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Indonesian is a language spoken in Indonesia and is a working language in East Timor. Around 250 million people speak Indonesian as a first language. It belongs to the Malay family of languages. Commonly called Bahasa Indonesia [‘the language of Indonesia’].
This page provides access to online courses, Indonesian/English/Indonesian dictionaries, current events, cultural information, grammar, vocabulary activities, tutorials, podcasts & blogs, Free and Fee-based software, other selected resources and general information.
Included is a selection of novels set in Indonesia, for teenagers and older students. They are designed to develop an understanding of Indonesian life and culture and how people in Australia relate to this.
If you are aware of other quality resources - courses or specific language aspects, let the webmasters know, so they can be considered for inclusion.
Indonesian Language Courses
- Bahasa Indonesian in 7 Days
Audio included. The days are not considered to be linked directly. Also information regarding pronunciation. - Beginning Indonesian [Bahasa]
Linked to a Canadian University’s courses. All in Indonesian and uses lessons to enhance Indonesian course learning. - Indonesian Language Course
Lessons, grammar, texts, appendices at multiple levels. Free. From Wikibooks. - IndonesianLanguage.net
Indonesian course that is online and available in Bandung, West Java. Done through Skype online. Tailored courses to suit the individual and from 2 to 4 lessons per week. Several packages available. Note, this is fee-based. - Learning Indonesian for Travellers
‘In our course, you’ll learn Indonesian words and phrases from an Indonesian speaker. By paying for a lesson, you can download all of the PDF course materials. You’ll then have lots of opportunities to practice your Indonesian language with our Free online activities and games. We make learning Indonesian fun !’ - Learning Bahasa Indonesia
Basic introduction, some phrases, links to other sites. - Learn Indonesian at Bintang Bahasa
‘If you want to learn Indonesian you’ve come to the right place. We have material to help you learn Indonesian quickly and easily. This is the community area of Bintang Bahasa where everything is available Free of charge. What do you have to do to join ? Simply send us an email’.
Language Tools
Dictionaries
- IndoDic
Works to and from Indonesian. Gives several options for the selection in the other language. - Indonesian/English Dictionary
- Indonesian English Dictionary [Babylon]
Uses ‘Selected Indonesian English dictionaries with an unusual linguistic match and a large database which will certainly satisfy the most demanding users involved in the two languages’. - Indonesian/English Dictionary [Online]
- Indonesian Language Dictionary
Dictionary from Indonesian to English and reverse. - Kamus
Online dictionary. Downloadable version at Kamus Dictionary. - Seasite Online
Electronic dictionary.
General Sites
- Bahasa Indonesia
Links to language resources. - Digital Dialects : Indonesian
‘Features Free to use online games for learning languages. Language resources include games for learning phrases, numbers, useful words, spelling, verb conjugation and alphabets. Games use Macromedia Flash Player’. - Free Online Flashcards
About 3 000 flashcards from English to Indonesian, grouped under several headings. Links to Fee-based flashcard resources. - Indonesian [Bahasa Indonesia]
Introduction, the alphabet, pronunciation, links to further resources. - Indonesian Tutorial Index
Multiple sections. Introduction, vocabulary, grammar, the alphabet, basic phrases, more. - Language Learning Section
Multiple options grouped under Language Analysis, Vocabulary Building, Miscellaneous. 24 sections in all. - Siaran Radio Australia - Bahasa Indonesia
Practise your Indonesian Skills.
Grammar & Pronunciation
- Indonesian Grammar
Tata Bahasa. Use sections from the left menu. - Notes on Pronunciation
Done alphabetically, with examples.
Vocabulary
- Bahasa Indonesia for Travellers
‘Select a category of words and phrases’. Listen to sound files for selected words. - Basic Greetings and Vocabulary
Percakapan Dasar dan Kosa Kata. ‘Click on files to listen to the sounds’. - English-Indonesian Vocabulary Quizzes
‘Quizzes to Help You Learn and Review Vocabulary’. - Indonesian
35 Topics from Greetings to Rooms in the House. Each has online activities, PDF print activities. Languages Online, Victoria Education Department. - Indonesian LOTE Resources
4 Identikits to use and an index of Teaching ideas for using them. Tasmania. - Indonesian Vocabulary
Words with English translations. Games using selections from these. - Keluarga Saya
‘Students beginning the study of Indonesian learn about family members and how to ask and answer simple questions about the family’. Tasmania, WebCT. Requires Flash, Quicktime, Adobe Reader. - Languages Online
Victorian Education Department.‘Resources for language teachers and students. Game Maker templates enable teachers and students to build their own multimedia games and activities. Contains over 220 engaging interactive tasks and games that introduce, reinforce, recycle vocabulary. They are self-paced and self-correcting. Activities presented in 35 topic-based sections and include recordings by native speakers. Over 190 printable worksheets with a variety of guided speaking, reading, writing and research tasks to complement online activities’. 4 languages including Indonesian. - LingvoSoft Online PhraseBook
15 sub-directories covering the Basics to Calling Police and Sightseeing. - The Online Indonesian Phrasebook
‘A fun, Free, easy way to learn Indonesian. Our Indonesian phrasebook provides the phrases you need for situations from meeting people for the first time to looking for waves and falling in ’.
Note - you need Real Player to listen to our website.
