Enviro News Asia, Washington, D.C. — A total of 617 Indonesian language learners across the United States concluded the Spring 2026 semester with a virtual showcase highlighting their language proficiency and cultural appreciation. The event, held on 7 June 2026, was organized by the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C. in collaboration with the Language Development and Fostering Agency under Indonesia’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
The participants consisted of 439 adult learners and 178 children and teenagers enrolled in the Indonesian for Foreign Speakers (BIPA) program. During the online event, students demonstrated their language skills through speeches, storytelling, poetry recitations, singing, and traditional pantun performances in Indonesian.
Several participants performed works by renowned Indonesian poet Sapardi Djoko Damono, while others sang Indonesian songs, reflecting the cultural dimension of the language-learning program. Organizers noted that the performances showcased significant progress achieved over one academic semester.
Indonesian Ambassador to the United States, Indroyono Soesilo, welcomed the students’ achievements and described the program as an important instrument of cultural and linguistic diplomacy.
According to the ambassador, the initiative supports Indonesia’s efforts to promote its national language internationally, particularly in the United States. He highlighted that Indonesian gained recognition as an official language of UNESCO proceedings in 2023, strengthening its global profile.
Head of Indonesia’s Language Development and Fostering Agency, Hafidz Muksin, emphasized the government’s long-term objective of elevating Indonesian to the status of an international language by 2045, in accordance with Law No. 24 of 2009 concerning the National Flag, Language, State Symbol, and National Anthem.
Muksin also noted that Indonesia’s Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu’ti, delivered a speech in Indonesian during the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in 2025, marking another milestone in the international promotion of the language.
The BIPA program in the United States is delivered entirely online and serves learners from diverse backgrounds, including school students, university students, researchers, professionals, and language educators. Participants can enroll in beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level courses.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the program has been conducted virtually, enabling broader participation across the United States. One notable example is the Indonesian language program at Yale University, which has attracted students and faculty from disciplines such as engineering, psychology, law, biology, business, and political science.
Organizers believe similar programs could be expanded to more universities across the United States to further strengthen educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Registration for the Fall 2026 BIPA program is expected to open soon through the official website of the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C., with classes scheduled to begin in September 2026. (*)
