I had the privilege of working under the supervision of Professor Michael Cullinane, Associate Director of the Center of Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Professor G.G. Weix from the University of Montana. Professor Cullinane provided invaluable advice on identifying potential respondents for oral history interviews and granted me access to the SEASSI archives. His expertise as a historian also broadened the scope of my research. Additionally, Professor G.G. Weix facilitated access to an oral history interview with Prof. John U. Wolff, an early Indonesian language instructor, and the archives at Cornell University.-Eko Widianto
Meet Eko Widianto, AIFIS Fellow from the Center of Southeast Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin–Madison, whose project “Strengthening the Existence of the Indonesian Language in the United States: An Ethnographic Study at SEASSI” took place from July–August 2024. His research went beyond documenting current teaching practices to uncover the deeper history of Indonesian language instruction in the United States.
Through extensive oral history interviews with key figures such as Professor Ellen Rafferty, Professor John U. Wolff, Professor Jean Gelman Taylor, and Toenggoel P. Siagian, as well as archival research at UW–Madison and Cornell University, Eko traced the development of Indonesian language teaching from the 1940s to the present. His work revealed how teaching methodologies, textbooks, and motivations for learning Indonesian have shifted across generations—from early geopolitical drivers to contemporary sociocultural interests.
Eko’s study fills an important gap in BIPA (Indonesian for Foreign Speakers) research by connecting historical perspectives with current pedagogical practices. By highlighting the United States’ long yet underrecognized role in Indonesian language education, his findings offer valuable insights for today’s efforts to internationalize the Indonesian language.
Supported by AIFIS and hosted by the Center of Southeast Asian Studies at UW–Madison, Eko’s fellowship produced three outcomes: a forthcoming monograph, a peer-reviewed article under submission, and a video interview with Toenggoel P. Siagian. His research not only strengthens the scholarly understanding of Indonesian language teaching but also honors the contributions of the teachers, students, and institutions who have sustained it across decades.
Congratulations to Eko Widianto on a successful fellowship that brings new visibility to the history and future of Indonesian language instruction in the United States.
Check out this interview conducted by Eko Widianto in conversation with Toenggoel P. Siagian, focusing on the history of teaching Indonesian in the United States!
📖 Explore Eko Widianto’s Recent Publication
Read his latest article on the history and development of Indonesian language instruction abroad, recently published online.
🔗 Read the Article