Week 4

Handout 5-6
Tel-U English Lecturers/RTH

My Favorite Place(s) and Its Unique Culture

This week, we are looking back closer to the places that are meaningful to us. We are going to
recall, not only the places, but also people, society that have influenced who we are today. In
particular, we are going to identify and describe what people around us believe, do, and talk
about.

STEP ONE
First, please devide yourself into groups of 4. If your class consists of 40 students, there will be 8
groups of 4 (8 groups @ 4 members). The remaining 8 students can make 4 groups of 2 (4
groups, @2members). Your lecturer will help you name the group. The group division are as
follows:

BIG Group 1

BIG Group 2

BIG Group 3

Now, each group will read different topics of short information about certain aspects of
Indonesian culture as told by an Indonesian (called “Local perspective in the reading) and a
Canadian (called “Canadian perspective in the reading). The information is taken from a
compilation about Indonesian cultural facts provided by the Government of Canada’s Global
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Affairs Department (Source: [Link]

apercus_pays/ci-ic_id.aspx?lang=eng#cn-1) . The reading assignments are as follow.

1. All members of Team 1, please read “Conversations”.

2. All members of Team 2, please read “Communication Style”
3. All members of Team 3, please read “Display of Emotion”
4. All members of Team 4, please read “Dress, Punctuality & Formality”

Reading Passages

Reading for Team 1: Conversations

Question #1: I am meeting someone for the first time and I want to make a good impression.
What would be good discussion topics?

Local Perspective:

City or area of origin is a good topic to start a discussion. Indonesians belong to many ethnics
groups with different local dialects. Talking about family is the most popular topic among
Indonesians. They will most likely ask about immediate family members especially children:
how many, age, gender, grade, school, etc. If they are not married, they may be encouraged to
get married of course not in a serious discussion but rather with humor.

The age of retirement in Indonesia mostly is 56 while it is 65 in certain disciplines. Most people
close to the age of retirement do not feel they are ready to retire. They also do not want to be
viewed as old. It is best not to assume that a person in that age group has already retired. It is
recommended that one does not ask a person whether they have already retired from their job. It
is better to ask about where they work, their area of expertise and interest.

Canadian Perspective:

Greetings and exchanging of personal information such as marital status and family details
(children, husband, wife), age, religion, work, education, where you are from, places you’ve
traveled, etc. are appreciated.

Acceptable topics include points of interest such as tourist sites and unique cultural/ethnic
practices, e.g. beaches, mountains, gardens, cultural sites, shopping, cultural dances and music,
special holidays, festivals and events. Food, local delicacies, restaurants, ingredients (e.g. chili,
coconut, coffee, cocoa, etc.), agriculture or industry of the area, development opportunities and
business growth, e.g. fishing, coconut, batik production, carving and local crafts are also
acceptable topics for discussion.

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Reading for Team 2: Communication Style

Question #2: What do I need to know about verbal and non-verbal communications?

Local Perspective:

Most of Indonesians especially Javanese are shy. They do not talk much, and they hardly ask
question unless necessary. But that does not mean that they do not know about the work or their
subject. They may be more knowledgeable than their colleagues who are more talkative. People
from East Java and Sumatra however are more open-minded and straightforward in talking.

Indonesians use a lot of body language when they talk, especially when giving
directions. Pointing finger at someone is considered very rude and pointing something using
toes is considered showing arrogance. Shaking head means “No” and nodding head means
“Yes”. Using left hand especially in giving something to someone is viewed as impolite.
Touching shoulder or upper back means encouragement while touching someone’s head is
considered very rude and arrogant.

Looking into someone’s eye is considered very rude and arrogant, especially in communication
between a junior and senior person. When communicating to a person in a higher hierarchy,
people generally avoid having direct and continuous eye contact.

