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 Introduction to 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 explain how Indonesia's situation creates both opportunities and challenges for development.

Before we begin this learning, let's define the keywords that we'll be using throughout today's lesson.

The keywords in today's lesson are site, situation and development.

Site, this place's physical characteristics, such as landforms, climate and natural resources.

Situation, this place's location relative to other countries and how this affects its economy, global connections and development.

Development, this is the progress of a country in economic growth, living standards and quality of life.

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

The first question we are going to explore in today's lesson is, what is Indonesia's site and situation? To fully understand a place's importance, we need to look at both site and its situation.

The site of a place refers to its physical characteristics.

For example, its landforms, climate, availability of water, and natural resources.

These physical features influence how suitable the land is for settlement, farming industry or transport.

On the other hand, a place's situation is about its location in relation to other places such as its distance from global trade routes, neighbouring countries, major cities or ports.

A good situation can increase global connections, encourage trade and investment and boost economic development.

A poor situation can lead to isolation and slower growth, so when we look at development, we have to ask, what is this site like? Is it helpful or is it challenging? What is the situation? Does it connect the country to others or leave it cut off? This helps us to explain why some places grow faster than others.

It's not just what's inside the country, but where it is and what it's connected to.

Indonesia site plays a big role in shaping its economy and development.

Indonesia is located in the southeast of Asia with access to both the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

This location gives its trade links and access to global shipping routes, which supports international trade.

It's an archipelago, which is made up of 17,000 different islands.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which means it experiences regular earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

While this is a risk, it also brings fertile volcanic soils, which are good for farming in some areas.

The country has a tropical climate, which supports farming like rice, palm oil, and coffee, and also helps to grow its tourism industry.

Indonesia is also biodiversity hotspot, home to unique species and ecosystems. This adds value for eco-tourism, research and conservation.

Overall, Indonesia site gives it many natural advantages, but also some serious physical challenges that affect development and need careful management.

Indonesia is located in Southeast Asia.

I wonder, are you able to spot which oceans and neighbouring countries you can identify? Pause the video here whilst you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent, Aisha has said neighbouring countries are Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Australia, so you can see it's really well connected to many different countries neighbouring it.

Alex said, the Indian ocean is to the West and the South, and the Pacific Ocean is to the North and the East, and these actors really important roots for trade.

Well done if you managed to come up with those.

Indonesia is an archipelago, which mean it's made up of many islands.

In fact, over 17,000.

It's the largest country in Southeast Asia by area and population.

Some of the biggest islands in Indonesia include Sumatra, Borneo shared with Malaysia and Brunei and Papua, which forms parts of the island into New Guinea.

This island layout influences how people travel, trade, and connect across the country, and also creates regional differences in development.

I would like you to identify which sea or ocean is marked with a cross on the satellite image.

Is it A, Atlantic Ocean, B, Indian Ocean, C, Celebes Sea, or D Pacific Ocean? Pause the video here was to decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is D, Pacific Ocean.

Well done if you manage to identify that correctly.

Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

As you can see, the satellite image on your screen shows plate boundaries in the location of earthquakes and volcanoes in the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Many of Indonesia's islands are volcanic, which brings both risks and benefits.

One key benefit is that volcanic eruptions leave behind fertile soil, which is richer minerals.

This makes the land excellent for farming, as a result, crops like rice and palm oil grow very well in these areas, and farming plays a big role in the country's economy and exports.

However, living near volcanoes also brings the risk of eruptions, so the government must manage both opportunities and the dangers of Indonesia's physical geography.

Indonesia has a tropical climate, which means it's hot and humid all year round.

This climate creates favourable conditions for farming crops like rice, palm oil, cacao, and bananas thrive in the warm wet environment, but the climate also brings challenges.

During the monsoon season, which runs from November to March.

Heavy rain can lead to flooding and landslides, especially in hilly or deforested areas.

Temperatures can stay fairly stable ranging from 27.

5 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees, and some areas receive up to 4,000 millimetres of rainfall per year.

These hazards can damage homes, roads, and crops, and increase the cost of development.

So while the tropical climate supports agriculture and biodiversity, it also creates risks that must be managed.

