This issue is also evident in the academic environment of Universitas Katolik Indonesia Santu Paulus Ruteng.
Cultural Identity
In everyday interactions, many students tend to use the Manggarai language more frequently than Indonesian.
As a result, Indonesian is often limited to formal classroom settings. While the use of local languages is an important part of cultural identity, limited exposure to Indonesian in academic contexts may affect students’ ability to write formal assignments, comprehend scholarly texts, and apply standard Indonesian correctly.
To address this challenge, universities need to strengthen the consistent use of Indonesian in academic environments.
Lecturers can integrate academic writing tasks across various courses to encourage regular practice of formal language use.
In addition, campuses should provide supporting facilities such as language consultation services, updated library resources, and clear academic writing guidelines.
Indonesia’s Cultural Identity
Furthermore, lecturers and academic staff are expected to serve as role models by consistently using proper Indonesian in teaching, presentations, and official communication. Universities can also enhance students’ engagement through writing competitions, discussion forums, and language clubs designed to improve communication skills in a more interactive and practical way.
