OPINION

BAHASA INDONESIA
VS
ENGLISH
Which is more important?
By : Ratnasari Nugraheni

How many people think that English is more important than Bahasa Indonesia? There are more than a half of people say ‘yes’. Why? The answer is because English is an international language. A lot of people from different countries usually use English when they are talking. They use English as a mediator in a conversation. In Indonesia, English is one of the subjects in the school. National Examination also consists of English. So, do you think English is more important than Bahasa Indonesia in our country? I don’t think so. In my opinion, English is important for people in the world. However, since we are in Indonesia, Bahasa Indonesia is the most important language.
Now, I want to tell you why Bahasa Indonesia is more important than English. First, Bahasa Indonesia is the symbol which shows that Indonesia has a great civilization. It means that Indonesia is a great nation. Although Malay is the root language of Bahasa Indonesia, but it doesn’t mean that Bahasa Indonesia has the same pattern with it. Do you know EYD’s book? EYD’s book (buku ‘Ejaan yang Disempurnakan’) shows that Bahasa Indonesia has a different structure with the other languages. It means that Bahasa Indonesia is a specific language. How about English? Most people in the world know it. So, if there are a lot of people want to study English. It is an ordinary thing but if there are a lot of people from different countries want to study Bahasa Indonesia, it is a pride. However, it means that they are very interested about our culture. What a great nation we are!
Second, Indonesia is a language which can unite our nation. In other words, Bahasa Indonesia is a national language for our country and it has a function as a lingua franca. What is lingua franca? Lingua franca is a language which is used for communication between groups of people who speak different languages but it is not used between members of the same group. Indonesia has many tribes. Each tribe has a culture that is different from the others and also has a different local dialect. So, we need Bahasa Indonesia as the unifying factor. If we use English, I think there are a lot of people who don’t understand when we are talking. Although English is the main subject in our country, but it doesn’t mean that all people understand when we are using it. So, I think it’s better for us to use Bahasa Indonesia when we are talking with the people who are from the other province, so it can avoid a misunderstanding in a conversation.
Third, Bahasa Indonesia is a mother tongue. Have you ever thought what will happen if all people in Indonesia use English as a mother tongue? Maybe it’s good to expand our knowledge because there is some information which comes from foreign country but what will happen about our language, Bahasa Indonesia? If we use English more than Bahasa Indonesia, it will make our young generation will forget Bahasa Indonesia. We have to remember that Bahasa Indonesia is our language. As an origin language, it is an obligation task for young generation to perpetuate it in our nation. Now, Bahasa Indonesia hasn’t become important in our young generation. You can see many teenagers in Indonesia who have parents who are from different country. They can speak English fluently but they can’t speak fluently for Bahasa Indonesia, whereas they are Indonesian citizenship. So, I think we must acquire our mother tongue better, while English as a second language is also need to be mastered.
In conclusion, Bahasa Indonesia is more important than English in Indonesia because Bahasa Indonesia is the symbol of our nation, a national language, and a mother tongue. So, there isn’t a reason to say that Bahasa Indonesia isn’t important. Although English is an international language but Bahasa Indonesia is a national language in our country and it’s more important using Bahasa Indonesia in our country than English.

Book Report IV

• Title of book : The Old Man and The Sea
• Author : Ernest Hemingway
• Publisher : Charles Scribner’s Son, New York
• Year of publication : 1952

Setting
The setting of the novel is in the Gulf Stream at September.

Major characters
1. Santiago
Description : He is an old strong fisherman. He is thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his neck. The brown blotches of the benevolent skin cancer the sun brings from its reflection on the tropic sea are on his cheeks. He never gives up and has a high spirit.

2. Manolin
Description : He is a boy who fishes together with Santiago for the first forty days. He is kind, diligent, helpful, and obedient with his parents.


