ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Hundreds of foreign diplomats are busy taking Indonesian language classes.
This can be seen from their enthusiasm when taking part in the Indonesian Language Program for Foreign Diplomats. More than one hundred foreign diplomats, including Ambassador level, enthusiastically participated in the program.
The opening of the program was held jointly by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology and the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Jakarta on Tuesday, February 20 2024.
Belarusian Ambassador to Indonesia H.E. Raman Ramanouski expressed his motivation for joining the program.
“I really like learning foreign languages, this is a good opportunity for me to improve my foreign language skills,” said the Ambassador, who turned out to be a polyglot, as quoted from a broadcast by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Another motivation for the Algerian ambassador H.E. Hassane Rabehi. “My wife and I will put our hard work into learning Indonesian language through this program.
“Learning the language of the country where we are assigned is certainly very useful for carrying out our duties, especially for our public diplomacy at various levels of Indonesian society,” he said.
The Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Siti Nugraha Mauludiah, who opened this program, also validated this.
“Proficiency in Indonesian language allows diplomats from friendly countries to interact with Indonesian society more effectively. Apart from increasing public diplomacy efforts, this will certainly create a positive image and foster better relations between communities,” he said.
According to Nining, studying Indonesian language is not just to be able to communicate, but through knowledge of Indonesian, diplomats will be able to more easily understand Indonesia’s very ‘intricate’ traditions and culture.
“Mastery of Indonesian language will also make it easier for foreign diplomats to understand the fabric of local politics and economics,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Head of the Language Development and Empowerment Agency, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, Prof. E. Aminudin Aziz, MA., Ph.D., emphasized that the Indonesian Language Program for Foreign Diplomats is one of the efforts to internationalize Indonesian.
“The opportunity for Indonesian language to become an international language is very open because the Indonesian language system is relatively easy to learn. Currently, Indonesian language learning for foreign speakers (BIPA) has also been held by 428 institutions throughout the world,” he added.
As a reference, the Indonesian Language Program for Foreign Diplomats is one of the flagship programs, a collaboration between the Directorate General of Information and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Language Development and Empowerment Agency of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology.
Currently, the Indonesian language program has been attended by 119 diplomats from 49 countries and 2 international organizations. Among those who appear to be taking part are the Ambassadors of Belarus, Algeria, Armenia, Argentina, Ukraine and the Philippines.
After opening on February 20 2024 and followed by a placement test on the same day, participants are scheduled to start learning on March 3 2024.
Apart from internationalizing Indonesian, teaching Indonesian language to diplomats from friendly countries has several main objectives. The various aspects targeted include aspects of diplomacy, communication and cultural understanding.
Improving the ability of foreign diplomats to communicate effectively with officials and Indonesian society in general certainly has many strategic values. Apart from enabling foreign diplomats to understand the local context in carrying out diplomatic duties better, this also plays a role in facilitating the formation of positive interpersonal relationships, as well as building the basis for better bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and the countries represented by the foreign diplomats. (AT Network)
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