Indonesian Language Department In China Growing

Nanchang, Jiangxi (Antara Bali) - The Indonesian language department in China grows from nine to 11 units along with the growing interest of the young generation.

"The interest of Chinese students to learn Bahasa Indonesia is getting higher so more campuses are establishing new major of it," Education Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing Priyanto Wibowo said to Antara in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province on Wednesday.

This year, two Chinese universities open major of Indonesian language namely Jilin Huaqiao University of Foreign Languages in Changchun City, Jilin Province and Qujing Normal College in Qujing City, Yunnan Province.

In 2016, there were also two universities opening an Indonesian department, namely Xi'an International Studies University in Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province and Guangzhou University of Foreign Studies in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province.

"So far there are 11 universities that have the Indonesian language as a new department," Wibowo said on the sidelines of a working visit in the capital of Jiangxi Province.

Those four new departments are in addition to seven units of Indonesian major previously established in Peking University (Beijing), Beijing Foreign Studies University (Beijing), Tianjin Foreign Studies University (Tianjin), Shanghai International Studies University (Shanghai), Guangxi University of Foreign Languages (Nanning, Guangxi), Guangxi University for Nationalities (Nanning, Guangxi) and Yunnan University for Minorities (Kunming, Yunnan).

However, the Indonesian department in Guangxi Normal University in Guilin City, Guangxi Province, was closed in 2015 because it was unable to compete with two campuses in the same province.

To support the development of Indonesian language learning process, Indonesian Embassy also provides textbooks to these campuses as well as helps bringing in teachers from several universities in Indonesia.

Wibowo's visit to Nanchang is in order to oversee the training activities of Indonesian teacher candidates and watch an art performance by Indonesian students.

In addition to being taught at higher education institutions, Bahasa Indonesia is also taught in Chinese courses and communities with teachers from Indonesian students. (WDY)