Enviro News Asia, Washington, D.C. — A vibrant atmosphere filled the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Washington, D.C. Citizens of the United States and members of the Indonesian diaspora in the United States showcased their proficiency in the Indonesian language. On that day, the Fall Semester 2025 online Indonesian language course officially came to a close. The program was organized by the Language Development and Fostering Agency of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Washington, D.C., and supported by the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA), and Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University (UIN) Yogyakarta.
The program was attended by 709 participants across 28 classes, ranging from beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, as well as early childhood, children’s, and youth classes, and was delivered by 18 professional Indonesian language instructors. Each class had a distinct learning focus, including pantun (traditional poetry), storytelling, songs, presentations on Indonesian themes, as well as performances of Balinese Gamelan as part of introducing the arts and culture of the Indonesian archipelago to the international community.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the United States, Indroyono Soesilo, emphasized that language and culture serve as vital instruments of Indonesian diplomacy in fostering mutual understanding among nations. He further noted that in 2025, UNESCO designated the Indonesian language as one of the official languages of the United Nations. In line with this, the Head of the Language Development and Fostering Agency, Hafidz Muksin, underscored the strategic role of Indonesian overseas missions in expanding Indonesian language learning for foreign speakers. Remarks were also delivered online by the Rector of the Bandung Institute of Technology, Tatacipta Dirgantara; the Rector of Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Nurhasan; and the Rector of Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University, Noorhaini Hasan.
The sounds of Balinese Gamelan and the Pendet dance performed by the KBRI Washington, D.C. gamelan group under the leadership of Nyoman Suadin further enlivened the event. It is worth noting that since December 15, 2021, gamelan has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The Balinese Gamelan Raga Kusuma has also previously showcased its artistry at the Millennium Stage of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, one of the world’s leading cultural institutions located in Washington, D.C., accompanying the Balinese wayang performance Sutasoma.
At the closing ceremony of the Indonesian Language Course, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Washington, D.C. received an award from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for achieving the highest number of participants in the management of a free online Indonesian language program by an Indonesian overseas mission.
This event reaffirmed the commitment of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Washington, D.C. to continue strengthening Indonesia’s educational and cultural diplomacy at the global level. (*)
