Lesson video

Hello and welcome.

My name is Ms. Harrison.

I'm so excited to be learning with you today.

Today's lesson is called "Location and importance of Indonesia." Grab everything you might need for today's lesson, and let's begin our learning.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to describe Indonesia's location and explain why it is important in its region and globally.

Before we can begin, we need to define the keywords that we'll be using throughout today's lesson.

The keywords in today's lesson are ASEAN and context.

ASEAN, this is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and is a group of 10 nations who cooperate on trade and security with the aim of boosting their economic, social, and cultural development.

Context, this is the background conditions and situation that help explain what is happening in a country.

Now that we've defined these keywords, we can begin our learning.

The first question we're going to explore in today's lesson is, where is Indonesia located? Indonesia's located in Southeast Asia.

Which of its neighbouring countries and oceans can you identify? Pause here, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, let's hear some answers.

Aisha said, "Countries with a land border with Indonesia are Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor, with lots of others across the sea." Alex said, "The Indian Ocean is to the west and south, and the Pacific Ocean is to the north and east." Well done if you managed to come up with those answers as well.

Southeast Asia's a diverse and dynamic region made up of 11 independent countries, each with its own unique culture, economy, and geography.

As we can see, countries include Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Which of the 11 states in Southeast Asia are missing from the list? Pause here whilst you decide, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the missing countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam.

Well done.

Indonesia's an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, stretching across Southeast Asia and into the Pacific Ocean.

It is the largest country in the region, both in land area and population, and one of the most geographically and culturally diverse nations in the world.

Its major islands include Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, also known as Borneo, Sulawesi, and Papua, also known as New Guinea, each with its own unique landscapes, cultures, and resources.

A smaller island is Bali, which is internationally famous for its tourism, known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant traditions, and Hindu culture.

Indonesia lies directly on the equator, meaning it spans both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

This location gives a hot and humid tropical climate all year round, supporting rich rainforests, biodiversity, and agriculture, while also contributing to natural hazards such as floods and forest fires.

Its position between the Indian and Pacific oceans make Indonesia a key player in global trade and maritime security, especially near critical sea lines like the Malacca Straits.

This vast and fragmented geography shapes Indonesia's economic development, enhances its cultural diversity, and presents challenges in connecting remote regions and managing its natural resources efficiently.

Which of these islands does Indonesia share with Malaysia and Brunei? Pause the video here whilst you decide, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the answer is A, Borneo.

Well done.

True or false? Indonesia is made up of small islands and has a small population.

Pause the video here, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the answer is false.

I would now like you to explain why.

Pause the video here, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic, the reason why this statement is false is because, in fact, Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, and while its 17,000 islands do include many small islands, it has many large islands too.

For example, Java is around the same size as England, and Borneo's size is similar to France.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

Indonesia's located in the Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped zone in the Pacific Ocean known as the most tectonically active region in the world.

This area's where multiple tectonic plates meet, making it highly prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.

Indonesia sits at the convergence of the Indo-Australian, Eurasian, Pacific, and Philippine Sea plates.

As a result, the country experiences frequent seismic activity and is home to more than 130 active volcanoes, including famous ones like Mount Bromo.

While this makes Indonesia vulnerable to natural disasters, it also brings benefits like fertile volcanic soil, which supports farming and agriculture in many regions.

Which of the following are true for Indonesia? A, Indonesia is in a very tectonically active region.

B, Indonesia is in Central Asia.

C, Indonesia's all located in the Southern Hemisphere.

And D, Indonesia's an archipelago of over 17,000 islands.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the answer is A, Indonesia's in a very tectonically active region, and D, Indonesia is an archipelago of over 17,000 islands.

Well done.

I would like you to label Indonesia's five largest islands.

Pause the video here, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the answers are A, Sumatra, B, Borneo, Kalimantan, C, Sulawesi, D, New Guinea, Papua, and E, Java.

Well done on this task.

I would now like you to describe Indonesia's location.

In your answer, I would like you to name the world region that Indonesia belongs to, state its position in relation to a line of latitude, name neighbouring countries, name the oceans it is located in or between, and use compass directions to support this.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic, let's check our answers.

Your answer could include some or all of these points: Indonesia is in an archipelago of over 17,000 islands that is located in Southeast Asia, a region made up of 11 states, of which Indonesia is the largest one.

