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When visiting cafés or tourist spots in Indonesian cities such as Jakarta, one might be surprised at how often store clerks initiate conversation in English upon recognizing a foreign customer.

At first glance, Indonesians may appear to be proficient in English. But how do they actually learn the language, and what is their real level of proficiency? Let’s explore these questions through concrete data.

English Proficiency in Indonesia: A Numerical Overview

Indonesia Scores 473 in the EF English Proficiency Index, Ranking 79th out of 113 Countries

According to the 2023 EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) report, Indonesia ranked 79th out of 113 countries, with a score of 473 out of 700. This places the country in the “Low Proficiency” category, the second lowest among the five proficiency levels.

By age group, individuals aged 21–30 scored the highest at 490 points, while those aged 18–20 scored the lowest at 413 points. Regionally, Jakarta led with a score of 531, followed by Surabaya, Bandung, Malang, Semarang, and Yogyakarta, all of which exceeded 500 points.

Compared to neighboring countries, Indonesia ranks 13th among 23 countries in Asia. Within Southeast Asia, Singapore ranks 2nd, the Philippines 20th, Malaysia 25th, and Vietnam 58th, underscoring Indonesia’s relatively low performance. While urban areas show a concentration of proficient English speakers, the national average remains comparatively low.

For reference, Japan scored 457 points, placing it at 87th globally.

References:

• EF EPI, “The world’s largest ranking of countries and regions by English skills”
• EF EPI, “#79 Indonesia”

English in Indonesia: A Visual Perspective

“Kampung Inggris Pare” – A Hub for English Learners

Watch the Video

Kampung Inggris Pare (“English Village Pare”) refers to two villages—Tulungrejo and Pelem—located in the Pare district of Kediri Regency, East Java Province.

Known for its thriving English education scene, the English Village is home to over 160 English language institutions. Many people from across Indonesia come to this area to study English on a daily basis, and during extended school holidays, they often participate in short-term intensive courses to further improve their skills.

The video was posted on the YouTube channel “Londokampung,” run by Dave, an Australian YouTuber fluent in both Indonesian and Javanese. In the video, Dave visits the English Village and spontaneously joins an English class in session, offering tips on pronunciation. The footage shows students from all over Indonesia studying enthusiastically in an open and relaxed environment.

The full video reveals that some residents Dave encounters are proficient in English, while others are not. Nevertheless, each person makes a sincere effort to respond to his questions using whatever level of English they possess—leaving a lasting impression.

Reference:
ACCESS ENGLISH – “Kenapa Mereka Lebih Memilih Belajar di Kampung Inggris Pare?”
(Why Do They Prefer Studying in Kampung Inggris Pare?)

South Jakarta Language: A Blend of Indonesian and English

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This video features a “South Jakarta office worker in a meeting.”

Although the woman in the video is speaking in Indonesian, her speech is frequently interspersed with English words and phrases—a speech style known as “Jaksel” (short for South Jakarta). Indonesian has long incorporated English-derived vocabulary, making it natural to mix in English words. It’s similar to how Japanese speakers use katakana English with English pronunciation.

However, Jaksel goes a step further. As demonstrated by the woman in the video, entire English phrases—not just individual words—are used in daily speech.

Why has this linguistic style become popular in South Jakarta?

The Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP RI) points out that South Jakarta has a large youth population actively engaged in online communication and information sharing. As such, the area often becomes a trendsetter in more than just language.

Additionally, South Jakarta is home to several high-quality educational institutions, and many residents are fluent English speakers, including native speakers. The frequent exposure to English contributes to its incorporation into daily Indonesian conversation.

Sociologist and University of Indonesia lecturer Devie Rahmawati also notes that this mixed linguistic style is more common among the highly educated and affluent—demographics well represented in South Jakarta. This has further fueled the trend of Jaksel speech.

While this manner of speaking is commonly referred to as “South Jakarta language,” it is not limited to South Jakarta. In fact, it is increasingly used among urban office workers in general and is becoming part of youth culture.

Reference:
Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LPDP) – Instagram @lpdp_ri

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Growing Importance of English in Indonesia

From the perspective of its practical use in the workplace, English remains the most important foreign language for Indonesians—this has been true both in the past and present. English classes are offered from elementary school onward, and many children attend private English language schools. With increasing globalization, the growing popularity of studying abroad, and the entry of numerous foreign companies into Indonesia, many adults are also enrolling in English classes.

According to EF EPI data, Indonesia’s English Proficiency Index peaked in 2013 and has declined since then. However, this trend does not necessarily indicate a steady deterioration in the English skills of Indonesians.

For example, due to changes in the social and economic environment over the past decade, more individuals may now feel the need to study English, resulting in an increasing number of learners. It is possible that many of these newer learners—who have not yet reached a high level of proficiency—are actively participating in the test as part of their self-improvement efforts. This may be reflected in the lower average scores.