Altissia’s Post

Language and Culture: Language is more than just words; it’s the key to understanding culture, history, and the way people see the world. In every corner of the globe, language and culture are intertwined, shaping how we communicate and interact. Whether describing shared experiences or cultural traditions, taking time to listen and ask questions is extremely valuable. In the native Cree language, for example, there are multiple words for "ice"—each referring not just to its form, but its color and safety. This nuanced understanding reflects the deep connection Cree people have with their environment. In Bahasa Indonesia, the word “pulang” means “to go home,” but it goes beyond just a physical location. *Pulang* conveys a sense of belonging, comfort, and emotional return. “Saya pulang”, simply means, I’m going home. Having had the privilege to live and learn in diverse cultures, I’ve realized how each language reveals unique perspectives and opens doors to new ways of thinking. It’s a reminder that lifelong learning isn’t just about formal education, but about immersing oneself in the richness of human experiences. Embracing diverse languages and cultures allows us to continuously grow, both professionally and personally. Let’s also remember the importance of resilience in this journey— as the Te Reo Māori phrase “kia kaha” reminds us, be strong, as we continue to learn, adapt, and honor the richness of the world around us! 🌍📚 #LanguageAndCulture #LifelongLearning #Diversity #CulturalAwareness #Growth #KiaKaha

The manifestation of persistence once again led me to the next achievement. The nature of not letting go of opportunities gave me a lot of happiness that can complete me in the process of achieving optimal self-actualization. 3 Minute-Thesis Presentation Competition gave me a place to develop knowledge and skills, especially related to how the research we do can be well understood by the communicant. Not only that, I also got the opportunity to measure my foreign language skills from this competition. There will be many other happinesses if you do not ignore the opportunities that exist and are alert in preparing a strategy to face them. Universitas Negeri Padang #competition #threeminutethesiscompetition #universitasnegeripadang

Is "bahasa rojak" really all that bad? 😬 . . . Today, I learnt of an interesting concept called INTERLANGUAGE or "bahasa antara". It is a common phenomenon that occurs while acquiring a second language. In Malaysia, this is most apparent through the use of Malaysian English, also known as Manglish. There is a widely held perception that somehow "bahasa rojak" (from rojak, to mix) is an abomination that threatens our mother tongue. Well, here's my take on "bahasa rojak" - there is a TIME and PLACE for it. Interlanguage or "rojak" is a universal, INEVITABLE phenomenon - wherever there are bilingual speakers, it is bound to happen. As Malaysians, we are all guilty of it. I am not a fan of an all-or-nothing mindset. You can uphold bahasa Melayu AND celebrate Malaysia's rich cultural diversity at the same time. "Bahasa rojak" is what makes us unique. Instead of trying to diminish it, we should acknowledge it as part of our heritage. Because nowhere else in the world will you hear the expression "Hey macha, you wanna go makan?" 🧡 Ok lah. Dont stress2, later muka kedut 😆. Bahasa rojak je pun. Jom tingkatkan penguasaan BM dan BI 😊. Pada masa yang sama, kita masih boleh meraikan kepelbagaian bahasa dan dialek masyarakat majmuk di negara kita.🧡 #bilingual #linguistics #sociolinguistics #codeswitching #interlanguage #colloquialism #esl #culture #malaysia #rojak #adibahwrites #litranslators

Sooooo.... I finally took a look (again) at one of the papers I wrote for the English in Diverse Contexts module when I was doing my master’s at University College London (UCL). This paper was written purely out of my curiosity about the position of English in Indonesia. Unlike our neighbors like Singapore, Malaysia, or Brunei, which had direct contact with English through British colonization, Indonesia was mostly under Portuguese and Dutch rule. But instead of making Portuguese or Dutch our compulsory subject, we chose… English? I also explored how English in Indonesia is seen as a valuable skill that not only provides more opportunities in the capital market but also boosts social status. I observed that people who speak English fluently are seen as more "modern and educated," while those who don’t are viewed as less "progressive??" Besides, the historical context of Indonesia is explored from both political and economic perspectives, starting from the colonial era and spanning into the present. Then, I spent hours talking to my professor, John O'Regan, and he recommended me to read through the ideas of Pierre Bourdieu and Edward Said to get better insights into my curiosity above! By the way, one thing that I noticed..... When I tried to find sources about language and culture within the context of Indonesia, I struggled a bit since there is not a lot of research about Indonesia in this area. This is why I focused on my country - hoping to contribute even a little?? If you are interested in learning more about the position of English in Indonesia, feel free to check out the paper here: https://lnkd.in/gaTTx-6M I am proud to say I got 100 out of 100! It was a mix of sleepless nights, tears, and endless curiosity that got me through it! :’) Happy reading!

