Indonesian language is expected to be an international language that is respected globally.
“Indonesian language ought to be sustained. One of the ways to do it is by language teaching to foreign speakers, particularly at UGM,” said Dr. Sudibyo at Public Affairs and Protocol’s office at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) on Tuesday (6/8) in a press conference ahead of the International Conference on Indonesian Language Teaching to Foreign Speakers (KIPBIPA) XI.
The chairman of KIPBIPA XI said UGM through INCULS (Indonesian Culture and Language Learning Service) programme accepted 100 international students each year to learn Indonesian. “We need to produce a standard for foreign speakers learning Indonesian,” he said.
The conference is aimed at researchers, lecturers, activists, and observers of Indonesian Language for Foreign Speakers around the world. This is done every two years by Afiliasi Pengajar dan Pegiat BIPA (APPBIPA), collaborating with partners.
KIPBIPA XI in 2019 is initiated by Afiliasi Pengajar dan Pegiat BIPA (APPBIPA) Yogyakarta Branch in collaboration with INCULS. It is supported by Language and Book Agency Yogyakarta and Central APPBIPA.
To be organised at Soegondo Building of Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM from 7-9 August, the event is expected to produce formulation of teaching standardisation, integrate studies in socio-humanities and science-technology, and synergy with business and industry world.
Speakers of the event will include Prof. Dr. I Dewa Putu Wijana, S.U., M.A. (UGM), Prof. Dr. Dadang Sunendar, M.Hum. (Head of Language and Book Agency), Prof. Dr. Yang Seung Yoon, Ph.D. (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Korea), Prof. Datuk Dr. Awang Sariyan (Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Malaysia), Dr. Sailal Arimi, M.Hum. (UGM), Dr. Liliana Muliastuti, M.Pd. ( APPBIPA Chairperson), Prof. Antonia Soriente (University of Naples Orientale, Italia), Dr. Adrian Budiman (ACICIS Resident Director, Australia), and Furihata Masashi, M.A. (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies).
Dr. Sailal Arimi, M.Hum from Inculs UGM mentioned the importance of making Indonesian language as an international language because it is already spoken in over 45 countries. It is taught in a number of countries, even in Vietnam it is the second language officially taught there.
“Strategically, the Indonesian or Malay Indonesian can be categorised as an international language because in ASEAN region, the language is the medium of instruction, whether in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and South Thailand, Brunei, South Philippines, and some diasporas. In Korea 3 universities conduct Indonesian language study programme, also in Tokyo University, Japan, and several universities in China such as Guangzhou University," she said.
While according to Dr. Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, it was a challenge as well as an opportunity to make the language international. Therefore, it should be enhanced internally. Foreign speakers should have competence in the language whilst in Indonesia.
“There ought to be internal enhancement. We have to be more proud speaking Indonesian than foreign languages,” she said.