Indonesia is home to some of the world's densest tropical rainforests, which are classed as biodiversity hotspots.

This means they can contain a huge variety of planted animal species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world, like a orangutans and the Sumatran tiger.

These ecosystems are important not only for wildlife, but also for climate regulation, medicine, and the livelihoods of local communities.

However, deforestation is a major concern in Indonesia.

Trees are often cleared to make space for palm oil plantations, mining and logging.

This leads to loss for habitats, threatens endangered species and contributes to climate change through increased carbon emissions.

Protecting Indonesia's rainforest is a key for sustainable development, balancing economic growth with environmental protection.

The image on your screen shows whether untouched forests and other forests cover, and as you can see, there are forests everywhere in Indonesia.

Indonesia's situation including its location and regional ties shape its economy development and global influence.

What is Indonesia's situation? It has good access to oceans.

We know it's located around the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

There's the Strait of Malacca.

It's close to China, India, and Australia.

It's an ASEAN member, natural resources, and it has port cities.

I would like you to add the missing labels to the diagram.

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

Excellent, the missing labels are Strait to Malacca, ASEAN member and natural resources.

Well done if you identified those correctly.

Indonesia is located between two major oceans, the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

This makes it a key hub for global maritime trade, meaning that trade happens by sea.

Its location puts it along some of the world's busiest shipping routes, connecting Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia.

This help boosts Indonesia's economy as goods can be exported and imported easily and many international ships pass through its waters.

Indonesia's situation supports strong global connections and makes an important player in international trade and transport.

The Strait of of Malacca is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

It links the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, making it a vital route for international maritime trade.

On one side of the Strait is the Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and on the other side is Sumatra, one of Indonesia's largest islands.

About 40% of global trade passes through this narrow waterway, including goods like oil, electronics, and raw materials.

This makes the Strait of Malacca extremely important to Indonesia's economy and global trade networks.

Indonesia's position along this key route strengthens its strategic and economic importance in the region and the world.

Indonesia's well positioned between some of the world's largest and fastest growing economies.

It's close to China, India, and Australia, which helps build strong trade links and economic partnerships.

From Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, it takes about seven hours to fly to the capital in China, eight hours to reach India and 10 hours to fly to Australia.

This short travel time means goods, people, and investments can move quickly between countries boosting economic growth and global connections.

Indonesia's situation in the heart of Asia makes it a key player in regional and international trade.

Indonesia was the founder of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 1967.

This is a group of countries in southeast Asia that worked together to support regional trade peace and cooperation.

Being part of this helps Indonesia build strong economic and political ties with its neighbours like Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

This means easier trade, more foreign investment and better diplomatic relationships.

The association of Southeast Asian nations also gives Indonesia a voice in regional decisions, making it more influential in Asia.

This shows how political partnerships and regional corporation can strengthen a country's global connections and development.

Indonesia is rich in natural resources which play a major role in its economy and global trade links.

Indonesia is rich in natural resources which play a major role in its economy in global trade links.

It's one of the world's top producers and exporters of coal and nickel resources that are in high demand for energy and electric vehicle batteries.

This makes Indonesia a key global exporter, especially to major economies like China, which invest heavily in Indonesian mining and infrastructure.

One important site is the Grasberg Mine located in Papua.

It's one of the world's largest gold copper mines in the world and plays a major role in Indonesia's economy.

These valuable resources attract foreign trade, investment, and partnerships helping to strengthen Indonesia's situation on the global stage.

True or false, Indonesia's proximity to other Southeast Asian countries influenced its decision to found ASEAN in 1967.

Pause the video here whilst you decide if this statement is true or false and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

The answer is true.

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 true is because, due to its strategic location and strong regional ties, Indonesia played a key role in founding ASEAN in 1967 to promote economic and political cooperation within Southeast Asia.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

I would now like you to fill in the blanks with the words below.

This text is about what is Indonesia's site and situation.

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

(film rolling) Fantastic.

Let's check our answers.

Your text should read like this.

Indonesia is an archipelago made up of 17,000 islands.

Its site features a tropical climate and the equator runs through it.

To the South is the Indian ocean and to the North is the Pacific Ocean.

Indonesia situation in southeast Asia places it in a strategic position for trade.

