This October, we are celebrating National Bahasa Indonesia and Literature Month/Language month. This is a way to preserve Indonesian language and indigenous literature in Indonesia.
The commemoration has its history back during the struggle against Dutch colonists. On October 28th, 1928, youth representatives from across Indonesia gathered together and pledged their allegiance to the country of Indonesia. Enshrined on the 28 October, Youth Pledge are three values, including the pledge to uphold the language of the Republic, Bahasa Indonesia.
The language month is closely related to literacy. At Metta School, students learn and communicate in three languages: Bahasa Indonesia, English and Chinese. Thus, activities are to address these three languages. Not only addressing language use, activities are also designed in such a way so that they can go beyond simply language use: parent-children bonding, nationalism, critical thinking and perseverance.
Celebrating literature and language month, Metta School held various activities for each level such as story telling in English, Bahasa Indonesia and Chinese by preschool and kindergarten teachers. Story telling helps the children get to know words, languages and develop early literacy skills. It also sparks children’s imagination and stimulates curiosity.
As in primary level, students in Grade 1 and 2 are introduced to the Youth Pledge (Sumpah Pemuda) and the meaning of it by their teachers. The students are also invited to recite the pledge together.
To expand their creativity and also instill the spirit of Youth Pledge, the students in Grade 3 and 4 are making posters with the theme “The Role of Youth in the Midst of Pandemic”.