The equator runs through Indonesia, so half is located in the Northern Hemisphere and half in the Southern Hemisphere.

It shares a land boundary with three countries, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor.

The Indian Ocean is to the west and south of Indonesia, and the Pacific Ocean is to the north and east.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

You've done brilliantly.

We're now going to explore our second question of today's lesson, why is Indonesia important? Regional importance.

Indonesia holds a central role in Southeast Asia, both politically and economically, making it one of the region's most influential powers.

It is a founding member of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and has long been a key voice in promoting regional cooperation, peace, and political stability.

Indonesia often acts as a mediator in regional disputes, helping to resolve tensions through diplomacy and dialogue.

As a major trading nation, Indonesia is deeply integrated into the region's economy.

It is also a huge market with a large and growing population that creates demand and services from across Asia.

Indonesia is a member of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world's largest trade agreement, which aims to reduce tariffs and boost trade among Asian and Pacific nations.

This strengthens Indonesia's position as a gateway for trade and investment in the region.

Through its leadership, economic size, and strategic diplomacy, Indonesia plays a vital role in shaping the future of Southeast Asia.

Which of the following correctly names three members of ASEAN? Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the answer is D, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Well done on this question.

You've done brilliantly.

Global importance.

Indonesia holds a powerful position on the global stage thanks to its population size, economic strength, strategic location, and active international engagement.

It is the fourth most populous country in the world with over 277 million people and the largest Muslim-majority nation.

This gives Indonesia a strong cultural and political voice in both the Islamic world and the global forums, helping to bridge East and West.

Economically, Indonesia ranks as the 16th largest economy by GDP, and its continued growth places it amongst the world's most emerging markets.

As a member of the G20, Indonesia works alongside the world's largest economies to shape international trade, finance, and development policies.

Indonesia also plays a major role in global peace and security.

It is one of the largest contributors to the United Nations peacekeeping forces, sending personnel to help manage conflicts and support peace-building efforts across the world.

With its wealth of natural resources, including palm oil, rubber, copper, and natural gas, Indonesia is a key supplier of raw materials essential to the global economy.

At the same time, it faces responsibility for managing its rainforests, biodiversity, and marine resources, placing it at the centre of climate and environmental discussions.

Geographically, Indonesia's strategic location gives it significant geopolitical importance.

It sits astride the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest and most vital shipping lanes through which a large percentage of global trade and energy supplies pass.

This makes Indonesia a key player in ensuring maritime security and global trade flows.

Through its size, economy, diplomacy, and global cooperation, Indonesia's increasingly recognised as a major global player, helping to shape future trade, climate action, peacekeeping, and development.

True or false? Indonesia's a member of the G20 but does not contribute to UN peacekeeping missions.

Pause the video here whilst you decide, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic, this statement is false.

I would now like you to explain why.

Pause the video here, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the reason why the statement is false is because Indonesia's a member of the G20 and contributes to UN peacekeeping missions.

Additionally, Indonesia plays a key role in maintaining stability and peace in ASEAN countries by acting as a mediator in regional conflicts.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

Indonesia's environment is not only vital to its own people, it plays a critical role in the health of the entire planet.

The country's tropical climate supports vast rainforests, which are among the most biologically rich ecosystems on Earth.

These forests are part of the global biodiversity hotspot, home to thousands of unique species, including endangered animals like the Sumatran orangutan, Javan rhinoceros, and Komodo dragon.

Indonesia's forests also play a major role in global climate regulation.

They act as a massive carbon sink, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helping to slow climate change.

Protecting these forests is essential for meeting international climate goals.

In addition to its forests, Indonesia has extensive coral reefs, mangroves, and marine ecosystems that are crucial for global biodiversity and ocean health.

Because of this, Indonesia's environmental policies and land use decisions have global consequences, making it a key country in efforts to tackle deforestation, climate change, and species conservation.

We're now going to be adding place-specific details to our text.

I've written, Indonesia's regionally important because it has a big population and it cooperates with other states in its region for trade.

How can we add place-specific details to this? We can do so by doing this, Indonesia is regionally important because its 277 million people make it Southeast Asia's biggest consumer market.

It is a member of ASEAN, a group of 10 nations who cooperate on trade and security.

