Building Connections Through Language: ILLA Ambassadors Anggun Dwi Puspitoasih & Sri Lestari at Majura Primary School

In celebration of Hari Pendidikan Indonesia on 2 May 2026, the Indonesian Language Learning Ambassador (ILLA) Program continues to strengthen language and cultural connections across Australian schools.

This spirit was reflected in the journey of ILLA Ambassadors Anggun and Sri Lestari (Lis), who began their engagement at Majura Primary School in Canberra, ACT, on 18 February 2026. Their first visit focused on observing classroom practices alongside Indonesian teacher Pak Adam Chad, providing valuable insight into the school’s curriculum and identifying opportunities for meaningful collaboration. The visit also helped align expectations and establish a structured schedule for future sessions within the school’s Indonesian language program.

From late February to early April, Anggun and Lis delivered a series of classroom sessions for students in Years 3 to 6. Their teaching approach was simple, structured and student-centred, beginning with foundational language skills and gradually building students’ confidence through repetition, interaction and context-based learning.

In the early sessions, students were introduced to basic Bahasa Indonesia, including greetings, days, months and self-introduction. Through guided practice and interactive activities, they began using simple expressions such as ‘Apa kabar?’ and ‘Nama saya…’, creating an encouraging and inclusive learning environment.

As the program progressed, the ambassadors expanded the lessons to include vocabulary related to family and everyday life. Storytelling became an important teaching method, with activities such as ‘Memancing’ helping students strengthen their listening skills while learning new words in context. Visual aids and engaging delivery further supported participation and maintained students’ enthusiasm for learning.

Subsequent visits focused on reinforcing previous lessons through repetition and recall, allowing students to build greater familiarity and confidence. New topics, including numbers and simple questioning, were introduced through another storytelling activity, ‘Ada berapa?’. Students practised counting, pronunciation and asking about age, helping them connect language use with real-life situations.

Throughout the program, Anggun and Lis maintained a steady progression from basic introductions to broader vocabulary and practical communication. Their consistent use of interactive teaching methods, storytelling and guided support made the learning process accessible, engaging and age-appropriate for all students.

The final visit on 2 April 2026 highlighted the students’ progress. They demonstrated greater confidence in using Bahasa Indonesia through greetings, self-introductions, expressing feelings, and asking about age. Through structured practice and a short storytelling session, students showed clear improvement in participation and communication.

To further enrich the experience, the ambassadors also introduced a cultural element through ‘Tari Piring’, a traditional dance from West Sumatra. This provided students with a meaningful glimpse into Indonesian culture, connecting language learning with cultural expression in a memorable and enjoyable way.

The session concluded with a ‘Tentang Saya’ worksheet, allowing students to apply simple sentence structures in a personal context. With guidance from the ambassadors, students showed noticeable improvement in pronunciation, engagement and confidence.

Overall, the program at Majura Primary School reflects the core aim of ILLA: building language skills while fostering cultural understanding. Through consistent engagement and thoughtful delivery, Anggun and Lis have helped create a positive and lasting impression of Bahasa Indonesia, laying a strong foundation for continued collaboration between Indonesian ambassadors and Australian schools.