Review
Established in 1995, Alam Bahasa Indonesia is a private Indonesian language School based in Yogyakarta.
It has a homelike atmosphere. The buildings mirror modern Indonesian houses and according to the website and promotional video, the students are treated to the kind of hospitality one might expect from a welcoming family.
Alam Bahasa is a commonly visited ‘sister’ school to Wisma Bahasa, another popular and well-established language school in Yogyakarta. Student reports of both institutions tend to be very favourable. It is common that students attending these schools will stay together at the same kost or homestay, and enjoy breakfast and dinner together, before diverging throughout the day to attend their separate schools.
Alam Bahasa offers language training alongside cultural and travel activities. Their programs include regular courses in Yogya for children, students and adults, online courses, outdoor trips, outcity programs, ‘live-in-a-village’ program, and in-company training.
They suggest that students take at least 60 hours of study to complete one level. A textbook is included when you order minimum of 30 hours. However, you can adjust the duration to your need.
Alam Bahasa offers a very competitive price, which is Rp 150,000 (roughly $15 AUD, depending on exchange rates) per hour. Each class consists of 2 hours of learning and a 15-minute break.
This is remarkable value for money.
Should you wish it, Alam Bahasa is also happy to organize accommodation while you study and stay in Yogya.
Location
Located in Northern Yogyakarta, Alam Bahasa is about 15 mins by taxi from Adisucipto International Airport, the older airport in Yogyakarta. Please note, traffic is always intense in Indonesian cities, a travel times will vary between the day.
It is easy enough to find the school. It is located next to a giant store called LotteMart.
Reputation
The school enjoys a well-established reputation for quality instruction. However, it is not easy to quantify reputation and it is possible that some students have had negative experiences at the school.
In terms of instruction, the school provides a wide range of programs. They use the ‘Direct Method’, in which learners are immersed in Bahasa Indonesia, and grammar rules are not taught directly. This language school has received mostly positive reviews based on Google Reviews and Facebook Page Reviews. It seems as though students enjoy the informal learning atmosphere.
Atmosphere
There is so much to say about Yogyakarta, but this review is not intended to delineate its expansive beauty and majesty. Suffice to say, we believe Yogyakarta to be the finest entry point into Indonesia. Close to Borobudur and Prambanan, students have the best chance of experiencing the very best of Indonesia while studying at Yogya. It has a beautiful volcano to the North, Merapi, and charming beaches to the South. Along with Surakarta, it is a centre of Javanese culture.
It is highly populated, especially in the city center, but it is still less crowded and much less choked up with traffic than Jakarta. A motorbike is the most popular mode of transportation in the city.
Asia Options Verdict
One of the two key private sector schools in Yogya, Alam Bahasa is recommended by Asia Options due to its established reputation and incredible pricing. If the teaching method is found to be unsatisfactory, students can easily shift to another school and will not have invested too much money at the beginning.
Asia Options Verdict
The Alam Bahasa anguage course is a solid value option. Worth considering both the classes and one-on-one options. Great for groups in particular.
Pros:
– Located in Yogyakarta
– Low cost
– Well-established reputation
Cons:
– Not located in the heart of Yogyakarta
Access to one-on-one or group classes
Well known
Less chances to network than in a university setting
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