'Encouraging English fluency is a must'

JAKARTA: A one-day seminar recommended on Wednesday that the government declare English a second language in an effort to encourage fluency in English among Indonesians.

The seminar, organized by PT Offistarindo Adhiprima, said the government should take such a step because Indonesians trailed far behind Malaysians, Singaporeans and Filipinos in spoken English abilities.

Legislator Taufikurrahman Saleh, who chairs the House of Representatives commission for educational affairs, opened the event, and speakers included Donald B. Gibb of the U.S.-based Rosetta Stone Software Inc. and Duque Hong of Hong Kong-based Media International Inc. -- JP