Considering research in Borneo or Jakarta? Planning to visit Bali or Komodo Island? If so, why not learn Indonesian? The national and official language of Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous nation, Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is the lingua franca spoken throughout the seventeen thousand islands by over 240 million Indonesians and is communicable within several neighboring countries.
With its simple nature as a genderless, tense-less, and fluid language, Bahasa Indonesia has been connecting peoples of different regions, cultures, ethnic languages, histories, and belief systems in the region, from Aceh to West Papua, from Bali to Borneo. We offer elementary and intermediate Indonesian classes. Classes are small and can be tailored to student needs.
Fall
BI 101A: Beginning Indonesian
Instructor: Sakti Suryani; Fall 2025: M-Th 3:00-4:15pm
Beginning Indonesian is designed to equip students who have little or no previous knowledge of Indonesian with a basic foundation in the language. The course emphasizes communicative skills and encourages students to use Indonesian as much as possible when communicating in class. The course will emphasize speaking and listening, as well as simple writing and reading skills. Basic grammar and structure will be taught and presented in real life. Various aspects of Indonesian culture are integrated into the language instruction.
BI 102A: Intermediate Indonesia
Instructor: Sakti Suryani; Fall 2025: M,W 12:45pm-2:45pm
Intermediate Indonesian class develops conversational and presentational skills on familiar topics with some unexpected complications using a communicative approach to language learning based on student-centered activities. This level prepares students to use the language in organized ways and cope with various authentic texts. Advanced grammar and structure are taught and presented in real life contexts. As an important component of language learning, Various aspects of Indonesian culture are integrated into language instruction.
BI 103AR: Advanced Indonesia
Instructor: Sakti Suryani; Fall 2025: T, Th 12:45pm-2:45pm
In Advanced Indonesian course, students will work to develop communication skills (interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational) on topics relating to community, public and personal interest. This course aims to prepare students to cope with unexpected complications as they deal with authentic texts and various communicative tasks, including describing or narrating complex situations and events. Students will also gain insights on Indonesian culture in the process of language learning. You will study both academic and non-academic texts, will engage in formal and informal discussion and writing, give presentations about Indonesian culture and society, and interview native speakers.
Spring
BI 101B: Beginning Indonesian
Instructor: Sakti Suryani; Spring 2026: M-Th 3:00-4:15pm
Continuation of BI 101A
BI 102B: Intermediate Indonesia
Instructor: Sakti Suryani; Spring 2026: M,W 12:45pm-2:45pm
Continuation of BI 102A