Foreign languages

Foreign languages

I read in your paper dated May 17, 1996, an article called
"Secondary school English classes not effective," and would like
to make the following comments.

It must be clearly understood that Indonesia does not have or
practice a second language. The country recognizes only one
language -- Bahasa Indonesia. English is a foreign language, like
Dutch, German, Japanese, Mandarin and Arabic, but English is the
first foreign language used officially and for foreign
communication. Consequently it is expected that the educated
public should be able to speak, write, read and understand the
English language properly.

The topics and material discussed in the seminar mentioned in
the article are well known to all levels of Indonesia's educated
community, including the government, educational institutions and
individuals. There is no need to hold seminars again and again to
discuss the same issues and problems, which is only a waste of
money, time and energy.

It would be far more effective if speakers were to sit down
together and analyze the difficulties. They could then conduct
experiments to test their opinions and submit the results to the
government for further study.

OEMAR JOENANI

Bandung, West Java