See the Cinta Bahasa School Profile for 2012
About Us
We’re glad you’d like to know more about us. We understand the importance of a good language education, which we feel is essential to harmonious relations between foreigners and Indonesians. This is our vision, and our mission.
Social Responsibility
We think it’s very important to support efforts to make Ubud and the world a better place. For that reason, we support and collaborate with the Ubud Reader’s and Writer’s Festival, BaliSpirit Festival, Campuhan College, the Pelangi School, the Green School, Villa Kitty, Kopernik, Anak Alam, Tedx Ubud, Hubud, and other organizations, schools, conferences and projects in Ubud. Starting from the day we opened in 2011, we have contributed over Rp 40,000,000 (US$ 4,500) to local education scholarship funds and organizations doing important work in Ubud and Bali, and our time to help local organizations, from coordinating the volunteers and organizing the interpretation team of the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2012.
Vision:
Our vision is one of a harmonious and integrated society between foreigners and Indonesians through regular interaction and sharing of ideas and experiences that can be communicated using Bahasa Indonesia.
Mission:
To encourage improved communication between foreigners and Indonesians using a variety of different means: providing language training and translation/interpretation services, as well as activities and events which encourage foreigners and Indonesians to get to know each other and for foreigners become integrated better in Indonesian culture and society.
Your Teachers
Our Lead Teacher, Noviana Kusumawardhani was a Bahasa Indonesia Teacher at one of the first Indonesian Language Schools in the country. She has highly-developed teaching skills and experiences for teaching students one-on-one, or in groups, from beginners to advanced students.
She has taught Bahasa Indonesia to Ambassadors, Military Officers, Executives, NGO Volunteers, Managers, artists and people from all walks of life. She has two sons, Banyu Bening and Langit Jingga, and her husband Erwin, and has been living in Ubud the past several years.
Novi has a degree in Mass Communication, and was previously Creative Director of a Major Advertising Agency, a University Lecturer, Senior Copywriter and TV Producer. She’s also the author of an award-winning novel in Indonesian language.
Although she has broad experience, her specialty is teaching the Beginner and Intermediate Groups, as well as Private classes.
I was really impressed with the quality and expertise of Novi, the teacher. She adapted everything to a variety of levels of the pre-intermediate students, handled a wide variety of questions from students so that we all felt included and this sometimes disturbed her lesson plans – yet she handled all without anyone missing out on anything. She brought information in later lessons to expand on our questions. It amazed me that she interacted with each of us at our levels, ‘pushing’ each of us where we needed it! The lessons were really well organized, didn’t introduce an overwhelming amount of new words and built on previous words – all very clever!
Darsih
Go Organic Indonesia
General Manager
Our Senior Teacher Arie Triono is a Communication specialist with a degree in Advertising & Communications from the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, where he lived most of his life until he moved to Ubud.
He’s worked with many top international and national advertising agencies in Jakarta, and has designed several memorable catchphrases for Carrefour, Djarum, Mobile-8 Telecommunications, Perfetti van Melle and get involved in commercial campaign for Unilever, Hutchison CP Telecommunications, Danone, Johnson Home Hygiene Products, Johnson & Johnson Indonesia, BAT-Bentoel Group, Coca-Cola Company, L’Oreal and Maybelline.
Arie is also a talented DJ who had the crowd dancing at the 2011 Ubud Writer’s and Reader’s Festival closing night event, and at many other major events in town.
Arie specializes in teaching the Small-Group Beginner Indonesian Language Course.
“When we started with Cinta Bahasa we were pure novices, unable to even order simple food and drink. The professional and friendly staff, specially our teacher Arie, worked hard to help use through the first steps of speaking a new language and the excellent resources they gave us for self study made our month long journey into loving language fun and productive. We still have a journey ahead of us to become proficient but we feel we have the building blocks and we have the confidence to get out there and start speaking Indonesian. We could not recommend Cinta Bahasa highly enough! Thanks for a great month.”