Canadian Perspective:

Indonesia is a vast country made up of between 300 and 400 ethnic groups, each with their
unique culture and language. Indonesia’s common language is Bahasa Indonesia. In general,
throughout Indonesia, it is expected that people communicate in a respectful, friendly way
without showing aggression, anger or disagreement. It is important to respect age, authority and
bureaucracy. People usually use “Sir” (Bapak/Pak) or “Ma’am” (Ibu/Bu) for greeting people of
similar or older age or more senior in status. It is common and expected to greet people in the
street, especially in your own neighbourhood or in the work environment.

People may be indirect in their communication, e.g. asking if you are enjoying an activity rather
than directly asking if you would like to leave now? You may also be referred to in the 3rd
person. For example, “would Ibu like some water?” rather than directly saying “you” or use
your name. People do not like to say they don’t know, so when asking for information, they may
tell you what they think is true or likely to be true, even if they have no idea. It is always best to
double check information.

Indonesians love social media so you can expect to be asked for photos and selfies, for your
mobile or WhatsApp number and see photos of yourself quickly posted on the internet. Most
Indonesians love music and are talented singers or musicians. People are not shy about singing in
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public; they love karaoke. It is very common for leaders to sing spontaneously at public
ceremonies or events.

Recently, Indonesia has been trying to reduce corruption but it is still insidious. Sometimes you
may feel you are being purposely misunderstood, if there is some expectation of a favour or
bribe.

There are several stereotypes regarding people from major islands (language groups) around
Indonesia. These can be taken as a guide for communication styles. Some major groups are
mentioned below.

Javanese are known to be reticent and are very deferential to people in authority. They even
physically make themselves smaller (by hunching down) and sub-servient to others with a
perceived higher status. They do not like to disagree and so they will often seem to agree
publicly although they do not really agree. They will show their disagreement by not following
through with the agreed idea or decision. They will not like to tell the reasons why they do not
disagree so you will have to find out from other means. However, it makes it very pleasant to be
working with Javanese as there is not disagreement or conflict on the surface.

Balinese are known to be very humble, service-oriented, creative and closely follow their
cultural and religious rituals. They are friendly and easy-going and will try to accommodate your
requests except if the requests clash with their cultural and religious rituals.

Bataknese, Buginese and Makassarese are more direct in their communication. They will convey
their agreement or disagreement openly. They are very active and quick.

Manadonese are very open and friendly. They welcome newcomers but expect newcomers to
show respect towards them and their culture and religion. They freely extend invitations and
whole-heartedly expect you to accept. However, plans often fall through and this is not
considered anything to be concerned about. When disagreements or disputes occur it can lead to
a lot of shouting and arguing which can become violent. They do not hesitate to verbally abuse
or bully either for fun or for revenge and swearing is considered part of being Manadonese.
Manadonese are more westernized than some other parts of the country and like to follow
western culture as reflected in western media.

Papuans are very quiet and shy and don’t like to make eye contact. When you first meet, they do
not feel comfortable to reply to questions and may only give a quiet “yes’ or “no”.

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Reading for Team 3: Display of Emotion
Question 4: Are public displays of affection, anger or other emotions acceptable?
Local Perspective:
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Indonesians believe that showing affection is a private matter thus should not be displayed in
public. Showing a lot of bare skin should also be avoided. Being impatient, raising voice,
shouting and display anger are regarded as uneducated and unprofessional.

Canadian Perspective:

In general, Indonesians do not publicly display affection or other emotions. However, they are
warm, friendly and welcoming. Most have very long fuses and usually do not show their
frustration or anger. When Indonesians are upset to their breaking point and raise their voices it
always draws a crowd of worried onlookers. Everyone will try their best to soothe the upset
person, calm the situation down or else put a distance between them and the upset person.