Summary
There was an old man who named Santiago. He fished alone in the Gulf Stream. Now, it was the eighty-four days for him without taking a fish. For the first forty days, He fished with a boy, Manolin but after the first forty days Manolin’s father ordered him to fish with the other boat because his parents thought that the old man was salao (the worst form of unlucky person). So, his parents wanted him to fish with the lucky boat which had caught three fishes in a week. Although the boy didn’t fish with the old man but he always helped the old man when the old man went to go fishing.
The old man woke up early in the morning to fish, he fished alone. He sailed so far from land. On the first day, He didn’t get anything. He almost got the fish but unfortunately, the fish didn’t want to eat the bait. It made the old man sad. Next day, the old man got the tuna for eat. He thought that he had to eat to get energy to catch the other fish which bigger than the others. There were many fishes which wanted to eat the bait but unfortunately, the fish always ran away before they got the bait. On the third day, there was a big fish which eat the bait, it named Marlin. The old man was very happy about it. He could catch Marlin. Unfortunately, there was a Mako Shark who ate his fish but he could kill it. Then, two shovel-nosed sharks came to eat the fish and the old man killed them too. One shovel-nosed shark came and he killed it very easy. Unfortunately, there were many sharks which came after that. At night, there were many sharks which came to eat. Now, he didn’t do anything, he was too tired.
Now, he sailed to go home. At harbour, the people were sleeping. He went to his home and then he slept. When Manolin came, the old man was still sleeping. Manolin said that he wanted to sail with him again although his parents forbade him. The old man lost because he just got the bone of the Marlin. Actually, there were tourists who looked the skeleton. They thought that it was so beautiful although it was just the skeleton. They thought the fisherman who had caught it very lucky.

What is the Major conflict in the story?
The Major conflict in the story is about the old man’s struggle to defend his Marlin from a lot of sharks. He wants to show the Marlin to the other people, especially to show it for the boy. So, he can fish together again because he feels alone when he fishes.

How does the story end?
The story ends with happy ending. Although, he doesn’t get the fish but he gets more than fish, the boy. He can go back to the land and meet Manolin again. Manolin promises that he wants to fish again with the old man. Now, the old man won’t fish alone again.

What is the theme of the book?
The theme of the book is we must be positive thinking to look the future. Although, we can’t get our hope but there’s something special that God wants to give to us. So, don’t be desperate and always do hard to face the problem.

Do you like the book?
Yes, I like this book because I’m very interested about the story which tells about the struggle of the old man to get the fish. The old man’s struggle inspires me to do the best for my life although there are some problems and the result isn’t good, but there is something which very good for us. The important thing isn’t the result but the struggle which is pure from ours, not from the others.

This book was a little difficult.

Book Report III

· Title of book : The Prince an the Pauper

· Author : Mark Twain retold by Michael West

· Publisher : Longman Group

· Year of publication : 1981

Setting

The setting of the novel is in London in year 1547.

Major characters

1. Edward

Description : He is a Prince. He lives in Palace. He is very loyal with his friend, kind, and an honest person.

2. Tom Canty

Description : He is a poor boy who lives in an old house in the poorest part of London. He very loves his mother and his sister. He is very obedient and an honest person.

3. Miles Hendon

Description : He is a strong man and a very kind person.

Summary

Tom Canty was a poor boy who lived with a very cruel father. He wanted to meet Prince. Someday, he could meet Prince. Surprisingly, Edward, The Prince, wanted to be Tom Canty and wanted to go outside Palace so they changed over. After they had changed, Edward went out the palace. He was hungry and wanted to be himself again and so did Tom. Unfortunately, when he didn’t know where was Tom’s house, so he decided to back to the palace. He asked people who he met but no one believed with him. John Canty, Tom’s father, found him. Edward didn’t want to go with him but John Canty forced him.

