Bali To Improve English Language Skills In Local Communities To Help Tourists

Share The Article

Leaders in Bali’s busiest tourism region, Badung Regency, have confirmed that they will launch a new program to help local communities improve their English. Almost all people in Indonesia can speak at least two languages: their mother tongue, which in Bali is Balinese, and Bahasa Indonesia. Many more can converse in several dialects and languages. 

English is widely spoken in Bali, and most children learn it from primary school through high school. It is also increasingly popular for young people to learn Korean, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and Arabic. European languages like French, German, and Spanish are slowly growing in popularity with young people across Indonesia, especially those with ambitions of studying abroad or moving to Europe for work. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lauren Karina (@indonesianwithlauren)

English proficiency in Bali is good, especially in the tourism and hospitality sector. The Badung Regency Government, which oversees tourism resorts like Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Canggu, Uluwatu, and Nusa Dua, has confirmed that it wants to boost English proficiency levels in the area. They feel that helping local communities with English language skills will open up more opportunities for them, both in the job market and in the world of entrepreneurship. 

The Badung Regent I Wayan Adi Arnawa confirmed the launch of the Banjar-based English language program, in which young people will receive language tutoring at sessions run through their local village hall. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lauren Karina (@indonesianwithlauren)

Regent Arnawa told reporters, “In order to improve human resources, I will provide free banjar-based English tutoring for children. In the near future I will launch it, because there are already 60 banjars ready to run this program.”

He added, “Rather than just playing with their cellphones, it is better if we provide English learning. This is an important investment for their future.” He noted, “I am very aware that, in addition to the mother tongue, Balinese, English proficiency is also an important key. As a tourism area, our children must be able to speak foreign languages in order to compete in the world of work.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lauren Karina (@indonesianwithlauren)

He also confirmed that young people who do not enter higher education within Badung Regency will have access to English language mentorship through the government’s Job Training Centre (BLK), which the local government will fund. He concluded, “If their English is strong, we will equip them with other competencies and skills. That way, they are ready to become professional workers, both domestically, in the Bali tourism sector, and abroad. This is what we are preparing for the children of Badung.”

For tourists traveling to Bali, it is easy to rest assured that English proficiency is incredibly high at top attractions, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and cafes. In almost all attractions and tourist-oriented destinations, signage is written in English, menus are written in English, and staff are happy to converse in English without any issues. 

Nevertheless, tourists visiting Bali, or anywhere else in Indonesia, are encouraged to respect local culture in every way possible. One easy way to respect local culture is to learn a few simple phrases. It is true that when it comes to language a little goes a long way. Tourists are welcome to try to learn a few phrases in Bahasa Indonesia, the country’s national language, or Balinese. 

It is also advisable to download Google Translate before traveling to Indonesia and to have Bahasa Indonesia downloaded within the app so that it is available offline. Generally speaking,g the translations of English to Bahasa Indonesia are pretty accurate. Other apps that can be helpful for learning some holiday essentials in Indonesian are Duolingo and Ling.