International Conference on Language, Literary and Cultural Studies (ICON LATERALS) 2016

As the widest country plus having the highest population in ASEAN, Indonesia is counted as the biggest contributor of economic growth in the region. The transmission of culture, and language definitely adhere to this phenomenon. Moreover, since December 2015 this issue raised by the legalization of economic cooperation in regions, which generally called ASEAN Economic Community. Responding this issue, some steps on various areas were taken, not exceptionally on language education; in regional meeting for example, the Ministry of Education proposed Indonesian as the working language of ASEAN community. By considering the position of Indonesia of course this expectation is not too much. Moreover, from the neighboring perspectives, this language is not only used in this country but also Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam. Even though this idea is not yet officially legitimated, efforts on introducing Indonesia is already began by the government. This country has made cooperation with some countries, which called BIPA Program (Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing), or in English it will be best translated as Indonesian Language for Foreign Learners. Go beyond the ASEAN, Indonesia seemed won't loosed its opportunity to appear themselves on a global stage, not less than 45 countries around the world join this programs, including Japan, USA and Australia (Kompas.com, 2013). Hundreds of language study center have established; some stand as part univesities or colleges. Regarding all of this issue arise, this paper aims to describe BIPA Program in a global scale, especially as the respond of ratification of AEC (ASEAN Economic Community).