SDLC 105: Discussion Post #7

[Casey Murano]

Overall, things are going well. My Indonesian teacher is providing a helpful structure for progressing in the language. When I look back on my presentation, I agree that I am still on the right track and have been learning a lot from Farida. My speaking skills are improving, and I have been exposed to a lot of vocabulary, which I record in my language journal. My lesson plans have focused on sociolinguistic competence and personal and interaction functions. For example, in weekly cultural journal entries, I write reactionary responses to Indonesian sports, housing, and foods from my perspective. We practice the interaction function when trying to have conversations with one another. As a potential teacher, knowing how to communicate with students in a specific cultural context is key to being an effective teacher. I’m grateful for the culture classes and the practical vocabulary that we are learning, which will help me if I am an English Teaching Assistant in Indonesia. I have also been learning a lot about Indonesian Indigenous culture and the importance of language learning in general. I think these skills will be invaluable even after this semester of learning Indonesian. Overall, things are going well. My Indonesian teacher is providing a helpful structure for progressing in the language. When I look back on my presentation, I agree that I am still on the right track and have been learning a lot from Farida. My speaking skills are improving, and I have been exposed to a lot of vocabulary, which I record in my language journal. My lesson plans have focused on sociolinguistic competence and personal and interaction functions. For example, in weekly cultural journal entries, I write reactionary responses to Indonesian sports, housing, and foods from my perspective. We practice the interaction function when trying to have conversations with one another. As a potential teacher, knowing how to communicate with students in a specific cultural context is key to being an effective teacher. I’m grateful for the culture classes and the practical vocabulary that we are learning, which will help me if I am an English Teaching Assistant in Indonesia. I have also been learning a lot about Indonesian Indigenous culture and the importance of language learning in general. I think these skills will be invaluable even after this semester of learning Indonesian.  Since all our language courses have been on zoom, there are some cultural competency categories, like olfactory, artifact, and eye contact that may be different in the virtual world. I am excited that Farida will hopefully be on campus next semester so that we can communicate in person. She has offered some insights that connect to these categories. For example, Indonesians bathe every single day, which means smelling nice is probably a priority. Clothing also has significance - many women who identify as Muslim wear hijabs. It is important to wear long pants, especially when in places of worship. When learning vocabulary for clothing, I noticed that the word for “shorts” actually referred to short pants and not the above-the-knee shorts that people often wear in the United States. It seems like eye contact is important for communication through our lessons, but I think there may be a cultural norm of avoiding eye contact when greeting elders. I know honoring the hierarchy is at least somehow embedded in how Indonesians interact with each other. Since the language is quite simplified and people often talk in slang or shortened versions, reading between the lines and paying attention to body language is helpful for effectively communicating. For example, saving face is part of Indonesian culture, so people don’t always say what they mean for the sake of having a good impression. When I am speaking to Indonesians, I will also want to make sure that I am not too blunt with my comments so as not to be disrespectful. I think the key is to observe and listen first before jumping in blindly. I can also ask Farida if I have specific questions. Overall, learning Indonesian this semester has so far been an exciting opportunity to develop communicative competency across cultures. I am excited to continue learning Bahasa Indonesian!