Learn to Speak Indonesian

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Learn Indonesian
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Origins of the Indonesian Language
Indonesian is a member of the Indonesian sub-group of the Malayo-Polynesian family of languages.

Beginning in the 14th century, with the conversion of many Indonesians to Islam, a variation of the Arabic script known as Jawi was used for writing Indonesian but a modified Roman-based alphabet is used today.

How many people speak the Indonesian language?
Over 200 million people speak Indonesian throughout the world. Of these about 30 million use it as their mother tongue.

Indonesian-speaking Countries
It is principally spoken in the Republic of Indonesia, where it is the official language.

Screenshots from Talk Now! Learn Indonesian CD-ROM

Talk Now Indonesian CD-ROM Details

This is an excitingly different language learning series. Talk Now! uses games and quizzes as a basis for making the learning process fun, easy and relaxing. There is no better way to teach an old dog new tricks and this fun element of the program means that your fears are forgotten as you absorb words and phrases without even realising you are learning them.

Talk Now! is the world's best selling language learning CD-ROM series for beginners, used by more than three million people to date. It's ideal for travellers, holidaymakers, business people, schoolchildren, students and families.

Anyone over 10 years of age will find the disc indispensable for improving listening, understanding and spoken language skills. There are nine topics: first words, food, colours, phrases, parts of the body, numbers, time, shopping and countries.

The games and quizzes included on the disc ensure that users have fun whilst using the disc, without realising that they're learning. The "intelligent" software feature remembers words you get wrong and targets your weak points.

NOW includes Apple iPod integration, which allows you to listen to Talk Now Indonesian wherever you are!

Indonesian Music and Dance

The varied dance traditions derive from three contexts: home and village; the court centre; the centres of global and animist religions. Performance is an offering for the eyes of living humans, departed ancestors, and ever-present spirits of the world.

Everywhere some form of ensemble exists that is made up of small tuned gongs and two or three drums. Generally, these gong-and-drum ensembles accompany ritual and religious activities, and a stringed instrument or a flute often accompanies them.

Indonesian Food and Drink

Many Indonesian dishes are Chinese-influenced, but some, such as Padang food from Sumatra, are distinctly homegrown. Wherever you travel in Indonesia you'll see vendors selling snacks such as potatoes, sweet nuts, biscuits or fruit.

Rice is the basis of each meal, eaten as a soup or with an assortment of hot and spicy side dishes, salad and pickles. Nasi goreng (fried rice) is the most common dish, while sate (skewered meats with a spicy peanut sauce), gado-gado (bean sprouts and vegies in peanut sauce) and seafood are also popular.

Indonesian Attractions

Bali Bali is so picturesque it looks like a painted backdrop: rice paddies trip down hillsides like giant steps, volcanoes soar through the clouds, the forests are lush and tropical, and the beaches are lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

Java Java is the political, geographic and economic centre of the Indonesian archipelago. It's a relatively small island, but has a population of 112 million. It was on Java that the Hindu-Buddhist empires reached their zenith, producing architectural wonders such as Borobudur and Prambanan.

Lombok Lombok is a place of uncrowded beaches and tranquil countryside, dominated by the spectacular volcano of Mt Rinjani. The Sasak culture is noteworthy for weaving, its brilliant and dramatic dances, and its ritualised pageantry and contests.

Sumatra Sumatra has a wealth of natural resources and wildlife, massive rivers like muddy facsimiles of the Amazon, and some interesting architecture. It is almost four times the size of neighbouring Java, but supports less than a quarter of the population.

Customer Testimonials

"This is an excitingly different language learning series. Talk Now! Uses games and quizzes as a basis for making the learning process fun and relaxing." - PC Answers

"I bought your Learn Malay CD today - I've only just begun, but I wanted to say how much I am enjoying it. I studied Malay from a book all day yesterday, making some 25 pages of notes on grammar and vocab, but I remember more from your CD from just an hour!" - James Bryce

Full list of Talk Now Language CD-ROMs available to buy online in the UK.