Other Resources
Culture
- Indonesian Home Page
Links to information on Indonesian life. Of special interest would be the Culture section, covering Food & Batik to Panji Koming, a comic strip. - Wayang Kulit
Shadow Puppets. Use print versions [Word, PDF] to create your own shadow puppet theatre and puppets.
Novels
The novels listed are designed for students in the teenage years and adults. They cover many topics, but all are set in various parts of Indonesia and feature easy to understand characters. While needing to be assessed for your students, they could be used to expand an understanding of life and culture in Indonesia and how people in Australia relate to this. Where possible, links are to the specific book information on an author’s pages, or specific books are noted in the link provided. The author’s name is provided with each link.
- Cut Loose
Lucy Chesser. ‘A novel for young adults [15+]. It is set in Sumatra, Indonesia and follows the adventures of two young Australian brothers, Ethan, 14 and Jon, 19. It successfully evokes the rich texture of life in Indonesia : the everyday lives of the people who inhabit the land, drenching torrential rains, tropical rainforests, chaotic transport, Padang restaurants, the tourist industry, housing and more’. - Escaping Paradise
Warren Flynn. ‘Escaping Paradise follows the adventures of Nikita Scoperta, a Perth teenager visiting Bali with her mother. Their package tour to Nusa Dua quickly degenerates into a holiday in hell when Nicki is kidnapped by political activists. A terrifying journey across the island of Java ensues, taking the reader through a cross-section of contemporary Indonesian culture, seen through Nicki’s eyes’. - Indo Dreaminess
Neil Grant. ‘Indo Dreaming is a vivid and enigmatic novel for anyone who has the spirit of travel wedged in their soul. Grant’s ability to take the reader into the wild and foreign Indonesia is a delight’. - Senior Novels
Allan Baillie. Two novels relate to Indonesia. They are Treasure Hunters and Saving Abbie. Each is detailed on this site, with descriptors giving a summary of each novel, any awards, other items of information. - Steve Tolbert Novels
This author has two novels that relate to Indonesia. They are Escape to Kalimantan and Surfing for Wayan and Other Stories. Each is provided with a good summary of the storyline. These can be found by scrolling down the site page. - The Tiger
Sophie Masson. ‘The Tiger is a novel set in Java, the main island of Indonesia. Combining realistic description, mystery and the supernatural, it is a rich and complex novel. Nick and his family travel to Java for holidays and also to see where his father was born : and get caught up in a mystery whose roots go back thirty years before, to the troubled ’60’s in Indonesia. This novel, which has been very popular and widely reviewed, gives an interesting picture of Javanese culture, life and history’.
General Sites
- IALF - Links
Indonesia Australia Language Foundation. Briefly annotated links grouped in sections. - Indonesia
Includes For Teachers and Go Indonesia among other things. ‘The For Teachers section has been designed to provide a range of relevant, accessible and stimulating ideas for including the study of Indonesia in the curriculum areas of the Arts, English and Studies of Society and the Environment in upper primary [Years 3-6] and lower secondary [Years 7-9]’. The other section requires Flash, and visits several areas of Indonesia, using a range of activities. - Indonesian Children’s Games
‘The toys and the games that are described below are commonly seen and played by Indonesian children’. - Indonesian Internet Sites
National Library of Australia. Links grouped in directories such as Arts & Culture, Education, Government, regional areas, law, more. While not on language they help in establishing an understanding of the country and its culture. - Indonesian Language Resources …
Products and Services for Bahasa Indonesia. Fee-based but there are Some Free items. - New South Wales HSC ONLINE - Indonesian
While for the HSC, it provides revision on all aspects of senior secondary Indonesian. - SEAsite - Indonesia Home
Scroll down to the resources available, including grammar, vocabulary, culture, reading & conversation. - The Indonesian Studies Newsletter
Asian Studies Association of Australia. Links to articles, websites, recommended readings. - Warung Kopi
‘Conversation group for English speakers learning Indonesian and for Indonesian speakers learning English. A forum for practising language skills and friendly cultural and information exchange’.
Note, this is an age-restricted site and you have to sign in. - Years 1-10 Languages other than English
Sourcebook modules.
Podcasts, Blogs, Videos
- David Goldsworthy’s Indonesia Blog
A mix of information on Indonesia and personal experiences there. - Indonesian 101
‘Designed as a starting point for people who want to learn more about the Indonesian language. Links on the left contain English to Indonesian translations and other useful information about the Indonesian language’. - Indonesian iPod Language Guide
Get the Podcast or download various components including the Language Guide Script. - Indonesian Podcast
‘Improve your Indonesian language skills by listening to conversations about Australian culture’. - Learning Indonesian
‘Your fun and easy way to learn the Indonesian language at your own pace’. Both Free and Fee-based material.
Software
- Declan’s Indonesian FlashCards
‘Fully configurable audio-based Indonesian vocabulary flash-card program. Designed to help students learn a large number of Indonesian words as quickly as possible in a systematic but fun and simple way’. Fee-based. - Educational Freeware
‘Free Educational Software In Bahasa Indonesian’. Several programs, especially for younger students. - Gidic
‘A simple offline English-Indonesian and Indonesian-English dictionary application. This will help people search words and get the meaning quickly. It already supports audio pronunciation’. - Indonesian
Rosetta Stone. Software for learning at multiple levels. Fee-based. - Talk Now : Learn Indonesian
Primary.