[Published in The Jakarta Post-Youthspeak, 12 December 2011] I attended the Asia Pacific Environmental Youth Forum, Gyeonggi - Korea, in August, where young people from six countries gathered. Trough seminars and discussions about climate change in the region, I learned some countermeasures and how to deal with it.
The event worked to build awareness about what young people often take for granted: food, water, energy and ecology. The activities included field visits, among which was to Korea’s wetlands.
But really impressed me from the forum was that all of the countries present has the national language and their original writings (script), Japan , Thailand - Vietnam - Korea and Taiwan except Indonesia.
In this globalized world, I believe we must be familiar with English, the most spoken international language. But the Japanese Delegation never spoke in English. They made their presentation in Japanese, which that proud of their national tongue? If the answer to the last question is yes, then it is contrary to what many Indonesians believe.
In my school, student with fluent English are considered extraordinary and in my neighborhood they are known as great, smart kids. Artist who speak english well are said to be professionals and they gain fanatic fans. We greet foreign guests in English, discouraging them from even learning Indonesian. And why is that, again?
I am not sure, about the answer to that question. but seeing the five countries which all fit into the category of developed countries, I could say that a great country where people take pride in their owm language.
There is nothing wrong with learning international languages such as English and Mandarin from early childhood, which is trend now, but we should not miss what important. We should first understand and appreciate our own traditions cultures and languages.
We just commemorated Youth Oath Day on October 28, the day when eight decades ago young Indonesians pledged to unite as one nation and use Indonesian as its lingua fanca. As a youth I just want to just remind my peer that we may act "globally", but speak locally to continue to strengthen national identity amid the shrinking world.
In this globalized world, I believe we must be familiar with English, the most spoken international language. But the Japanese Delegation never spoke in English. They made their presentation in Japanese, which that proud of their national tongue? If the answer to the last question is yes, then it is contrary to what many Indonesians believe.
In my school, student with fluent English are considered extraordinary and in my neighborhood they are known as great, smart kids. Artist who speak english well are said to be professionals and they gain fanatic fans. We greet foreign guests in English, discouraging them from even learning Indonesian. And why is that, again?
I am not sure, about the answer to that question. but seeing the five countries which all fit into the category of developed countries, I could say that a great country where people take pride in their owm language.
There is nothing wrong with learning international languages such as English and Mandarin from early childhood, which is trend now, but we should not miss what important. We should first understand and appreciate our own traditions cultures and languages.
We just commemorated Youth Oath Day on October 28, the day when eight decades ago young Indonesians pledged to unite as one nation and use Indonesian as its lingua fanca. As a youth I just want to just remind my peer that we may act "globally", but speak locally to continue to strengthen national identity amid the shrinking world.
