Indonesian
Indonesian language (Bahasa Indonesia) has been taught in Australian schools since the 1960s, with hundreds of schools across Australia now teaching the language of our nearest neighbour and popular travel destination. Riverside Primary School teaches Indonesian language to students in Years 3-6, under the instruction of a specialist teacher.
The Indonesian program at Riverside Primary School focuses on the acquisition of linguistic competencies and cultural learning, with an emphasis on speaking and listening. Students are provided with opportunities to demonstrate their language skills and cultural knowledge in a variety of interactive and practical tasks, and are encouraged to communicate in the target language where possible. Indonesian classes engage students in their learning through language-focused games, role-plays, song, and cultural art (dance and music).
Learning a Second Language:
- broadens students’ views of the world, helping them to become more globally-aware citizens who develop an understanding and respect for other cultures and people.
- helps students develop transferable skills such as pattern recognition, linguistic problem solving, and an understanding of language conventions such as grammar and tense.
- enhances listening skills and memory, and career opportunities for the future.
Why study Indonesian?
- Indonesian is the national language of the Republic of Indonesia, Australia’s closest neighbour and an important trade partner. Learning Indonesian can open many opportunities in business, government, education, and tourism.
- Indonesian uses the same alphabet as the English language and is phonetic, making it one of the easiest languages to learn as a second language for native speakers of English.
- Indonesian is the tenth most-spoken language in the world.