There was a problem so Canty’s family wanted to run away from their house. Edward was missed in crowded. He met Miles Hendon. Miles Hendon helped him and he wanted to take Edward to his house. Miles Hendon was very kind with Edward. Miles Hendon told about his life to Edward. He told that his brother, Arthur took his house, his land and his wife. So, he decided to take it again from Arthur. He wanted to meet King to get all it again.

Someday, Edward went to meet Tom. He wanted to change himself to be a Prince again. It was difficult to make all people believe with him. Fortunately, Edward and Tom could meet again. All people looked at them. They were very confused because they had the same face. Actually, Lord Hertford tried to find who was a real Prince. Finally, he knew the real Prince. Then, Edward was crowned King, Tom Canty lived in the Palace, Tom’s sister and Tom’s mother lived in a very nice house, and Miles Hendon got his house, his land, and his wife again.

What is the Major conflict in the story?

The Major conflict in the story is the Edward’s struggle to make people believe him that he is a real Prince.

How does the story end?

The story ends with happy ending. Edward is crowned King and he becomes a very good king because he has been among the people and he has learned how they live and what they need. Tom lives in a Palace. Miles Hendon gets his home, his land, and his wife again.

What is the theme of the book?

The theme of the book is we must always say thanks to God for all we have. Just be yourself and don’t think to be another person because God has a good plan for our life.

Do you like the book?

Yes, I like this book because I can learn more about life. The moral value that I find is very close with our life. This book tells a story that is different with another book, so it’s a very interesting book.

This book was easy to read.

MY LETTER

Dear my beloved parents,

Hi Mom and Dad. How are you? I wish you are fine. Mom, dad, I’m very happy in here. I have a story about an unforgettable moment. This story is about the quarrel between my land lady and all of people in my boarding house. It happened 6 months ago.

In the morning, 6 months ago, I was in first semester. Someday, I had to wake up early because I had a class at 7 O’clock. I went to bathroom to take a bath. I looked something. Oh My God!!!! There was something wrong. Could you imagine what I found in the bathroom, especially at the latrine? It was very disgusting. I just stood up outside and I didn’t want to go in. At that time, I thought that I needed SOS because its smell made me wanted to vomit.

“Sari, what happen?”, said my friend, Bitha. Her voice made me shocked. Then, I just pointed out to the latrine. She was shocked too. After that, all of my friends in boarding house came and they did what I did before, just stood up outside and pinched their nose.

Ririth, my friend, actually she was an elder sister in my boarding house. She knocked the land lady’s house and wanted to tell her what happened. Land lady opened the door. We told about the problem but she just said, “It’s not my problem but I can help you, I will call a man to repair it. So, you should pay twenty thousand rupiahs for each person.” Oh Mom, Dad!!! She was a cruel land lady in Yogyakarta. We rejected her offered. Why? We know that she was a very greedy person. So, we decided to find a man to repair it by our self.

At noon, when I went home and wanted to go to my room, I was surprised. I looked my land lady in front of the bathroom. Then, she looked at me and gave me a very long advice. I just said yes to her. Actually, I was annoyed because she scolded me in front of many people. I went to meet my friends. Actually, I was surprised again, when I looked one of my friends was crying. She said that my land lady scolded her too.

In the evening, my friends and I protested to her because she called a man without told us before and we must have paid twenty thousand. We thought that the problem was a responsibility of my land lady. In front of many people, we were quarreling. There were many people looked at us. They were watching us.

Oh My God, my land lady was very cruel!!! We stopped the quarrel. She just wanted our money. At night, we were very sad and we were crying together. I hoped God could make her conscious.

Mom, dad, It is my story. I hope you aren’t sad when red my letter. I’m ok in here. I can keep my self. Bye, bye…….. I miss you and I really love you.

Book Report II

· Title of book : Black Beauty

· Author : Anna Sewell (Abridged by Rabinder Mahajan)

· Publisher : New Dawn Press Group

· Year of publication : 2006

Setting

The setting of the novel is in a large pleasant meadow, Britwick, Earlshall Park, and Vicar (the last home for Black Beauty). The setting time is in 19^th century when the most popular transportation is used horse.

