Language Classes: Introductory to Advanced

AIAV’s language classes are held weekly on Tuesday evenings from 6.30 to 8.30 pm (with a 15-minute break) in Hawthorn.

Depending on the enrolments each term, there are six to eight levels of classes, catering to a wide range of language abilities.
Note: you must already be an AIAV member to register for classes, if you have not joined yet, you can click here to do so.  
To register and enrol for the upcoming term of Bahasa Indonesia classes, online click here. 

Introductory class

This class for beginners is useful for those who want to eventually progress towards fluency but in the meantime would like to acquire some travel basics. This means paying attention to pronunciation of the language and learning greetings, exclamations, terms of address, family relationships, eating, public transport, health, shopping and physical activities. It is essential that participants in the beginners class attend from the first week of term.

Post-introductory classes

These two classes are conducted at more or less the same level for participants who have some familiarity with Indonesian but are not yet ready to proceed to the sub-intermediate or intermediate class. These classes are still conducted in English, however, students are encouraged to write and speak in Indonesian during class.

Sub-intermediate and intermediate classes

In these classes instruction occurs in both languages, frequently Indonesian followed by an explanation in English. Conversation covers a range of topics, enabling acquisition of vocabulary suited to all sorts of daily activities. Learning is aided by occasional role-playing and the use of a range of materials including textbooks, media articles, films, poetry and songs.

Advanced class

The advanced class is particularly useful for teachers of Indonesian in Australian schools seeking reinforcement in an adult conversational context and for others outside the teaching profession who wish to maintain or improve an already good standard of Indonesian. The advanced classes are conducted almost entirely in Indonesian, with resort to English only to aid explanation or understanding of finer points of grammar or vocabulary. Material covered includes print and video current affairs, feature articles dealing with political, social and economic issues, advertising, Indonesian films, poetry and popular music. Cross-cultural discussion in Indonesian is a regular feature.

Term dates

Classes follow Victorian school term dates. Dates for 2018 are listed below:

Term	Number of sessions	Start date	End date
Term 1	8 sessions	6 February	27 March
Term 2	10 sessions	17 April	19 June
Term 3	10 sessions	17 July	18 September
Term 4	9 sessions*	9 October	11 December

*No class Melbourne Cup Day, 6 November

Fees

Language class participants must enrol and pay class fees before the start of term.

Class fees are $35.00 per 2-hour session. All participants are required to be members of AIAV (for insurance purposes). Other attractions of membership include monthly conversation evenings (Malam Ngobrol), talks, dinners, the monthly AIAV News and the AIAV’s own gamelan orchestra, Permai.

A discount of 10% is available to participants who pay in advance for a full term at least 10 days before the commencement of classes.

This discount does not apply if participants are attending and paying for fewer than a full term of classes, due to starting the term late or planned absences. Payment cannot be made in instalments and there is no concessional rate. Full and discount rates for 2016 are shown below.

Term	Number of sessions	Full rate	Earlybird rate (after 10% discount)
Term 1	8 sessions	$280.00	$252.00
Term 2	10 sessions	$350.00	$315.50
Term 3	10 sessions	$350.00	$315.00
Term 4	9 sessions	$315.00	$283.50

Participants who know in advance that they cannot attend classes on specific dates should contact one of the AIAV members listed below to discuss payment.

Refunds are not made for casual absences. Withdrawing from classes qualifies the participant for a credit for one of the following two terms, calculated at 50% of the unused class fees.

The AIAV requires a phone number and email address for each participant in case of class cancellations. Please advise your teacher in advance if you cannot attend a particular class.

Click here to enrol in the upcoming term of language classes.  

Textbooks

Except for the introductory and the two most advanced classes, the textbook prescribed is Basic Indonesian by Stuart Robson and Yacinta Kurniasih (publisher: Tuttle, 2009). These books and other resources such as dictionaries are available from Nusantara Indonesian Bookshop of Croydon, which operates a stand in the foyer of the venue from 6.00 pm on the second Tuesday evening of each term. The introductory class and advanced class use handouts provided by the teacher.

Venue

The venue for the classes is:

The University of Melbourne Hawthorn Campus
442 Auburn Road, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122 (Melway 59 E2)
(Enter from Woodburn Road)

Enter from ramp/walk-over on Woodburn Road. Students generally meet in the foyer/communal area if arriving early, before heading to the second floor at 6:30 pm when classes commence. Classes are held in Rooms 2105, 2108, 2112, 2113, 2115 & 2117.

If travelling to the campus by car, the Toorak Road exit from Citylink is the closest freeway access point.

Essential Indonesian for Professionals & Business

AIAV is considering running an introductory Indonesian language course to meet the needs of professionals and business people. To register your interest in attending such a course, please email language@aiav.org.au.

Immersion Courses

AIAV also runs immersion language courses for adults and secondary school students, based in Indonesia. For more information see the Immersion Courses page.

Inquiries

For inquiries about language classes, please contact language@aiav.org.au.