Introduction
There is a growing interest to study and learn a foreign language for a myriad of reasons. One is for globalization because proficiency in other languages is a vital skill that gives one the advantage to engage with the world and compete in the global economy. When one learns to speak a foreign language, it helps connect with other peoples, it eases understanding of their culture and able to form meaningful relationships. One can able to use it as advantage as far as cultural and linguistic issues in the English language classroom [1].
In studying a foreign language, the increased communication skills can be beneficial in the global job market plus the ease of travel because of the navigational skills one has learned. Furthermore, some literatures suggest foreign language study enhances both cognitive development and academic achievement. A person familiar with the language and culture of the foreign place can communicate more effectively with people of other countries and culture, thus become more effective problem-solvers and interact more meaningfully to pressing issues [2]. Learning a foreign language also eases internationalization efforts of an institution of higher learning by integrating it with other disciplines [3].
The outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic has halted international mobility due to travel restrictions and lockdowns. However, internationalization found a new way through the use of Internet which shifted the process from face to face to virtual or online. Even if international mobility is hampered, the other streams of internationalization can flourish during this pandemic times, that is, internationalization at home or campus-based Internationalization. In a higher education institution, one of the internationalization at home initiatives is introducing a foreign language in the curriculum [4].
Fun Bahasa Indonesia and Cultural Course (FBICC) is one of Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) Global Engagement’s programs which gives an opportunity for global citizens to learn Bahasa Indonesia and cultural understanding. ITS, one of the leading technological universities in Surabaya, East Java proposed FBICC for the advantage of global citizens to learn Bahasa Indonesia and its culture since Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia and one of the world’s 20 largest economies [5]. FBICC is held virtually free of charge which is open to the public, college students, lecturers, and professionals throughout the globe.
There are 11 session meetings in the entire course and each session is conducted for two hours per week via Zoom application which has started in March up to May. The learning sessions were organized in terms of learning Indonesian Greetings, Introducing oneself, others and family, stating direction, going around and other daily activities. In the middle of the course, a virtual tour of the city of Surabaya is scheduled and at the 11th session is the final test. A successful participant will be given a certificate of participation. In 2021, the number of online participants to the program rose to more than 400 which is more than 150 percent increase from last year’s participants. Of this number, more than 80 percent are from the Philippines.