Simon & Andrina
Dive Professionals
February 2012
Our Senior Teacher Tony Surya taught Indonesian language at the Indonesian Exchange Language Center in Perth for four years, and has been teaching in Ubud for the past 8 years.
As a musician, songwriter and poet for the past 25 years, Tony loves language and the arts. Fluent in English, he is also a translator and interpreter.
Tony specializes in teaching Families, as well as in teaching through conversation and music, and strengthening Indonesian grammar in Intermediate and Advanced level students.
Tony’s diverse range of experiences and access to materials was helpful for developing and practicing a larger vocabulary as well as learning grammar.
John Watts
PhD Researcher in Indonesia
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I’ve really enjoyed the 2 classes I’ve had with Tony so far. He understands what I want from a class..not blackboard work, but conversation. He fixes up my sentence structure, fills in vocab, explains things really well. He’s strict that I say things correctly, but also relaxed and encouraging so I feel confident to try.
Gabe Monson
Our Senior Teacher Daniel Prasatyo is Cinta Bahasa’s Academic Advisor. Originally from Yogyakarta, Java, finds his passion in teaching Bahasa Indonesia, language and writing.
He started teaching Indonesian Language to foreigners in 2007, working his way up from beginner’s to advanced levels, and then becoming the Academic Director of one of the top Indonesian Language Schools in Yogyakarta.
He trained many, many teachers to become expert Language Instructors, as well as constructing the syllabus for the courses at his school.
He has also been involved as interpreter and translator in several international events with major organizations. In his spare time, he writes fiction and travel articles, runs a free online creative writing class, and facilitates creative writing workshops nationwide.
I enjoyed the course, and Daniel is a very good teacher. He adapted so great to the needs and the limitations that I had. I learned a lot. What I learned is to use the language. More than that, you cannot ask.
Eric van Loon
General Manager
PT. Karya Tangan Indah (John Hardy Silver)
www.johnhardy.com
—
Our family of five enjoyed learning Bahasa Indonesia for about one month. Daniel came to our place personally which was very convenient for us, and was a great teacher, answering all our questions well, making it fun, and helping us practice and learn the language. We all felt like we learned a lot, and will continue our lessons when we come back to Bali. Thank you Cinta Bahasa!
The Pearce Family
http://PearceOnEarth.com
Our Teacher Made Handijaya Dewantara, who goes by the name of Handi earned his Bachelor degree at the Bali Tourism Institute. He is currently studying at Udayana University for his Master’s Degree in Tourism. He is formerly an Indonesian Language Ambassador with the Indonesian Language Department of the Ministry of Education.
He is also active at the international level, assisted the Rome MUN (Model United Nations) 2012 as director of General Assembly 3 (social, cultural, and humanitarian council) in Rome, Italy. His biggest MUN participation was when he participated as delegate at Global MUN 2011 in Incheon, Republic of Korea. He grabbed his first award in MUN when he awarded as The Best International Delegate in Kriya MUN 2011, Coimbatore, India represented his own country, Indonesia. Besides, he also invited as chairperson in Yeosu Expo Model UN Conference in South Korea and Model UN Russian Far East in Vladivostok Russia.
He is still the top member of Indonesian Future Leaders and Indo-Debaters. He also has been awarded in scientific writing and essay writing competitions.
As a Balinese, he is really concern about the importance of foreigners living in Bali to be able to speak Bahasa Indonesia.
We have just finished 20 hours Intermediate Course with Handi. He is a tremendous teacher: enthusiastic, personable and very knowledgeable. I have no reservation in recommending both the course and Handi to anybody who is wishing to improve their Bahasa and will definitely be looking to take another course soon.
Phillip Gwynne
December 2012
Our Teacher Trias Susanti earned her degree in Indonesian Literature at Udayana University in Bali. Trias has a big passion for the Indonesian language and culture and loves teaching Indonesian language to foreigners.
Being an Indonesian language teacher is one of her dedications in achieving her goals to follow her mother’s footsteps, who is an Indonesian language teacher as well. Her hobbies are writing fiction and poetries and she is very active in writing on her online private blog.
