Mitchell Garland is a New Colombo Plan mobility grant recipient from The University of Western Australia. Mitchell undertook the Indonesian Language Short Course at Satya Wacana University in Salatiga during the winter university break in 2018.
Q: Why did you decide to undertake ACICIS’ Indonesian Language Short Course?
I decided to undertake the ILSC because I have always loved studying Indonesian, and I felt that this gave me the opportunity to really improve my language skills, especially by talking to locals. I also decided to do the language short course because the other times I had been to Indonesia was either with family or with my high school, so I wanted the chance to be able to go out and explore it by myself, and meet new people.
Q: What do you find to be the most challenging about the ILSC?
So far, the most challenging thing about the ILSC is sometimes the workload, having to do assignments each night. However, if you stay on top of them and don’t fall behind, it is very manageable.
Q: How will your proficiency in Indonesian Language gained through the Indonesian Language Short Course influence your future career or study?
I think my proficiency in the Indonesian language will dramatically increase, because it’s a lot different speaking in class with teachers that try to make it easier for you to understand, compared with locals who actually speak fast and use slang etc.
Q: Have you had previous experience learning Indonesian in Australia? If so, how different is in-country Indonesian language learning to your previous experiences? If not, how do classes in Indonesia compare to classes in Australia?
Yes I have, and it’s a lot different because the classes here are a lot more interactive (especially the interviewing), and it gives you a chance to actually chat with the locals which I am loving!!
Q: Would you like to return to Indonesia for future study or work?
Yes definitely!
