does not say what they want schools to teach.
"We regularly receive requests from cover letters Kitas applications," said Indrakusuma. "If they apply the rules they must give us more guidelines."
Students considering a school or a teacher should emphasize the outline of the curriculum and methods. "the program needs to build in stages and be continuous," says Saepuloh.
Most teachers come from English training environment. Ask about their experience. "It's the first thing every client asks me. They want to know the qualifications of teachers," says Breau.
Good schools seek comments and should be able to demonstrate to students and future teachers should be able to tell you what you can express after each course level. after 30 meetings a year and a half hour at a Berlitz student should be able to go to the doctor and employ Indonesian survival on a daily basis. Language Studies offers flexible tutorial slots and a program that works 156 hours of training beginner to advanced.
anyone with more time on their hands can consider studying at the University of Indonesia, where classes are held over three semesters, Monday through Friday from 8 am to noon.
Breau LSI expects the school to grow. last year, the school had 10 teachers. In 12 months, they hope to have as many as 25 teachers lead students to make the most of their stay in Indonesia.
Without any management of cultural officials in the ministries of education and elsewhere, schools are on their own.
"When someone signs up for classes they need to feel they are getting somewhere," said Breau. "We are the defenders of the language."
List of schools:
Language Studies Indonesia: (021) 7087 2200 or (021) 7087 3300
Jl MPR III Dalam Cilandak Barat No. 3, Jakarta Selatan
Berlitz: (021) 251 4589
Jl Jend Sudirman Kav 10-11 Cart Gallery Karet
International Graduate Institute Language Indonesia: (021) 786 4075
Gedung Fakultas Ilmu X Lt.1 Pengetahuan Budaya, Kampus UI Depok, Depok 16424 .