The country's volcanic soil makes the land fertile for agriculture.

Well done if you managed to get those correct.

We're now going to express second question of today's lesson.

Why is Indonesia important? Indonesia is important both regionally and globally.

We can break this down further.

Socially, we can look at how people live together and interact in a community.

Economically, how money trade and businesses affect a country.

Politically, how a country is governed and how it interacts with other countries and culturally, the traditions, beliefs, and way of life of a group of people.

Indonesia gained its independence in 1945, and since then it has gone through major political changes.

Since 1998, it has become a stable democracy with regular elections and a growing commitment to human rights and peaceful leadership.

This political stability makes Indonesia more attractive to investors, helps it build strong international partnerships and increases its influence in organisations like ASEAN and the United Nations.

Indonesia now plays an important role in regional diplomacy, promoting cooperation and peace in Southeast Asia and beyond.

Strong and stable governance is a key factor in a country's global importance and development.

Indonesia is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and plays a leading role in the region.

It often acts as a mediator between regional conflicts, helping to solve disagreements peacefully between countries.

Indonesia also works to promote cooperation in areas like trade security, disaster response, and climate change.

By taking a leadership role in ASEAN, Indonesia strengthens its regional influence, builds political partnerships and sports stability across Southeast Asia.

This shows how a country's political position and diplomacy can increase its global and regional importance.

Indonesia is a member of G20, a group of the world's largest economies.

This means it helps make important decisions about global economy, trade and climate change.

It also contributes to UN peacekeeping missions, helping to promote peace and security in conflict areas around the world.

These roles show that Indonesia is not just important to Southeast Asia.

It also has influence on the global stage.

By actively participating in international organisations, Indonesia helps shape global policies and build strong connections to other countries.

True or false, Indonesia is a member of the G20 but does not contribute to UN peacekeeping missions.

Pause the video here.

Whilst do you decide and press play when you're ready to continue.

Fantastic.

The answer is false.

I would now like you to explain why.

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

Fantastic, the reason why this statement is false is because, Indonesia is a member of 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 is the fourth most populous country in the world with over 240 million people.

It is also the largest Muslim majority country with Islam being the most widely practised religion, but Indonesia is also incredibly diverse.

Its population includes over 300 ethnic groups and more than 700 languages spoken across its many islands.

This diversity is part of Indonesia's identity and strength, but it also creates challenges such as making sure all groups are included in development and have access to services.

Indonesia's large and diverse population gives its significant cultural and political influence both regionally and globally.

Which statement about Indonesia is correct? Is it A, fifth most populous, 200 plus ethnic groups, and Buddhist majority.

B, fourth most populous, 100+ ethnic groups, and Jewish majority.

C, fourth most populous, 300 plus ethnic groups and Muslim majority.

Or D, fourth most populous, 300 plus ethnic groups and Christian majority.

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

Excellent.

The answer is C.

Fourth most populous, 300 plus ethnic groups and Muslim majority.

Well done on that task.

Indonesia's tropical climate supports vast rainforests which are recognised as global biodiversity hotspots.

These forests are home to unique and endangered species such as orangutans, Sumatran tigers and rare birds and plants found nowhere else on earth, but Indonesia's rainforests do more than support wildlife.

They also play a key role in carbon storage, helping to reduce the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide.

Protecting these forests is important not just for Indonesia but for the whole planet.

This highlights Indonesia's environmental significance on a global scale.

In the year 2000, around 75% of Indonesia's islands were covered in forest, but due to rapid deforestation, that number has now dropped to 48%.

This loss is mostly caused by activities like logging, mining, and especially the clearing of land for palm oil plantations.

Laura has said deforestation is linked to climate change 'cause deforested areas don't store as much carbon as forests.

Deforestation threatens biodiversity, increases carbon emissions and can lead to problems like flooding, soil erosion and loss of habitats.

This is a major environmental challenge for Indonesia and it shows how economic development can sometimes come at a cost to the natural environment.

Indonesia is one of the world's leading exporters of palm oil, rubber and coffee.

These exports are important for the country's economy as they bring in money, create jobs, and support millions of livelihoods, especially in rural areas.

Indonesia's strong export industry helps strengthen the regional economy and boost trades within ASEAN members.