I would now like you to complete the gaps with place-specific details to improve this description.

Pause the video here, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, your answer should read like this: Indonesia is globally important because it has the 16th largest economy in the world, worth almost 1.

5 trillion US dollars.

40% of global trade goes through one of the world's most important shipping lanes, the Malacca Strait between Indonesia and Malaysia.

Well done on this task.

I hope you managed to get that correct.

I would now like you to explain one reason why Indonesia's important in its region and one reason why it is important globally.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic, let's check our answers.

Your answer may read like this: One reason why Indonesia's important in its region is its role in ASEAN, an organisation of 10 states in the Southeast Asian region which encourages trade, security, and boosts development.

One reason why Indonesia's important in its region is that it is Southeast Asia's biggest consumer market.

Due to its big population of 277 million, other countries in the region can sell products into this big market.

One reason why Indonesia's globally important is its strategic location for global trade.

40% of global trade goes through one of the world's most important shipping lanes, the Malacca Strait between Indonesia and Malaysia.

One reason why Indonesia's globally important is that it is a global power in security and peacekeeping.

It is one of the largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping force.

Well done if you managed to include any of those points in your answer, you've done brilliantly.

We're now going to explore our final question of today's lesson, what is Indonesia's wider context? Indonesia's context helps us to better understand it.

We can look at its political context, social context, cultural context, and environmental context.

Political context.

Indonesia is a multi-party democracy where citizens elect their leaders through regular, free, and fair elections.

Since the fall of the authoritarian regime in 1998, Indonesia has built a stable democratic system with active political participation and multiple political parties.

The national government is based in Jakarta and operates under presidential system, but it shares power with provincial and regional governments.

This system of decentralisation gives local governments more control over policies, budgets, and public services.

Some regions, such as Papua, have been granted special autonomy, allowing them to implement their own laws and governance systems based on their local traditions, religion, or history.

This balance between central authority and regional autonomy helps manage Indonesia's vast size and diversity, ensuring that different communities can have a say in how the government is governed.

Laura has said, "Multi-party means voters can choose between different political parties, doesn't it?" Yes, exactly.

And Lucas has said, "So Papua has more autonomy to govern itself instead of the national government?" Yes, exactly.

It allows them to implement their own laws and governance systems based on their local traditions, religion, or history.

Social context.

Indonesia has a large and youthful population with over 277 million people, making it the fourth most populous country in the world.

Around 40% of the population is under 25 years old, creating both opportunities and challenges for the future.

The country is becoming increasingly urbanised with more than 50% of Indonesians now living in cities.

Urban areas offer better access to jobs, education, and services, but also face issues like overcrowding, traffic, and pollution.

Despite progress, inequality remains a major issue.

Many Indonesians still experience gaps in income, education, healthcare, and job opportunities, especially between urban and rural areas.

Some communities, particularly in remote or underdeveloped regions, struggle to access the same level of services and support as those in wealthier cities.

Addressing these social inequalities is a key challenge as Indonesia continues to develop and aims for a fairer and more inclusive future.

Laura said, "The UK has an ageing population, doesn't it? That's not the same as Indonesia." Exactly correct.

Around 40% of the population is under 25 years old.

That means it has a youthful population.

Lucas said, "So they must have a lot more people to do all sorts of jobs, good for economic growth." Yes, exactly.

Because it has a youthful population, it means more people will be working and contributing to the economy.

What are the two missing contexts from this diagram? Pause the video here whilst you decide, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the missing contexts are cultural context and environmental context.

Well done.

Cultural context.

Indonesia's one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world.

Spread across 17,000 islands, it is home to more than 300 ethnic groups and over 700 languages.

Each region has its own cultural traditions, including music, dance, clothing, festivals, and local customs. From the Batak people of Sumatra to the Balinese in the south, Indonesia's cultural identity is rich, vibrant, and deeply rooted in local heritage.

Religion also plays a key role in daily life.

While Indonesians officially recognise six religions, including Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, around 87% of Indonesians are Muslim, making it the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.

Despite this, the country's national motto is "Unity in Diversity," which reflects a strong commitment to religious and cultural tolerance.

Indonesia's cultural diversity is both a strength and a challenge, requiring policies that respect local identities while promoting national unity.

