Indonesia has more than 300 ethnic groups and they each speak a different local language, e.g. Sundanese in West Java or Balinese in Bali. Indonesians do not understand the local language of other islands in most cases. That is why the Indonesian language, also known as Bahasa Indonesia, became the nation’s official language and it enables the inhabitants of these 17,000 islands to communicate with each other. Because of this, Indonesian is a relatively simple language; it is not a tonal language, it uses the Roman alphabet, the pronunciation is similar to the German language, and the grammar rules are quite straightforward.

Currently, the Language Center at the University of Passau offers three Indonesian courses i.e. Grundstufe 1 (level A1 according to CEFR) Grundstufe 2 (level A2 according to CEFR) and Aufbaustufe (level B1 according to CEFR).

While students learn the basic and survival language like getting to know each other, asking for directions, ordering from a restaurant, and other daily conversations in the basic courses, the advanced course offers various topics that suit the interests and needs of the students. In the advanced-level course, students can discuss a thought-provoking topic about Indonesian culture, current politics, or issues on the environment and sustainability in a relaxed classroom environment.

Please note: The Language Center offers the Grundstufe 1.1 course ONLY during the Winter Semester. If you have no previous knowledge, you should take the course in the winter semester.

For further information, you can visit Sprachenzentrum or contact the lecturer directly here.