UI hosts language congress

JAKARTA (JP): A total of 136 delegates from 22 countries, including Indonesia, will attend an international congress on teaching Indonesian to foreigners, from Monday to Wednesday, at the campus of the University of Indonesia in Depok, about 30 km from here.

Organized by the university, the three-day congress is scheduled to be officially opened today by President Soeharto at the State Palace, the university announced in a written statement.

The congress will serve as the most opportune gathering for experts in the teaching of Bahasa Indonesia to foreigners, the statement said. The experts could be either Indonesian or foreign nationals.

Given the growing popularity of Indonesian in foreign countries, the congress is expected to be able to formulate the most effective teaching method for foreigners.

Currently, Bahasa Indonesia is being taught at schools and universities in 35 countries. (bas)