Top 23 English courses in Indonesia

The variety of programs offered at Indonesian language schools is not as wide as in European countries, however all the main formats are represented:

• General English 

A general language course divided into modules of 6–8 weeks in duration — each module corresponds to a level of language proficiency. Upon completing one level, the student can move on to the next, more advanced one.

• Conversational English

Highly popular language practice courses that allow students to work on vocabulary and syntax, overcome psychological and language barriers by communicating with each other and invited speakers. An excellent way to develop correct pronunciation.

• Business English 

Designed for those who intend to work in an English-speaking company: students practice vocabulary and syntax, work on improving their pronunciation, and learn to give presentations and conduct correspondence. These programs require a fairly high baseline level of English — no lower than Pre-Intermediate. As a rule, the course includes from 30 to 40 hours of classes of varying intensity.

• IELTS/TOEFL/PTE Preparation Course

In these courses, students prepare for international standardized language examinations: they work on listening and speaking skills, reading and writing, conduct exam preparation drills, and sometimes take practice (at an additional fee) exams with the opportunity to receive feedback from an examiner.

The number of classes and their intensity may vary; duration, as a rule, ranges from 2 to 12 weeks.

• Academic English/University pathway 

A fairly rare variety in Indonesia — academic English courses where an applicant can improve their readiness for admission to an English-speaking university. Students will learn to write essays and take notes, conduct debates, and present their work. Such programs last from 4 to 12 weeks and require a fairly high baseline level — no lower than Elementary or Pre-Intermediate.

A significant drawback of preparatory programs in Indonesia should be considered the fact that they only prepare students for study, but a course completion diploma provides no advantages when applying for admission.

Enrollment takes place year-round, with the academic cycle beginning weekly on Tuesdays. Indonesia does not issue student visas for linguistic programs — almost all of them last no more than six months, which is the maximum length of stay on a tourist visa.

Classes are taught by native speakers or citizens of the country holding a TESOL certificate. Courses can be offline, online, or blended, with part of the sessions dedicated to independent work with the material.

During the course, students take several tests, and upon completion — an exam; having passed it successfully, the course graduate receives a certificate or diploma.

• Low cost

The average tuition cost is from $100 to $150/week, which makes Indonesia stand out favorably compared to other countries in the region: in Malaysia you will have to pay at least $150, in the Philippines and Thailand — at least $300.

• Small groups

On average, an English language course group consists of 5–15 people: this allows sufficient attention to be given and an individual approach to be found for each student.

• Study and leisure

In free time away from classes, you can dive deep into exploring the tourist infrastructure — be it culture, history, amazing Hindu shrines, or natural landmarks — as the several hundred large and small islands that make up Indonesia offer the widest range of opportunities for this.

• Visas

Russian citizens do not need to arrange an entry permit for programs of less than 30 days — it can easily be obtained at the airport; in addition, it is possible to extend the permit to stay without leaving the country for another 30 days.

• Limited choice

Local linguistic centers and university courses mainly offer basic programs, and less frequently business and academic programs or preparatory courses.

• University courses

English-language programs are almost entirely absent from the country's universities, so there are almost no university preparatory courses in English.

• Strict laws

Local legislation, based on Islamic law, differs noticeably from European and even Russian law. The same can be said about traditional rules of conduct, which are best studied before traveling to the country in order to avoid conflicts and legal trouble.

• Frequent earthquakes and tropical hurricanes

Overall, the climate conditions are quite favorable; however, tropical hurricanes and storms are not uncommon during the off-season, and the abundance of active volcanoes makes the probability of earthquakes and tsunamis fairly high — almost all major cities are located in coastal areas.

• Little practice

The English language has no official status in Indonesia and is significantly less widespread than Dutch or Indonesian languages, so finding a conversation partner for language practice outside of a school or university will not be easy.