Most people would agree that knowing English is important for moving up in school and also in the workplace. But millions of students in developing countries have little or no chance for a quality English language education.
This is especially true in Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country. Indonesia has hundreds of languages and ethnic groups spread across thousands of islands. For most people, the Indonesian national language is also a second language.
But the nation’s young people are hungry to learn a third language: English. English can be heard in coffee shops and shopping malls in the capital, Jakarta. Many of Jakarta’s well-educated people mix English with Indonesian when talking with others. But outside of the city and the island of Bali, learning English can be a struggle. It is even more difficult for young people who come from poor families or live on far away islands.