It also means Indonesia plays a big part in global supply chains, especially for products used in food cosmetics and manufacturing and around the world.

As you can see, the image on your screen shows the total value of palm oil exports from Indonesia, from 2014 to 2024.

This also shows how Indonesia's natural resources and agricultural products give economic power and global influence.

What year was the highest value of palm exported from Indonesia? Was it A, 2014, B, 2019, C, 2022, or D, 2024.

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

Excellent.

The answer is C 2022.

Well done.

Indonesia is part of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and also member of RCEP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

These are free trade blocks that aim to make it easier and cheaper for countries in the region to trade with each other.

By being part of these groups, Indonesia can sell more goods, attract investment, and create more jobs through regional cooperation.

ASEAN strengthens Indonesia's regional ties with neighbours like Malaysia and Vietnam while the regional comprehensive economic partnership connected to larger economies like China, Japan, and Australia.

Together, these both help boost Indonesia's trade, economic growth, and global influence.

What is the name of the organisation? The country's labelled on the map or registered to.

Is it A United Nations, B, G20 C, ASEAN, or D European Union.

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

Fantastic.

The answer is C, ASEAN, well done.

Indonesia strengthens its economy through bilateral trade deals, agreements made between two countries to support trade and investment.

These deals help reduce tariffs, taxes on imports and exports, and makes it easier for goods, services, and money to move between countries.

Indonesia has key trade agreements with China, Australia, and the European Union.

These partnerships allow Indonesia to export products like palm oil, coffee, textiles, and rubber, while also importing technology, machinery and other goods.

Bilateral trade helps boost economic growth, creates jobs and deepens Indonesia's global connections.

Indonesia's strategic location between the Indian and Pacific Ocean makes it a key part of the world's shipping network.

It sits along some of the busiest international shipping routes, including the Strait to Malacca, which is vital for trade between Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

This location allows Indonesia to act as a gateway for global trade, helping goods move quickly and efficiently between regions.

Indonesia's ports and transport links support international logistics making an important play in global supply chains.

This strategic position boosts Indonesia's economic importance and helps attract trade, investment, and business from all over the world.

True or false? Indonesia has a small population, unlimited regional influence.

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

Fantastic.

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 is false is because, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country.

This gives its significant regional influence, particularly through its leadership in ASEAN and its status as the largest economy in Southeast Asia, well done.

I would like you to explain how regional trade agreements benefit Indonesia.

Laura has said regional would mean within Asia.

Is that right? Yes, she's correct.

It would mean within Asia.

Alex has said he's going to talk about how Indonesia is a member of ASEAN and RCEP.

Paul's video here was to attempt this task and press play when you're ready to continue.

Excellent.

Let's check our answers.

Your answer could have included some of the following points.

Regional trade agreements help Indonesia by boosting trade, strengthening its economy and attracting investment.

As a member of ASEAN and RCEP, Indonesia benefits from lower tariffs and fewer trade restrictions with regional partners like China, making exports like palm oil and rubber more profitable.

These agreements also attract foreign investment supporting industry growth and infrastructure.

Stronger regional ties with China and ASEAN members promote stability and long-term economic development.

Well done if you manage to include any of those points in your answer.

We're now going to explore our final question of today's lesson.

How does site and situation influence development? Indonesia's site has influenced its development.

Indonesia's site, its natural physical features has played a big role in shaping its development.

The country has fertile volcanic soil, which is excellent for agriculture, especially for growing crops like palm oil and rice.

It has a tropical climate which supports farming all year round, but heavy rain during the monsoon season can cause floods and landslides, especially in mountainous areas.

Indonesia's rich and rainforests, which supports ecotourism and offers opportunities for conservation and sustainable tourism.

However, Indonesia also sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, meaning it faces natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and even tsunamis, which can damage infrastructure and slow development.

Its coastal location supports trade, especially through busy ports, and it also has a large fishing industry.

Finally, Indonesia's diverse ecosystem supports high levels of biodiversity, which is important for agriculture, medicine, and the global environment.

What is a challenge caused by Indonesia's location, on the Pacific Ring of Fire? Is it A, frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

B, strong winds and heavy snowfall.

C, limited access to oceans.