"Gak bisa Bahasa Inggris mister..." This is something I hear all the time in Indonesia. In reality, so many people already have great language skills, but a lack of confidence holds them back from speaking. Fear of mistakes, embarrassment, or being judged creates a barrier that stops them from reaching their full potential. Making mistakes is a natural part of language learning. Once students realize it’s okay not to be perfect, they start to break through that barrier. They become more comfortable, more engaged, and more confident in their abilities. What’s most important in the classroom is creating a supportive and encouraging environment. Students need to feel safe to make mistakes, ask questions, and express themselves without fear. When that happens, real progress begins, and confidence starts to grow! Are you a business or school in the Surabaya area looking to improve English with a native speaker? Contact me to learn how PASS Education can help your team or students build their skills and confidence! #LearnEnglish #SpeakWithConfidence #NativeEnglishSpeaker #SurabayaEducation #PASSEducation

One year learning Indonesian with Yuliani Megantari. I love languages (I speak 5) and #learning a new language to me is like diving into another cultures' mind - its way of thinking, its way of constructing reality - it's like discovering another universe. 🌏 Even though Indonesian is grammatically easy, it is very challanging for me due to many new words that I most of the time cannot relate to anything I know. Except when I bump into some words that I categorize as colonial "gifts" from Portuguese (sepatu = shoe) or Dutch (wortel = carrot). Than there are words that just differ by a few letters and often have a completely different meaning. Words I still mix up 🤔 : mahal (= expensive) murah (= cheap) mudah (= easy) muda (= young) Maybe after I make this public, I will finally remember 😀 After this year I am getting better at talking and understanding slowly spoken Bahasa Indondesia. What is different to the times I learned my other languages: I miss the context, I am not submerged into the #culture and don't have the language around me 24/7. That's why I am extra happy to have found my teacher Yuliani to at least once a week get me into the context. BTW, I am also using Duolingo and (did you know? ☝ ) the Indonesian Embassy is generously offering free classes to learn Bahasa Indonesia. I am very confident, that next time I will be in Indonesia I will have even more conversations with the locals - can't wait! Dispite all the challanges, I am still super motivated. After each lesson I can literally feel my neurons making new connections inside my brain. 💡 That's learning, that's #growth!

Third Bahasa lesson… Hair almost falling off My dear Malaysian friends, I’ve a question. Why are there at least 2-4 translation variations in Bahasa for many English words? You - Awak | Engkau | Kamu Later - Kemudian | nanti Know - tahul | kenal Want - mau | nak Not - bukan | tidak Train - Tren | kereta api And think I gave my Cikgu a mini heart attack when I was asked to translate this sentence “Do you want to drink coffee?” The right answer: “Kamu mau minum Kopi?” My smart Alec conversational version: “Eh! Kopi?” Despite my brain running around in circles last night, I’ve been enjoying this journey so far 1️⃣ You see Culture through language. Bahasa Melayu is a beautiful and emotionally expressive language. Mandarin is less expressive, but each word contains philosophical depth English…honestly, it seems a rather flat language. Not expressive like Bahasa, not too deep like Mandarin 2️⃣ Integration I find myself using broke bits of Bahasa in Malaysia now. Still don’t fully understand the Macik at the coffee shop. But she smiles knowing this orang Singapura is trying 3️⃣ Community My class consists of a 50+ year old Malay Muslim Cikgu, a 20+ year old Brazilian, and a teenage Chinese Malaysian who grew up in International School. I get to speak to them, and understand their lives, the lens on how they view Malaysia through their cultural backgrounds… …and even sharing with them the lens of a Singaporean (which was formerly a part of Malaysia). Class ended. My brain is frazzled, but my soul is enriched. Saya rakyat Singapura dan cinta Bahasa Melayu. PS: to my Bahasa-speaking friends, please feel free to clarify my above questions OR even correct my Bahasa sentences yah? 🤣 #BrandcoachlearnsMalay

Let's learn Bahasa Indonesia in more exciting ways, which I will share with you some uniqueness of Indonesian culture and also useful tips and tricks to understand this language faster.

A month ago, a friend asked me a difficult question in Mandarin and I froze. I quickly switched to English because I couldn’t articulate my thoughts clearly. This is how I fixed it: I started a Chinese speaking challenge 10 days ago: speak Chinese every day, and record myself every day. And the results have been surprising. After just two days, the improvement in speaking confidence was night and day. I didn’t suddenly acquire a ton of new words, but the shift in how I felt about speaking Chinese was huge. Coincidentally yesterday I was asked a very similar question to 1 month ago and this time I was able to express my ideas much more clearly. The feeling was amazing. Just 10 days and the results are real. Not only because I could answer the question and see real progress, but because I know its the result of the consistency I’ve put into my study. So I don't see any reason to stop. Confidence comes from what you do consistently. If you want help building a speaking habit and improving your spoken Mandarin... I send tips & guides to a small group of learners every day. Join for free here: www.danyopang.com

"After 8 months of dedicated learning, I’m thrilled to see my student confidently ready to visit Indonesia! 🌏✈️ From mastering the basics to understanding the cultural nuances, it's been a rewarding journey. Wishing her an enriching experience as she immerses herself in the beautiful language and culture of Indonesia! 🇮🇩 #LanguageJourney #BIPA #IndonesianLanguage #CulturalExploration"