We’re asking students, recent grads, teachers, and counselors five questions on how languages play a role in shaping personal and professional success…
Meet Betty—a CLS & Boren alumna who earned degrees in Political Science & Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Public Policy (International Economic Development) at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Beyond the language itself, the act of studying a language and immersing yourself completely has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
1. Please tell us a little about your earliest experiences with languages at home or school. When/how did you begin learning Bahasa Indonesian?
My father is from the South Pacific Island Nation of Papua New Guinea, so I grew up hearing him speak his native language of Tok Pisin. He never formally taught us the language, so I consider myself a heritage speaker of Tok Pisin (I can listen and read, but can’t really create my own sentences).
In middle school and high school I took Spanish, but never had an opportunity to use it outside of a classroom setting.
I started learning Indonesian during undergrad at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. I was interested in the Southeast Asian Studies major, and it had a language component. I remember meeting with one of the Indonesian language instructors, Mbak Sakti, who strongly encouraged me to try Indonesian and even mentioned the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to me. I started in my second year of undergrad and took language classes throughout the rest of my time at UW-Madison. I also participated in UW-Madison’s Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute (SEASSI).
2. As an undergraduate, you participated in both the CLS and the Boren National Security Flagship Language Initiative to Indonesia: What would you say was your favorite part of these experiences?
My favorite part of these immersive experiences abroad were all of the unique cultural opportunities I was given. These are the sorts of opportunities you cannot get as a tourist to a country, and they are also the sorts of opportunities that deepen your understanding of the country beyond its language.
3. Could you share a moving, humorous, or memorable anecdote about an interaction or experience using your language skills?
Some of my Boren cohort and I decided to return to Indonesia in 2023 to attend the wedding of one of our cohort members. We had just finished 35+ hours of straight travel and arrived in the early afternoon. I hadn’t thought I would have to use my language so early into the journey, but our friend had coordinated a driver to pick us up from the airport and bring us to our hotel, and then to the wedding house for pre-wedding festivities.
The driver didn’t speak much English, and my Indonesian was rusty after three years of not taking classes, but I remember immediately jumping back into the language and trying my best. I was really surprised at how much I was able to communicate despite extreme tiredness and jet lag!
Even if you don’t end up in a career where you use your language every day, or aren’t able to keep up with intensively studying it, the language has funny ways of making its way back into your life. You can also surprise yourself with how much of the language becomes ingrained in your brain, and how easy (at times) it can be to pull it out when the situation requires it.
4. How have language and/or cultural skills enhanced your internship, fellowship, or other professional experiences?
Speaking Indonesian has been a great point of connection for me in internships, grad school, and my career in general. It’s not too common to speak Indonesian in the United States, and it has started a lot of conversations for me that have spiraled into finding other points of connection. The language has allowed me to do desk research in multiple languages and understand nuances that just do not translate to English. It’s also helpful to make sure I keep my perspectives broad and not focus too much on the United States. Having connections to other countries means that I am always thinking cross-culturally and internationally about any major news or political events.
5. Have you experienced challenges in your language journey? How have you addressed them to keep going: Any advice for fellow learners?
Beyond the language itself, the act of studying a language and immersing yourself completely has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. As a U.S. citizen, it’s given me so much empathy and understanding for not just my father, who came to this country as an immigrant and had to assimilate to a completely new culture, but for all international students and immigrants in this country.
Every day is a series of 100 little challenges when you are learning a new language. Figuring out how to communicate that your ATM card was eaten by the machine at a bank, or trying to get a dress made and communicating your preferences to the seamstress. Many everyday occurrences that you take for granted in your native language become much trickier in a world language, something you don’t completely realize until you start learning a new language yourself.
The only piece of advice I have for fellow language learners is to push through the discomfort and unfamiliarity and frustration you will undoubtedly feel on your language learning journey, because the experience, friendships, and life lessons you learn along the way are always worth it.
BONUS Question: Have you got a favorite word or expression in Indonesian? What is it, what does it mean, and why did you choose it?
I like the word “samudra” which means ocean or sea. I think the word has Sanskrit roots, but I like samudra because it reminds me of Indonesia’s beauty and it’s just a fun word to say! I have very nice memories by the water in Indonesia.
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