T

hese are comments to the article entitled '€œRI records third-highest English language proficiency in SE Asia'€ (The Jakarta Post, Jan. 30).

My suggestion is for the government to take the first step. Give a second language allowance/bonus to all those on the front lines, from immigration officers at entry points to inner city staff who face the public on a daily basis.

For example, if an immigration official at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport has an English proficiency certificate issued by the British authorities, he or she will get an added allowance to their pay. If he speaks four or five languages, his pay may well be doubled.

In no time, most of these people may be hijacked by large corporations to fill very lucrative job positions where their language skills come in very handy.

Language is a gift for these individuals and indeed for the nation. Most surveys are '€œperceived'€ thinking and prejudicial at best, language (or the lack of it) adds to that problem.

In Malaysia for example, for political reasons English is de-emphasized and they produce a lot of graduates who do not speak English at all. Luckily, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad replaced Hussein Onn and English came back.

Indonesians are a smart lot who can and do learn very fast. I have sat with many young ladies in airplanes from the rice fields of Central and East Java who speak impeccable English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

They went to Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong without a word of these languages and came home for vacations speaking fluently in these languages.

Pauloh
Jakarta

I am aware of the Indonesian language test but as yet have not seen any indication of the content. They said originally it would be finished in March.

This is a great step forward for non-Indonesian teachers, educators, lecturers and businesspeople. This test should allow us to compete in the local job market. We will be allowed to instruct in universities, colleges and government schools.

Business leaders will have the ability to hire/fire local people and not need a local intermediary.

Educators will not require translators in class with them. The number of Indonesian English teachers can be reduced as a native will be able to handle both classes.

Foreigners that make extra salaries will finally be justified in what they earn.

On the flip side, Indonesian educators will be needed in schools, colleges and universities in other countries. If the Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry doesn'€™t stuff this up then maybe Indonesia can catch up to Malaysia in five or six years.

When I talk to people overseas about the low quality of Indonesian students it makes me sad and annoyed. Hopefully, this year we may see the reversal of this trend.

Pentel
Jakarta

I have no idea where or how they arrived at this conclusion. While at business senior-level English proficiency ranges from good to excellent and is hardly likely to be doodling with an European Franchise Federation (EFF) survey, middle management is generally abysmal and entry level is laughable.  

A major stumbling block to entry level employees is their complete inability to read and understand simple technical and business guides in English, which like it or not is the language of business. Like Jakartans, I remain a sceptic.  

It is important to note the above is not a slur on Indonesians as it constantly amazes me that even the most remote village will have any number of people fluent in two or more languages.  

Unfortunately, the language of business and employment is rarely one of them.

Rusty
Jakarta