Indonesian Language and Gamelan Flourish in Melbourne

The story of Kasenya Grant proves that Indonesia-Australia relations are not solely about official diplomacy between nations.

Kasenya is a teacher who has taught the Indonesian language at Brunswick North West Primary School for 11 years, having previously taught Science.

Kasenya’s journey with the Indonesian language began 30 years ago when she taught at a high school in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. At that time, she could not speak Indonesian at all and had to learn from books and her own students.

Kasenya admits that she learned the most from the children in Flores, as they were not hesitant to correct her mistakes and did not embarrass her when she mispronounced something. Two years of teaching in Flores formed the foundation of Kasenya’s language skills to this day.

After returning to Australia, Kasenya went a long time without using Indonesian due to a lack of opportunity. However, her longing for the language grew until she eventually had the chance to relearn it through a government programme.

Now in her classroom, her students, most of whom are not of Indonesian descent, are very enthusiastic. Kasenya mentions that they particularly enjoy lessons about culture, especially foods such as nasi kuning and the experience of eating directly with their hands.

According to Kasanya, her students enjoy comparing their own family eating habits with those in Indonesia. Through these comparisons, they learn that every culture has its own rules of etiquette, even if the methods differ.

Kasenya hopes that her students will understand one important lesson: when encountering a new culture, it is best to observe before judging. In her view, that attitude is just as important as mastering Indonesian vocabulary.

Unfortunately, challenges remain. Kasenya only teaches for one hour per week, and the schedule is often disrupted by sports days or school excursions, meaning her students only receive about 32 sessions per year.

Music as an entry point