Easy to Learn

Unlike Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, Indonesian is not written in an unfamiliar script that can take years to master. Instead of thousands of difficult ideograms or multiple-character syllabary sets, it uses Roman script, just like English and the European languages.

Cultural Diversity

Indonesia is a country rich in cultural diversity with hundreds of different ethnic groups. Each group has its own unique traditions and arts, making Indonesia a country of interest to students of anthropology, ethnomusicology, theater, and art.

Political Change

Indonesia has undergone tremendous political change in recent years, moving toward greater freedom and democracy for its citizens, making it a nation of intense interest for political scientists.

Religious Diversity

Indonesia has the largest Moslem population of any country in the world. At the same time, it is a country that is diverse in religion.

Linguistic Diversity

Over 700 different languages are spoken by some 300 ethnic groups in Indonesia including about 2.5 million ethnic Chinese. Yet, every Indonesian also masters the Indonesian language known as bahasa Indonesia. The languages of both Indonesia and Malaysia are rooted in the Malay language and are hence mutually intelligible.

Stunning Beauty

Last but not least – Indonesia is also a vast archipelago of dramatic natural beauty. Pictured is Lake Toba in North Sumatra, the largest lake of Southeast Asia.

Get Started

Learn the Indonesian-Malay Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa

Easy to learn

1Indonesian is easy to learn. Within a month of beginning the program, you will find that you are already able to have some simple conversations in Indonesian as well as to write short compositions using the language with no complicating factors or memorisation nightmares.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

2Indonesia is a country rich in cultural diversity with hundreds of different ethnic groups. Each group has its own unique traditions and arts, making Indonesia a country of interest to students of anthropology, ethnomusicology, theater, and art.

DIVERSE in Religion

3 Indonesia has the largest Moslem population of any country in the world. At the same time, it is a country that is diverse in religion. World religions include Hindu, Buddhist, Catholic and Protestant. Kaharingan, the religion of the Dayak peoples of Kalimantan has gained official recognition as a religion.

Developing Nation

4 Indonesia is a developing nation rich in natural and human resources and promising economic potential, making it a country of interest to economists, geographers, international businessmen and women, and development workers.