Why do many Indonesians think that being able to speak English is smart/cool? Is it true that if you can speak English it means you are smart?

We have a 2-part question here. I am not sure that ‘many’ Indonesians do think that speaking English is smart or cool. Rather, I would say that some older Indonesians may see speaking English as smart or cool, but younger generations may have a different perspective.

BTW... I predict that within the next 12 years, as Indonesia becomes the world’s 5th largest economy These will be the 21 most powerful economies in 2030 , learning bahasa Indonesia will become a necessity... a ‘must’ for the global business community. Then it will be cool and smart for millions of people to speak bahasa Indonesia. Now that’s really, really cool!

First, let’s discuss if speaking English is ‘cool’. When I first came to live here over 16 years ago, many Indonesians had a kind of inferiority complex about themselves, especially when comparing their country to the US and European countries. Many of them saw the west as a ‘utopia’, a land of milk and honey, a place where people had money, good jobs, less pollution, better infrastructure, etc. Their perceptions at that time were in part based on reality. However, since the beginning of this century, there has been a shift in perceptions, now most Indonesians can easily access the internet, and can speak some English, albeit not fluently. Put it this way, speaking English was a relative novelty 15 to 20 years ago, but now as Indonesia is increasingly becoming part of the global village, more and more Indonesians read English text on their smart phones, listen and watch YouTube videos, etc.

So, is speaking English cool? Not really... it’s not longer a novelty, it’s an additional cultural practice which is becoming integrated into the Indonesian landscape. Listening, reading, speaking and even writing (texting) English has become a daily experience for millions of Indonesians who live in both rural and urban environments.

Why not look at speaking English, as a tool used to explore and communicate with a kaleidoscope of peoples, cultures and lifestyle. Is that cool? I would suggest that it’s more common sense, especially if you want to expand your worldview beyond the ‘kampung’ (village). How many Indonesians watch premier league football, international boxing, the Olympics, or other globally televised sports? Millions.

Second, let’s figure out if speaking English means we are smart?

Absolutely not! The second part of the question infers that anybody speaking English is smart. Just watch English native speakers engage in debate in Westminster or Washington, DC. Was invading Iraq, smart? Was banning free speech and blocking media coverage in the UK recently, smart? Is an Indonesian who can speak fluent English, but doesn’t care about his or her country, smart?

How about this...

My Indonesian mother-in law cannot read or write in any language... bahasa Indonesia, Jawa, Sunda, she simply never learned to read or write. Does that mean she’s not smart? I’ve lost count of how many times when I’m ‘pusing’ (stressed), and she taps me on the shoulder and quietly says, “Sudah kebaca deh apa yang ada dipikiran kamu” (“I know what you’re thinking”). Aduh! She’s so smart she sometimes tells me what I’m thinking, even before I start thinking about anything. And, she only knows about two and a half words in English!

Here’s when an Indonesian is smart when speaking English...

1). They do what they do best... welcome everybody with a smile, a handshake, and lots and lots of both wanted and unwanted advice.

2). Pick you up off the road after they’ve just knocked you off your bike and buy you a ‘teh botol’.

3). Apologize a 1000 times if they scratch your car, and if you’re lucky you will be invited to their house, and if you’re unlucky... will vanish into thin air.

4). Take you on a triple distance ‘jalan-jalan’ taxi ride and explain that the meter is broken.

5). Spend an hour trying to reprogram your phone when the ‘pulsa’ doesn’t work... no charge.

6). Tells you that their sister is looking for a husband if you look lost or lonely.

Seriously... so when is an Indonesian who speaks English really cool and smart?

7). When they love their country enough to care about the environment, their culture, their religion and each other.

8). When they treat every child as God’s gift, and invest quality education into their future.

9). When they believe in their country so much that the whole world wants to explore our stunning landscape, and hang out in a kampung warung (small shop) with the locals.

10). Doesn’t send the next Obama to the US, but votes him or her as their own President.

My apology, I almost forgot. For those Indonesians who don’t speak English, but do reflect the above 10 points... they are just as cool and smart.

So I’m lucky enough to live in this beautiful and crazy country, and I am privileged to teach English both in the classroom and online as an ESL teacher. If you want to improve your English and look cool... [email protected]For Masters and PhD students studying in overseas universities who are stuck, stressed out, or simply need a coach, check out PhD Thesis Writing Service | PhD Thesis Help & Proofreading I honestly believe that Indonesians are already cool and smart... they don’t want to tell anybody.

How else would a young democracy of 260 million people, a democracy less than 70 years old, be heading for 5th spot in the top 5 largest economies in the global rankings; this in 12 short years from now?

Are Indonesians cool and smart? If you still don’t know, ask the 1000s of $US-rich investors who are pouring into this country. They will tell you...

Never, ever give up, Indonesia has almost arrived, it’s just around the corner... be there when it happens!