Learn about Indonesian proficiency tests
Now Playing: Lesson Audio
Get a breakdown of the dialogue and translations instantly with the Premium line-by-line Audio. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.
Get this lesson’s key vocab, their translations and pronunciations. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.
Unlock Lesson Notes and Transcripts for every single lesson. Sign Up for a Free Lifetime Account and Get 7 Days of Premium Access.
Intro |
|---|
| Michael: What are some common Indonesian proficiency tests? |
| Blanca: And how do I choose the right one for me? |
| Michael: At IndonesianPod101.com, we hear these questions often. Emma Hartanto is talking to Farah Fauzi about her attempts to motivate herself to study Indonesian harder. She says, |
| "I have to take the UKBI exam." |
| Emma Hartanto: Aku harus ikut UKBI. |
| Dialogue |
| Emma Hartanto: Aku harus ikut UKBI. |
| Farah Fauzi: Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia? |
| Michael: Once more with the English translation. |
| Emma Hartanto: Aku harus ikut UKBI. |
| Michael: "I have to take the UKBI exam." |
| Farah Fauzi: Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia? |
| Michael: "The Test of Indonesian as a Foreign Language?" |
Lesson focus |
| Michael: In this conversation, we hear Emma Hartanto say, |
| Blanca: Aku harus ikut UKBI, |
| Michael: which means, "I have to take the UKBI exam," to which Farah Fauzi says, |
| Blanca: Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia? |
| Michael: "The Test of Indonesian as a Foreign Language?" |
| Michael: This is just one of many exams an Indonesian language learner may take to prove their proficiency in the target language. Especially for students who hope to attend higher education or gain employment in an Indonesian-speaking region, high marks on these types of tests are critical. In this lesson, we'll talk about some of the most common Indonesian proficiency tests. |
| Michael: By far, the most reputable proficiency test when it comes to the Indonesian language is The Official Indonesian Proficiency Test, otherwise known as the |
| Blanca: Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia, |
| Michael: or UKBI. It's also sometimes referred to as the Test of Indonesian as a Foreign Language (TOIFL). This test is the only official language test recognized by the Indonesian government. It assesses both written and oral language skills as well as listening and reading comprehension. The purpose of the test is to prepare students for real-life situations, so texts and dialogue range from very informal to very formal settings. The test is broken down into five sections to target each language domain. In total, the test lasts for about two and a half hours. The highest range a test-taker can achieve is from 724 to 900 points, also known as |
| Blanca: Istimewa. |
| Michael: After completing the test and receiving a score, test-takers will also receive a certificate from The Ministry of Education and Culture that can be used for official purposes. |
| Michael: Other tests of Indonesian as a foreign language include |
| Blanca: Bahasa Indonesia untuk Penutur Asing (BIPA) |
| Michael: and the Official ACTFL OPI, or American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Oral Proficiency Interview |
| Michael: It's also likely that you'll find short, online quizzes to gauge your understanding of Indonesian. Some of these generate an aptitude score and may compare your level to a CEFR or Common European Frame of Reference for Languages. Although these short online quizzes won't provide you with official accreditation, they are a good place to start when deciding which class level to enroll in next. |
| Practice Section |
| Michael: Let's review the sample conversation. Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then, repeat after Blanca focusing on pronunciation. |
| Do you remember how Emma Hartanto says "I have to take the UKBI exam?" |
| [Beep. Pause 5 seconds.] |
| Blanca: Aku harus ikut UKBI. |
| Michael: Listen again and repeat. |
| Blanca: Aku harus ikut UKBI. |
| [Beep. Pause 5 seconds.] |
| Blanca: Aku harus ikut UKBI. |
| Michael: And do you remember how Farah Fauzi says "The Test of Indonesian as a Foreign Language?" |
| [Beep. Pause 5 seconds.] |
| Blanca: Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia? |
| Michael: Listen again and repeat. |
| Blanca: Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia? |
| [Beep. Pause 5 seconds.] |
| Blanca: Uji Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia? |
| Cultural Insight |
| Michael: The Indonesian proficiency test is also recommended for Indonesians themselves. The Indonesian language may not be the first language for many Indonesians. The UKBI score helps to maintain standardized Indonesian being employed in a workplace and educational institutions. |
| Michael: A UKBI score is required by those wishing to enroll in universities or to apply to be civil servants if they wish to work in government offices. Lecturers need a good command of Indonesian when delivering courses. |
Outro |
| Michael: Do you have any more questions? We're here to answer them! |
| Blanca: Dadah. |
| Michael: See you soon! |
Comments
Hide