She coordinates Cinta Bahasa’s branches in Sanur and Canggu, and creating a comfortable, encouraging, interactive and fun atmosphere is her preferred approach in teaching.
I really enjoyed learning 1 on 1 with Trias at Cinta Bahasa – she is very patient, kind and encouraging! The course was very enjoyable and I look forward to continuing when I get back to Bali.
Elly Stone
December 2012
Our Teacher Made Sumadiyasa , also known as Yasa, earned his degree in Indonesian Language in 2006 from Ganesha University in Singaraja. For the past few years, he taught Bahasa Indonesia at the Gandhi Memorial International School to students from Grades 6-12, both the International Baccalaureate (IB) as well as the IGCSE International Standards.
Thanks to Yasa and Cinta Bahasa for this great Beginner’s Class. What I learned will help me a lot in my daily life in Bali!
Carolyn Nusohr
October 2012
Ulan Purnamasari graduated with a degree in Japanese language from Udayana University in Bali. She has been a tutor to other students since elementary school, and has a natural talent for teaching. She used to teach math at Kumon and Indonesian and Japanese language to private students. Fluent in Indonesian, Japanese (written and spoken) and English, she can teach Indonesian with explanation both in English and Japanese languages.
Guru Mbak Ulan is a very good teacher. She always encourages learning and because she enjoys teaching, the student enjoys learning! Thank you very much.
Carmel Markham
October 2012
Winda Mahayanti graduated with a degree in Education from IKIP PGRI in Bali. Born into a family of educators, both her parents are Primary School teachers, and teaching has been her hobby since she was in school. Winda teaches the Small-Group Beginner Course, Private Beginner Courses and also the Conversation Class.
“I was a language teacher for 38 years and I’m sure I couldn’t make it better than Winda does. Learning with Cinta Bahasa was a beautiful and (enrichissante) experience. I will come again when I will be in Ubud again.”
Jean-Jacques Deslorzes
October 2012
Anak Agung Gde Putra Rangki, also known as “Pak Putra“, is the Senior Teacher and Programs Coordinator at Cinta Bahasa. A Balinese culture and architecture expert as well as an Indonesian and Balinese language expert, Pak Putra has a decades of experience in teaching Indonesian language and culture in Bali.
A very respected man in Bali society, he also plays role as the Director of Dhyana Putri Adventures, a company whose primary goals are to immerse visitors to Indonesia in the culture and has been Teaching Indonesian to college students from University of San Diego, Union College, University of Wisconsin-Superior and UCLA during their cultural immersion courses in Bali. He was the Indonesian Culture Consultant at the Green School Bali (teaching Balinese Culture and Indonesian language) and the Language teacher (Indonesian) and cross cultural trainer for the Academic Semester Abroad program of the Experiment in International Living’s Semester Abroad Program for North American undergraduates in Bali. He speaks fluent Indonesian, Balinese, Javanese and English.
Teacher Anna Sutanto has a very strong background in social research and has been working with communities across Indonesia for the past 6 years. She actively took part to develop program in the field of post disaster and trauma healing, public health, and environment. She was the Campaign Coordinator of Plastic-Free Bali in 2010-2012.
She has been traveling around Indonesia to do the research for IREWOC (International Research on Working Children), John Hopkins University-Center for Communication Program, and JRKY (Jaringan Relawan Kemanusiaan Yogyakarta), Center for Health Policy and Social Studies, and many more. In the fields, she has taught many people about Indonesian language and culture understanding.
Anna never realized that she enjoys teaching until she got involved with a humanitarian organization after the Yogyakarta earthquake in 2006. Prior to joining Cinta Bahasa, she worked with various NGOs and researchers to know more about the social aspects of Indonesia.
Teacher Dedi Kristian graduated from Udayana University in Denpasar, Bali, English Faculty, Dedi finds his passion in teaching. Before this, he was a script writer, interpreter, Liaison Officer, translator, English teacher and announcer for an English speaking radio.
He was the Art Director for the Beat Magazine, Indonesia and the writer and photographer for HELLO ASEAN 2011. He enjoys taking great photos and active in journalism and music industry.