Laura said, "I looked up how to say hello in Bahasa Indonesia.

It's halo!" Lucas said, "I looked up the national dish.

It's nasi goreng." And nasi goreng is delicious.

Environmental context.

Indonesia has a hot and humid equatorial climate with consistently high temperatures and heavy rainfall throughout much of the year.

This climate supports lush tropical rainforests which cover large parts of the country, especially on islands like Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua.

These rainforests are incredibly rich in biodiversity and are home to rare species such as orangutans, tigers, and thousands of unique plants and animals.

Indonesia's natural environment plays a key role in global carbon storage and climate regulation.

However, widespread deforestation, often linked to palm oil production, mining, and logging, has made Indonesia one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases.

Forest fires and land use change release massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global climate change.

Balancing economic development with environmental protection is one of Indonesia's biggest challenges, with global implications for climate, biodiversity, and sustainability.

Laura said, "I wonder, is it hot in Indonesia all year? And does it rain a lot?" Yes, it is hot all year round, and it does rain a lot.

Lucas said, "I'd love to visit the tropical rainforests and maybe see orangutans!" I would too.

I would like you to now answer Laura's question, "I wonder, is it hot in Indonesia all year? And does it rain a lot?" We're going to look at this climate graph to help answer that question.

Remember, in order to read a climate graph, we use a line to look at the climate and we look at the axis that is in Celsius.

And to read rainfall, we look at bars and the axis labelled millimetres.

I would now like you to use the climate graph to answer Laura's question.

Pause the video here, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, let's check our answers.

It is hot all year round, around 27 degrees Celsius, and it does rain a lot, over 200 millimetres a month for six months of the year.

Well done if you managed to identify that correctly.

Which of these facts relates to Indonesia's cultural context? A, a big population with 40% under 25.

B, Indonesia has six official religions.

C, over 50% of Indonesians live in cities.

And D, Indonesia is a major emitter of greenhouse gases.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, the answer is B.

Indonesia has six official religions.

Well done on this task.

Indonesia is a diverse country.

Using what you have learned about Indonesia's context, support the statement with three relevant facts.

Laura has said, "Diverse means variety, correct? So a diverse country would mean it had lots of differences." Exactly that.

Well done.

And Lucas said, "Like different cultures and different landscapes and even social differences?" Exactly, you could look at the different languages, religions, all sorts.

Pause the video here whilst you attempt this task, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic, let's check our answers.

Your answer could include some of the following points: There are 300 ethnic groups in Indonesia, each with their own customs and traditions.

The national language is Bahasa Indonesia, but local languages like Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese are widely used and there are 700 languages in total.

Indonesia has six official religions, Islam, Protestant Christianity, Catholic Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism.

Although Indonesia's hot all year round, it does have distinct seasons, a wet season and a dry season.

Indonesia's natural vegetation includes tropical rainforest, mangroves in coastal swamps, and sub-Alpine species in the mountainous regions.

Indonesia has the biggest gap between rich and poor people in Southeast Asia.

The four richest men in Indonesia have more wealth than the 100 million poorest people in Indonesia.

Indonesia has a large range of political parties with different political views, and Indonesians get to vote for their choice in regular elections.

Well done if you managed to include those in your answers.

You've done brilliantly.

Fantastic, we've now come to the end of our learning on location and importance of Indonesia, and you've done brilliantly.

Before we end this lesson, let's summarise everything we've learned today.

Indonesia's an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, making it the largest country in Southeast Asia, both by land area and population.

Its unique geography gives it a strategic position between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, making it central to global trade routes.

It is the fourth most populous country in the world with a growing economy and a young, dynamic population.

Indonesia's a key player in regional organisations like ASEAN, where it helps lead discussions on politics, security, and development.

Globally, Indonesia plays an important role in areas such as world trade, climate policy, and peacekeeping, and is a member of the G20.

Culturally, Indonesia's one of the most diverse nations on Earth, with over 300 ethnic groups and more than 700 languages spoken.

This diversity is a source of national pride and is reflected in its motto, "Unity in Diversity." Together, Indonesia's size, diversity, and strategic importance make it a major influence, both in its region and on a world stage.

Well done on today's lesson, you've done brilliantly, and I look forward to learning with you again very soon.