During my time at the Australian National University (ANU), I have had the opportunity to take a wide range of courses that have truly enriched my understanding of the world. From regression analysis to foreign labour mobility, studying a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Development Studies has allowed me to learn diverse skills and topics. However, I would have to say that some of my most memorable learning experiences were in my language classes.

There are various ways that you can study a language at ANU, with almost 30 languages to choose from. Depending on your degree, you may be able to study a language as a major or minor or take individual classes as part of elective study. I personally chose to study the Indonesian language as a minor in my Development Studies degree.

I was drawn to Indonesian for several reasons. From a career perspective, I believed Indonesian language skills would help contribute to the Australia-Indonesian relationship in foreign policy work. But from a more personal perspective, I wanted to learn Indonesian to connect with my cultural background.

Being half Singaporean-Malay but growing up in Australia, I felt disconnected at times from my Malay/Indonesian heritage. However, after learning Indonesian, I have been able to speak with my relatives in Singapore and understand Malay and Indonesian culture more deeply.

My language classes at ANU were some of the most interactive and enjoyable classes that I’ve taken thus far. With multiple classes a week and a small teacher-student ratio, I was able to truly connect with my teachers and classmates.

Many of us started from Indonesian 1 and worked our way up to Indonesian 4, with some others continuing to advanced Indonesian levels. We bonded through our learning journey in this way and going from having no knowledge of the language to being able to converse with each other was a clear measure of our progress, which we helped each other achieve.

In 2023, I tested my language skills by participating in the ACICIS Development Studies Professional Practicum (DSPP). Under this study abroad program, I travelled to Indonesia to study at a university in Jakarta and interned at an NGO in Yogyakarta.

Partaking in the DSPP was an incredible experience and one of the best decisions I’ve made. I gained so much knowledge, met many wonderful people and experienced Indonesian life and culture first-hand.

Learning a language has been one of the highlights of my uni experience. It has given me practical skills, as well as a chance to connect with my culture, make friends and travel abroad. If given the opportunity in your degree, I would definitely recommend it!

By Hana Sawal