ASILE CONFERENCE 2016

HISTORY OF ASILE

The Australian Society of Indonesian Language Educators (ASILE) began its existence at a conference for Indonesian educators in Adelaide, South Australia on the Anzac weekend of April, 1994. Indonesian Language Teacher associations had been in existence around Australia prior to this but often working in isolation. The vision to bring together Indonesian language educators from across Australia was the driving intention of this inaugural event.

The idea for such an event was based on a concept put forward by Firdaus, a lecturer in Indonesian at Flinders University, South Australia. She proposed that a new peak professional body for educators of Indonesian language be formed in Australia with the express intention of furthering interest in the learning and teaching of Indonesian language. It was considered that an event such as this would also be an ideal opportunity to unite educators from early childhood to tertiary to share research and best-practice in teaching the language. It would also provide the forum to explore evolution in Indonesian language.
Participants deemed the inaugural conference a success and this was swiftly followed by a second national conference held at Monash, Victoria in July 1995 and was organised by Professor Barbara Hatley and Professor Harry Aveling. At the Monash event, it was resolved to constitute the newly formed association and give it the name "Australian Society for Indonesian Language Educators" (ASILE). A committee was elected, comprising of two members of the formative group from Flinders University, the two convenors of the Monash conference and two representatives of a Sydney group who had proposed to host a third conference in 1996.

ASILE conferences have continued to be organised on a ratational, voluntary basis with no permanent board or secretariat.

In recent years ASILE conferences have been hosted by educational institutions in Indonesia, strengthening relationships with Indonesian language experts and researchers and adding the element of in-country authenticity.

With a strong connection to the Indonesian concept of "Gotong Royong" ASILE continues to be maintained, building upon the success of past conferences through the work of many volunteers.

In 2016 the ASILE conference will again return to Adelaide.

Past ASILE Conferences:
  • 1994 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  • 1995 Monash, Victoria, Australia
  • 1996 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • 1998 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
  • 1999 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
  • 2001 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  • 2003 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  • 2006 Perth, Western Australia
  • 2007 Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
  • 2009 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • 2010 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
  • 2012 Salatiga, Central Java, Indonesia
  • 2014 Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia


To register to attend ASILE conference 2016 - click here!