Or D, low agricultural productivity.

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

Fantastic, the answer is A, frequent earthquakes and eruptions, well done.

Indonesia's situation, its location in relation to other places has had a big impact on its development.

The Straits of Malacca, one of the busiest trade routes on earth, runs along Indonesia's coast.

This helps the country act as a global trade hub.

Indonesia is a founding member of ASEAN, which improves its regional trade diplomacy and political influences in Southeast Asia, but its situation also brings challenges as an archipelago of over 17,000 islands.

Building infrastructure like roads, schools, and hospitals across the country is difficult and expensive.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis can cause major damage and slow down recovery, especially in remote areas.

There are also development gap between the island of Java, which is highly developed and more isolated islands, which are fewer services and opportunities.

It also sits between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, giving its strategic position that connects Asia with the rest of the world and this boosts global trade and makes Indonesia a key play in international shipping.

Overall, Indonesia's situation gives it global and regional importance, but also brings challenges that require strong planning and investment.

True or false, Indonesia's position between two oceans has no effect on its development.

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

Fantastic.

The answer is false.

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

Excellent, the reason why the statement is false is because, Indonesia's location between the Indian and Pacific Ocean positions it as a vital maritime trading hub, the Strait of Malacca as an example, which helps trade and economic growth.

This strengthens Indonesia's geopolitical importance globally.

Well done if you managed to explain that correctly.

Indonesia is a fast developing country and it faces both challenges and opportunities as it plans for the future.

One major change is the building of a new capital city, Nusantara.

This move aims to reduce congestion and overpopulation in Jakarta, which faces problems like traffic pollution and land sinking.

Another key focus is transport investment.

Indonesia is improving its ports, airports, and roads to better to connect its many islands.

This will make trade and travel easier and boost development across the country.

Indonesia is also developing ecotourism.

This means promoting sustainable tourism that protects the environment, especially in areas like the rainforest and coral reefs.

Finally, Indonesia is working to diversify its economy instead of relying mainly on natural resources like palm oil and coal.

It's investing in manufacturing, technology and digital industries to create new jobs and support long-term growth.

These efforts show that Indonesia is planning ahead to become more connected, sustainable, and economically diverse in the future.

I would like you to explain how Indonesia's situation creates both opportunities and challenges for development.

Aisha has said situation focuses on a country's location relative to other countries.

Is that right? Yes, she's correct.

And Alex said he's going to talk about the Malacca Strait in my answer.

Does that have an impact on Indonesia situation? Yes, it does because it connects it to other countries around the world.

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 have included some of the following points.

Indonesia's situation creates both opportunities and challenges for development.

One major advantage is its position between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, which makes Indonesia a central hub for global trade.

This strategic location allows the country to export valuable goods like palm oil, contributing significantly to its economy.

Additionally, Indonesia's location gives access to maritime trade routes like the Strait of Malacca helping boost industries such as shipping and tourism.

The country's volcanic soil resulting from its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire provides volatile land for agriculture, supporting food production and exports.

However, Indonesia's location also presents challenges being on the Ring of Fire, Indonesia's prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, which can cause widespread damage to infrastructure in communities.

This makes it harder to maintain stability and can slow down development.

Indonesia's many islands also create difficulties in building efficient transport links between regions, making it challenging to move goods and people easily.

This can lead to higher costs and delays in economic progress.

Furthermore, Indonesia's vulnerability to natural disasters often requires resources to be diverted from development projects to disaster relief efforts.

Well done in this task.

You've done brilliantly.

We've now come to the end of our learning on the introduction to Indonesia.

You've done fantastically, but before we end this lesson, let's summarise everything we've learned today.

Indonesia is an archipelago of over 17,000 islands in Southeast Asia.

It's site features volcanic soil and tropical climate ideal for agriculture.

It's located between the Indian and Pacific oceans, and its situation makes the key global trade hub.

With the largest economy in Southeast Asia Indonesia plays a major role in ASEAN, exports goods like palm oil and coffee, and as part of the G20 and the United Nations.

Its geography supports growth, but it's location on the Ring of Fire brings challenges like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Well done on today's lesson.

You've done brilliantly.

and I look forward to with you again very soon.