Timothy Fong is a student from The University of Western Australia. Timothy undertook the Indonesian Language Short Course at Satya Wacana University in Salatiga during the winter university break in 2018.
Q: Why did you decide to undertake ACICIS’ Indonesian Language Short Course?
I was always interested in learning Bahasa Indonesia and I believe that going to the country itself to learn the language is the most effective way to learn it. I really want to know more about Indonesian culture as well.
Q: What do you find to be the most challenging about the ILSC?
As I am currently still learning level 1, I find getting used to the grammar and remembering new vocabulary difficult.
Q: How will your proficiency in Indonesian Language gained through the Indonesian Language Short Course influence your future career or study?
I now can communicate with the locals with simple Bahasa Indonesia. I believe that this will definitely help my future career if I have any work-related trips to Indonesia. It will also help me connect more with Indonesian colleagues.
Q: Have you had previous experience learning Indonesian in Australia? If so, how different is in-country Indonesian language learning to your previous experiences? If not, how do classes in Indonesia compare to classes in Australia?
No I have not. Classes in Indonesia are more interactive and this gives me more opportunity to study the culture in Indonesia and interact with locals. This allows me to learn Bahasa Indonesia in a fun way.
Q: Would you like to return to Indonesia for future study or work?
Yes!