Bahasa Indonesia Gains Popularity in the US Through BIPA Programme
Indonesian language diplomacy in the United States is showing positive development, marked by the participation of hundreds of learners in the Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing (BIPA) programme for the Spring 2026 Semester. The activity, organised by the Indonesian Embassy in Washington D.C. together with the Language Development and Fostering Agency of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, was attended by 439 adult learners and 178 children and teenage participants.
In a press release received on Wednesday, the participants showcased their Indonesian language skills through speeches, poetry readings, pantun, and Indonesian songs to mark the close of the Spring 2026 Semester. Several participants recited poetry by Sapardi Djoko Damono, whilst another group performed the song ‘Tahu Tempe, Kacang Dele’.
Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Indroyono Soesilo said the language skills demonstrated by the participants are part of Indonesia’s soft diplomacy efforts on the international stage. ‘The Indonesian language skills demonstrated by the participants are part of Indonesia’s soft diplomacy efforts to further introduce Indonesian language and culture to the international community, particularly in the United States,’ he stated. According to Indroyono, the position of Bahasa Indonesia continues to strengthen globally since it was designated an official language in the UNESCO forum in 2023.
Meanwhile, Head of the Language Development and Fostering Agency, Hafidz Muksin, noted that the use of Bahasa Indonesia in international forums is also continuing to grow. He cited the official speech by Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti at the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in 2025, which was delivered in Bahasa Indonesia. Hafidz also pointed out that Law Number 24 of 2009 targets Bahasa Indonesia to become an international language by 2045.
Beyond various countries, the use of Bahasa Indonesia is also growing in a number of international institutions, including within the Vatican. The BIPA programme in the United States is conducted online and is open to high school students, university students, researchers, professionals, and foreign language instructors. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme has reached participants from various regions across the United States, including through a BIPA programme at Yale University that attracts students and lecturers from cross-disciplinary fields. For those interested, registration for the Autumn 2026 BIPA Programme will soon open through the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The programme is scheduled to commence in September 2026.