While people of the opposite sex almost never kiss in public, it is not uncommon to see spouses,
family members or friends (same or different sexes) holding hands. People are comfortable being
physically close and touching or hugging. Shaking hands is a normal greeting and women may
kiss each other on the cheek. If someone is not comfortable to shake your hand, they will keep
their hands over their heart or in a praying position. It is common for strangers to ask “white”
westerners (‘buleh’) for a photo and comfortably put their arms around you as if you are old
friends. It is not acceptable or expected that young Indonesian men touch young western women,
even though they may like to have a photo with them.

People will often cover up nervousness and put on a brave face in situations where they feel
uncomfortable.

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Reading for Team 4: Dress, Punctuality & Formality

Question #5: What should I know about the workplace environment (deadlines, dress,
formality, etc.)?
Local Perspective:

Since Indonesia is a tropical country, the weather is hot and very humid. People sweat a lot, thus
wearing light undershirt is recommended. Unless they have a formal meeting, people generally
wear light short sleeves shirt and trousers for men. For women, they wear short/ long sleeves
shirt and below knees skirt. Clean and ironed clothes are recommended. Friday is half day work
and sport day in Indonesia, they wear sports clothing and shoes to work. Once or twice a week
they may wear uniform or batik. In some offices at district level, they may wear local traditional
dresses/costumes once a week. Sandals are not recommended for going to work, however
sandals with strap around the ankles are acceptable.

A person is considered successful at work if he/she is punctual, meet deadlines, and is able to use
judgment and mannerism when communicating with management, colleagues, and subordinates.
However, because there are a lot of uncertainties it will not be easy for Indonesians to plan ahead
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Tel-U English Lecturers/RTH

and set deadlines. Someone else has to make plan and deadlines for them and they will meet
expectations. Their plan is what their manager plans for them. If they have a plan to move or to
study abroad without knowing the situation and condition of the system at the work place, they
are regarded as arrogant, talking nonsense and avoiding their duty or assignment or wasting time.

Canadian Perspective:

Because of the wide range of culture practices, there are different expectations in the work
environment regarding dress. It is always wiser to err on the side of formality as you will find
most people are very smartly dressed or even in uniforms, which lends a militaristic feel at times.
Across the country, Batik is considered formal attire and you can never go wrong by wearing
batik regardless of the occasion. Otherwise smart, business attire will usually be acceptable.
Regular western attire works well in Jakarta and the surroundings, Jogjakarta, Bali, Manado and
some larger cities. In Aceh and some other locations, women will feel more comfortable when
dressed more modestly, e.g. longer skirts or loose trousers, longer shirts or blouses with longer
sleeves, and that are not deeply cut. In some cases, wearing a scarf may feel more appropriate.

The work environment is fairly formal with people knowing their place and status in the
structure. Senior staff usually have assistants or deputies who vet meetings with their bosses and
letters requesting a meeting or introductory letters. One-on-one meetings are rather rare as often
you may need to be accompanied by someone who is introducing you and the person whom you
are meeting may bring along others. People at the top are always given lots of attention and
almost fawned over. Seminars are often formal occasions for making speeches, with the
emphasis on mentioning the names of the people present, particularly the most senior person
present. Large banners accompany almost every important occasion and often feature the names
and photographs of special invitees. At the opening or closing ceremony, many important people
will make a speech and then leave. MCs and dramatic background music create even more
formality. The formality is off-set by the penchant for taking photographs, and there is often time
set aside in the schedule of any program for taking photographs.

Generally, deadlines are not respected in Indonesia (except flight departure times). Many
programs are organized at the last minute so you might not know something is happening until
the day before. Many programs are also canceled or postponed at the last minute so it is
advisable to use caution when booking expensive flights that are non-refundable. Similarly,
timetables and agendas are not followed but rather give a flavor of what may or may not happen.
Most programs start half an hour to 2 hours late and can extend well beyond a reasonable ending
time. Time is considered “jam karat” or rubber/elastic time.
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Tel-U English Lecturers/RTH

Reading Comprehension
After reading the brief information, please be sure to complete the following tasks (One Team
one task).