Major characters

1. Black Beauty

Description : Black Beauty is stallion. He has one white foot, bright black coat and a pretty white star on its forehead. He is very obedient and loyal with his master. He has a good sensitive feeling.

2. Squire Gordon

Description : He is a good rider, a kind person, and thoughtful for his horse. He has married. He lives in Britwick.

3. John Manly

Description : He is coachman who is thoughtful with horse, gentle, and kind. He works for Squire Gordon to keep his horses. After Squire Gordon leaves, he works for Vicar.

4. Joe

Description : He is groom. He is careless but responsible. He works for Squire Gordon but after Squire Gordon leaves, he works for Vicar.

Summary

Black beauty was stallion. He was born in a large pleasant meadow, in that place he lived with his mother. When he was four years old, he started his breaking in. After that, He is bought by Squire Gordon so he lived in Britwirck. He got friends, they were Merryleg and Ginger. The coachman, John Manly was very thoughtful for horse so he really cared with Black Beauty. Someday, Mrs. Gordon was sick and needed a doctor. Black Beauty was woken by John to pick up a doctor for Mrs. Gordon. After they had gotten to find a doctor, Black Beauty got rest in his stable. Unfortunately, Joe, a stable boy didn’t cover him with a warm cloth so Black Beauty fell ill. John was very sad and Joe felt guilty.

Black Beauty was healthy but there was a problem. Mrs. Gordon was sick and wanted to live in a warm country for a few years. So, Black Beauty and Ginger were sold to Earlshall Park and gave Merryleg to the Vicar on condition that Marryleg was never to be sold. Joe and John were engaged in that house. In Earlshall Park, Black Beauty and Ginger had to wear the bearing rein. It was painful for them. Ginger became wild because that. Someday, Ruben Smith was riding Black Beauty on condition he was too drunk so didn’t ride care. Suddenly, Black beauty stumbled and fell down, Smith was thrown off and he died. After Black beauty recovered, He was sold and became a job-horse. The new master was very kind. Black Beauty was sold to Mr. Barry. Then, Mr. Barry sold him to Jeremiah Barker. Jeremiah Barker had to move to countryside so Black Beauty was sold to Jakes. Then, Jakes sold him to Nicholas Skinner.

Black Beauty got sick. The doctor who checked Black Beauty said that Black Beauty had to take a rest so he could be sold for affair price. At the sale, He was bought by Mr. Throughgood, a farmer. Finally, Black Beauty was bought by a young lady. The groom who picked him up was Joe. Black Beauty lived in Vicar. The young lady said that she didn’t want to sell Black Beauty to other people. It made him happy and it meant that his trouble was over. He could live happy forever.

What is the Major conflict in the story?

The Major conflict in the story is Black Beauty was sold to Earlshall Park. It was the beginning time for Black Beauty wore the bearing rein and the first time for Black Beauty to live unhappy.

How does the story end?

The story ends with happy ending. Black Beauty is bought by lady who is very kind. She promises not to sell Black Beauty to the other people and want to keep Black Beauty for along of his life. It means that Black Beauty doesn’t have a trouble again like his life before. Fortunately, Joe is a groom in the last home for Black Beauty, so he knows a lot of about how to keep Black Beauty. Joe is an old friend of Black Beauty when Black Beauty in Squire Gordon house. It makes Black Beauty happy.

What is the theme of the book?

The theme of the book is we must love animals, not just for pets but love them like our friends because animal is created by God so we must appreciate animal like human too.

Do you like the book?

No, I don’t like this book because it’s too difficult for me to understand about the story. I must read it for two times to understand about the story. It’s difficult because this novel is a fable which the main character is an animal and the words which are used in this novel difficult. There are many words which common to show about animal, especially about their gesture or sound.

This book was a little difficult.