Welcome to ‘Indonesia’! Feminist Readings of “teach yourself Indonesian” Self-Learning Language Course
Abstract: Coinciding with the
celebration of 80 years of Sumpah Pemuda 1928, this paper offers a feminist
close reading of the “teach yourself Indonesian” self-learning language
material. “Teach yourself Indonesian” offers for the English speaking world,
ways to learn bahasa Indonesian, but it also offers ways to “discover”
Indonesia and Indonesians. The close reading provided in this paper draws from
the perspective that concepts, ideas and norms are constituted through
reiteration in everyday social practices, such through repetition of the
sixteen learning units of the “teach yourself Indonesian”. This paper aims to
illustrate from the readings of the learning units, who are the “normalized”
students of Indonesian language, and who, on the other hand, Indonesians and
Indonesia with whom the students will interact, with a particular focus on
constructs and boundaries of gender norms. Paper also briefly reflects the
“forgotten” events of May 1998, that form an important part of the authors
process of learning Indonesia(n).
Penulis: Marjaana Jauhola
Kode Jurnal: jphubintdd130129