Task for Team 1

a. What are the differences between the local perspective and Canadian perspective in
describing good discussion topics to make when a Canadian meets Indonesian people for
the first time?

b. Think about how people in your hometown communicate to each other and come up with
at least two examples for each of the prompts.
 What to say to each other when meeting for the first time (including good topics for a
follow-up light conversation).

 What to say to greet someone you already know when seeing him/her after a long
time (including good topics for a follow-up light conversation).

Task for Team 2

a. What are the differences between the local perspective and Canadian perspective in
describing the verbal and non-verbal communications of Indonesian people?

b. Think about how people in your hometown communicate to each other and come up with
at least two examples how they communicate verbally (i.e., in spoken) and non-verbally
(i.e., through acts like gestures). More examples are welcome.

Task for Team 3

a. What are the differences between the local perspective and Canadian perspective in
describing how Indonesian people show affection, anger or other emotions?
b. Think about how people in your hometown show their emotions (affection, anger or other
emotions) and come up with at least two examples. More examples are welcome.

Task for Team 4

a. What are the differences between the local perspective and Canadian perspective in
describing the concept of punctuality and formality in Indonesian?
b. Think about the concept of punctuality and formality as perceived by people in your
hometown and come up with at least two examples of what they say in terms of
“punctuality” (for example, any particular expression they use when making
commitment) and what they wear in different occasions. More examples are welcome.
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STEP TWO
Create new groups in which members of each group get together with members of other
groups. We call the new groups: Mixed Group A, B, C, and D.
Task: Share what you learn in your home Team to your new group member (Member 1
explains about how Indonesian people & people in his/her hometown conversate when meeting
for the first time; Member 2 explains about the verbal and non-verbal communication in
Indonesia and his/her hometown, Member 3 and 4 do the same for the topic they learned in their
Home Team)

BIG Group 1

BIG Group 2

BIG Group 3

STEP THREE
Everyone, return to your Home Team (Team 1, 2, 3, and 4) and share with your Team
members what you learned in your Mixed Group.
Task:
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1. Each group select a certain area in Indonesia, your team’s favorite place (for example:
Manado, East Java, West Java, Mdura, etc.) and collect data on the four topics you
learned through the Jigsaw Discussion (conversations, verbal and non-verbal
communications, displays of emotions, and describing the concept of punctuality
and formality).
2. Prepare a script of description of each topic for every team member to explain.
3. Video record your Team explaining the culture of your team’s favorite place.
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Presentational Speaking Rubric 2 (Intermediate)

Students video recorded themselves, describing the interesting facts about themselves
Criteria 4 3 2 1

Pronunciation The student's pronunciation The student's The student is inconsistent The student struggles to
is exceptional and mirrors pronunciation is clear, in their pronunciation. pronounce words.
a native speaker. with few errors. Some words are
pronounced correctly, and
others are not correct.

Fluency The student speaks clearly The student is able to The student demonstrates The student has great
and articulately with no respond to prompt with some fluency and is able to difficulty putting words
hesitation. few errors and relative construct a simple together in a sentence.
ease. sentence.

Comprehension The student's speech The student's speech The student's speech The student's speech does
reflects a clear reflects comprehension reflects basic not reflect comprehension
understanding of the topic of the topic or prompt. comprehension, but with of the topic or prompt.
or prompt and includes frequent errors.
details.

Content The student's content The student's content is The student's content has The student's content is
reflects deep understanding relevant to the topic, some relevance to the topic, not relevant to the prompt
of the topic. with few errors. but incorrect words are or question.
used.

Vocabulary The student's vocabulary The student's The student's vocabulary The student's vocabulary
reflects a sophistication in vocabulary enhances relates to the topic, is very is limited to high
basic, with a few errors. frequency words, and a
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speaking, similar to a his/her response to the few basic words related to

native speaker. topic/prompt. the topic.

Total points: 20; Points will be converted into 10 in the excel sheet for grades.

Rubric was taken from: [Link]