GLOBAL CLASSROOM: BRIDGING MALAY AND INDONESIAN LINGUISTIC TIES
19 May 2024 – The Centre for Modern Languages has successfully conducted a Global Classroom (GC) session via Google Meet that was specially crafted for students enrolling in UHE3612 Bahasa Melayu Dokumentasi course in the current semester. The session was organised by Ms. Jamilah Bebe Mohamad, who is also the course instructor. The guest lecturer, Madam Safira Dini from Fakultas Dakwah dan Komunikasi, Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara (UINSU) Indonesia, delivered her lecture on “Bahasa Melayu dan Bahasa Indonesia: Persamaan dan Perbezaan”. According to Madam Safira Dini, Malaysia and Indonesia are like twin sisters. They look similar, yet they have significant differences, and those differences reflect the uniqueness of each country.
In this insightful session, the students learned a list of Malay and Indonesian vocabulary in which some words carry the same meaning while some others would have a totally different meaning. Exploring the similarities and differences between Malay and Indonesian vocabulary can provide valuable insights into the history, culture, and linguistics. It is interesting to discover how the two languages that are closely related can diverge in certain aspects while still sharing common roots.
According to Utami Meilia Ayu, a student from Indonesia who is now studying at UMPSA, this session was really fascinating and gave her the motivation to learn more about Malay language. She further explained that this informative session can help her minimise the confusion on the usage of certain Malay and Indonesian words, especially in specific contexts, which can be challenging but also essential for effective communication. Additionally, seeking clarification when unsure and actively practicing both languages can improve proficiency and reduce confusion. Utami Meilia’s journey into understanding Malay and Indonesian vocabulary will likely benefit from such interactions. On the other hand, Muhajir Akmal bin Suarno said that this is the first session for him to learn from an Indonesian lecturer. Being exposed to native speakers becomes an invaluable experience for the language learners as it offers authentic insights into pronunciation, usage, and also cultural aspects. This session also encourages him to actively engage with the materials, ask questions, and practice speaking to further enhance his language acquisition process.
It is wonderful to hear that most students enjoyed the session and found it beneficial for learning the new aspects of the language. Positive feedback from the learners indicates that the session has effectively met its set objectives and engaged students in their language acquisition journey. Creating an environment where students feel motivated and enthusiastic about learning is key to fostering their language skills. We hope it continues to inspire and empower students to explore the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of Malay and Indonesian, and hopefully this kind of event can be conducted again in the future.
Prepared by: Jamilah Bebe Mohamad