Administration Officer Jaka Maulana was a member of GEPENTA (Gerakan Pemberantasan Narkoba Tawuran dan Anarki/National Movement Against Drugs, Fights and Anarchy) when he was at a high school student in Jakarta.
He was an intern at the Mahkamah Agung (Indonesia’s Supreme Court), has worked in a French and Italian restaurant (so yes, he is a good cook too). He was also involved in the CCT (Children Care Team) as a chaperon. He enjoys sports, learning new things, reading and cooking.
Student Relation Officer Jenny Jusuf is a very active blogger and campaigner for social media content. She has published several works from 2007 – 2013.
She was Editor in Chief of ParadiGm magazine, a script writer for several TV stations in Indonesia, editor for several Indonesian language novels and reporter for the Climate Change International Conference 2010 in Mexico.
Balinese Religious Advisor
Mangku Putu is our Balinese Hindu Religious Advisor.
He leads all of the important ceremonies at our school, and our groups to Tirta Empul and Sebatu Water Temples for the Melukat Cleansing Ceremony. Occasionally he is joined by his wife and daughter.
Mangku was chosen by his local traditional community to become a practicing holy man, and he dedicates his life and his soul to the task of helping all of us to live a better life. He speaks Balinese, Indonesian and English, and can explain the philosophy and practice of Balinese Hinduism.
*Please note that Mangku provides Hindu religious ceremony services for a voluntary contribution, and is not a tour guide. Further, Cinta Bahasa does not receive any financial compensation whatsoever for his services.
Graphic & Layout Designer
Yolanda Chandra has many years of experience in graphic design houses and advertising companies in Jakarta as senior graphic designer and art director.
She’s our Graphic Designer, responsible for producing all of our materials, and also one of the founders and creative directors of Suddenly Clothing line, as well as a full time mom of her daughter Berlin “Rory” Laureline.
Founders / Directors
Yoshida “Ochie” Chandra DeMeulenaere is Cinta Bahasa’s School Director and Co-Founder. Ochie most recently taught Advertising & Media at Bina Nusantara University in Jakarta and English at Campuhan College in Ubud. Her Co-Founder is her husband, Stephen DeMeulenaere who is Cinta Bahasa’s School Advisor
Originally from Padang, Sumatra, Ochie has a degree in English Literature from Andalas University in Padang and has a very advanced knowledge of Indonesian and English language.
Fluent in English, Ochie has worked as an interpreter and translator with the US Embassy in Jakarta, International NGOs and Corporations in Jakarta, has years of teaching experience and has worked as an Advertising copywriter with some of the top agencies in Indonesia.
She was the Indonesian Volunteer Coordinator for the 2010 Ubud Reader’s and Writer’s Festival, and is the Volunteer Coordinator for the 2011 UWRF.
She recently received extensive training and certification with BIPA, the Indonesian Ministry of Education’s Department of Indonesian Language Training for Foreigners.
Stephen DeMeulenaere is Cinta Bahasa’s School Advisor and Co-Founder together with his wife Ochie. Stephen has been living in various parts of Indonesia the past 12 years, and in various countries in Asia for the past 15 years. He is an expert and consultant in Cooperative organizations and has worked with small and very large development organizations for most of his time here. Previous to founding Cinta Bahasa, he was the GM of a Factual and Documentary Film Production Company in Ubud.
Stephen was an English Language Teacher in Canada, Mexico, Argentina and a Junior High School Teacher in Hokkaido, Japan for 2 years. He was also training coordinator of the Tokachi International Education Circle, a network of 40 teachers in his region.
He fell in love with the Indonesian Language in 2000 and never looked back. It’s been his dream to start an Indonesia
n Language School so that other foreigners could also feel the same love for the Indonesian language that he does.
He also recently received extensive training and certification with BIPA, the Indonesian Ministry of Education’s Department of Indonesian Language Training for Foreigners, and is an Advanced Intermediate speaker by native standards, according to the official test of Indonesian Language Proficiency for Native Speakers.
See Cinta Bahasa’s Profile on Google.
