Master the Indonesian Language with Engaging Lessons Taught by a Native Speaker | Based in Jakarta

Find out more about Sulistianing Ambar

• 1) Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I speak Indonesian fluently because it is my native language—I was born and raised in Indonesia. However, teaching it to foreigners has made me rediscover the language from a new perspective, almost like learning it all over again.

• 2) Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  A great emblematic figure of Indonesian culture and language is R.A. Kartini, a national hero. She advocated for education and women’s rights in Indonesia during the colonial period. Her letters, written in formal and expressive Indonesian and Dutch, reflect the richness of Indonesian thought and the journey of the language during its development.

• 3) Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  I love the word “gotong royong”, which means working together or mutual cooperation. It reflects a core value in Indonesian culture—community over individualism. It’s not just a word, but a way of life. You see it in villages, neighborhoods, and even national policies.

• 4) Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Speaking Indonesian matters to me because it's not just a communication tool—it's a cultural identity. As a teacher, helping others learn it also bridges cultures, builds understanding, and opens up Indonesia to the world.

• 5) What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  The main difficulty for many learners is the contextual nature of Indonesian. Since there are no verb conjugations or tenses, learners must rely on context and adverbs of time, which can be confusing at first. Also, informal and formal variations can surprise learners.
  
  What helps? Listening to native speakers, watching Indonesian shows, and practicing with locals. Immersion is key!

• 6) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  One of my students once asked me about the root word of melakukan. He guessed it was laku, because in the dictionary laku means "sold out" or "in demand". He was surprised when I explained that he was actually correct—laku is the root, but in this context, it doesn't mean “sold out”.
  In Indonesian, laku has several meanings depending on context. As a root word, it can mean to act, to behave, or to carry out. When we add the prefix me- and suffix -kan, it becomes melakukan, which means “to do” or “to carry out an action.”
  It was a great teaching moment about how a single root word can have multiple meanings, and how affixes change the function and nuance of a word. The student learned that Indonesian vocabulary is full of surprises—and so did I!

• 7) How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  Every time I visit different parts of Indonesia—like Sumatera, Jawa, Jakarta,—I learn new dialects, accents, and expressions. Traveling in Indonesia shows how diverse the language is. Even though we speak Bahasa Indonesia, local flavor always adds richness to the experience.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I believe I’m a “Superprof” not just because I know the grammar or vocabulary, but because I can explain it clearly, adapt to different students, and bring cultural insight into the learning process. I focus on real communication, not just theory. I make language learning feel relevant and enjoyable.