Dominic Petridis was a participant of the Flexible Language Immersion Program (FLIP), in 2023. Dominic is studying at the University of Western Australia .

Q: Why did you decide to undertake the ACICIS internship program?

The semester-long program sounded like exactly what I was looking for in terms of language immersion and living experience. For a long time I had the goal of studying in Indonesia, and the ACICIS program, together with the New-Columbo funding, helped me to realise this goal.

 

Q: Did you receive a New Colombo Plan Mobility Grant? If so, how did this contribute to your experience in Indonesia?

I received a $7000 New Columbo Plan mobility grant to fund my semester program, including the study costs, flights, and much of my living and travel expenses. The funding really helped me in getting the most out of my semester in Indonesia, and eased a lot of financial stress.

 

Q: What classes/units are you currently enrolled in?

I was enrolled in 6 classes at UGM in Yogyakarta – four language classes and 2 other classes:
Conversation – We would practise conversation through discussions and games in class, and through presentations
History – we studied Indonesian history in the Indonesian language, this was one of my favourite classes! Absolutely fascinating.
Culture – each week we discussed an important aspect of Indonesian culture and society, including religion, javanisation, modernisation, gender issues, corruption, and more.
Writing – each week we would write an extensive piece in formal language on a chosen topic, and review our marked pieces from the last week. I enjoyed gaining writing fluency.
Gamelan (karawitan) – I joined a gamelan class with two of my australian friends and learnt many instruments and pieces throughout the semester!
Urban Forestry (perhutanan kota) – since I study environmental science at UWA, I decided to join this class in the forestry department. It was challenging to learn technical content in Indonesian but I benefited greatly from the immersion experience.

 

 Q: Are you involved in any clubs/societies at the university? Please list down and provide a brief description.

I was involved in a UGM indoor hockey team – this was a great way to meet and hang out with other indonesian students and have fun.

 

Q: How will your proficiency in Indonesian Language gained through the Flexible Language Immersion Program influence your future career or study?

The proficiency in Indonesian Language I gained from FLIP will, I hope, help me greatly in my future career. I hope to work in the field of environmental science and I hope to work with or in Indonesia in the future. There are many opportunities to work with Indonesia and in this regard I think my Indonesian Language abilities will be a great asset to me.

 

Q: How different is in-country Indonesian language learning to your previous experiences in an Australian classroom environment?

The language learning experience of in-country compared to an Australian university classroom is incredibly different. The language is used in and outside of classrooms, and so I became much more engaged in all aspects of the language, especially in speaking and comprehension. As a result I learnt far faster in Indonesian than in Australia. Furthermore, I practised more slang/casual language, as opposed to the formal style mainly taught in Australia.

 

Q: How different is in-country Indonesian language learning to your previous experiences in an Australian classroom environment?

The language learning experience of in-country compared to an Australian university classroom is incredibly different. The language is used in and outside of classrooms, and so I became much more engaged in all aspects of the language, especially in speaking and comprehension. As a result I learnt far faster in Indonesian than in Australia. Furthermore, I practised more slang/casual language, as opposed to the formal style mainly taught in Australia.

 

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time in Yogyakarta?

I would love to hang out with friends, study in cafes, eat amazing food at warungs and restaurants, go rock climbing in a local gym, and travel outside of Yogyakarta on my weekends!

 

Q: What is your favorite Indonesian food?

I fell in love with the vegetarian classics – gado-gado, lotek, and nasi pecel.

 

Q. Favourite Indonesian word/phrase:

Tidak apa-apa.