Etiquette: Eating in Indonesia 1
Background information for the teacher
Eating with a spoon and fork is very common in Indonesia. Sometimes, Indonesian people will also eat with their hand, believing this makes the food
more delicious! Note: It is very important that you only use your right hand as the left hand is used after going to the toilet. The basic eating
technique is to gather a small amount of rice with the top part of your fingers which can then be dipped into other dishes and pushed into your
mouth with your thumb. In some restaurants, utensils are provided. In this case it would be considered rude to use your hands. The exception is with
specialty dishes such as fried chicken or fried fish. In some parts of Indonesia, for example North Sumatra, it is not considered impolite to burp, and
can even be regarded as a sign of appreciation of a good meal! Indonesians generally do not excuse themselves after burping.
Sample activities
Activity 1 (prepares, observes, compares, reflects, inquires, respects, empathises)
Show students the PowerPoint “Dinnertime around the world”. As a class, brainstorm or create a mindmap of what students already know about
eating habits around the world. Then read the poem and discuss. Sample questions may include:
1. When do you eat your main meal each day?
2. Do you eat your main meal together as a family?
3. How is the main meal served at your home? For example, does each person receive their own serving or are dishes shared?
4. Does someone say something at the start of the meal?
5. What utensils do you use to eat your main meal?
6. What sorts of food do you eat?
7. Are there other items which are always on the table during your main meal, e.g. bread, sauce?
8. What do you do if you’re given something you don’t like?
9. What do you do when you finish your meal but others are still eating?
Next, look at the images together and ask students to list what they noticed about how the food was eaten, including:
1. What utensils are being used?
2. How is the food served?
3. Which nationalities do you associate with each image?
4. Do you ever eat with your hands?
5. How would you feel eating a meal of rice with your fingers?
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© NSW Department of Education and Communities, 2013
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment
and Workplace Relations through the National Asian Languages and Studies in Schools Program.
Activity 2 (compares, inquires)
Show students this video clip on eating in a food hall in Jakarta:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25lk99xpS14&NR=1
1. What did you notice about how the family is eating?
2. What do you know about dining etiquette in Indonesia?
Activity 3 (observes, compares, reflects)
View the school lunches at http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/what-school-lunches-look-like-in-20-countries-arou and discuss. Sample discussion
may include:
 How do the lunches compare to what you eat at school each day?
 Where do you think the lunches have been prepared? At home or at school?
 Which lunch looks the healthiest? Why?
 Which lunch looks the least healthy? Why?
 Which lunch would you like to know more about? What would you like to know?
 Draw a picture of your typical school lunch. Imagine what three students from other countries would say about your lunch, and write their
ideas in speech bubbles.
Activity 4 (inquires, respects)
Watch the first 5 minutes 30 seconds (5:30) of the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBS23HRt5S4 (from SBS’ Food Safari). Discuss:
1. Do you think Indonesian food is healthy? Why/why not?
2. What influence has Indonesian food had on the types of food we eat?
3. Which Indonesian foods would you like to try?
Activity 5 (inquires, takes risks)
Prepare a simple Indonesian meal for your students to eat at school. Students can practise eating with their hands, ensuring that the Indonesian
etiquette of not using one’s left hand is adhered to. Easy-to-follow recipes can be found at: http://allrecipes.com.au/sitemap.aspx (type cooking for
kids + indonesian into the search engine). Signed permission notes should be collected from each student in case of food allergies.
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© NSW Department of Education and Communities, 2013
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment
and Workplace Relations through the National Asian Languages and Studies in Schools Program.
Scenario (reflects, respects, empathises, takes risks)
You have an Indonesian exchange student living with you and he burps after dinner each night.
Possible discussion questions:
1. Do you consider it impolite to burp in public? At home?
2. How do you show appreciation for a good meal?
3. How would your parents react to the student?
4. What advice would you give the student? How would you do this?
5. Do you know of any other culture where burping is acceptable without excusing yourself?
6. How did you learn dining etiquette? What do you know about good dining etiquette in Australia?
Syllabus links
English K-6:
TES1.1
Communicates with peers and known adults in informal situations and structured activities dealing briefly with familiar topics.
TS1.1
Communicates with an increasing range of people for a variety of purposes on both familiar and introduced topics in
spontaneous and structured classroom activities.
TS2.1
Communicates in informal and formal classroom activities in school and social situations for an increasing range of purposes on
a variety of topics across the curriculum.
TS3.1
Communicates effectively for a range of purposes and with a variety of audiences to express well-developed, well-organised
ideas dealing with more challenging topics.
HSIE K-6:
CUES1
Communicates some common characteristics that all people share, as well as some of the differences.
CUS1.3
Identifies customs, practices, symbols, languages and traditions of their family and other families.
CUS1.4
Describes the cultural, linguistic and religious practices of their family, their community and other communities.
CUS2.4
Describes different viewpoints, ways of living, languages and belief systems in a variety of communities.
CUS3.4
Examines how cultures change through interactions with other cultures and the environment.
Indonesian K-10:
1.MBC.1
Demonstrates awareness of cultural diversity.
1.MBC.2
Identifies cultural practices in Indonesian-speaking communities.
2.MBC.1
Recognises the link between culture and a sense of identity.
3.MBC.2
Demonstrates understanding of significant cultural values and practices in Indonesian-speaking communities.
4.MBC.1
Demonstrates understanding of the interdependence of language and culture.
4.MBC.2
Demonstrates knowledge of key features of the culture of Indonesian-speaking communities.
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© NSW Department of Education and Communities, 2013
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment
and Workplace Relations through the National Asian Languages and Studies in Schools Program.
Disclaimer:
The NSW Department of Education and Communities cannot guarantee the availability or content of external links. Please check websites yourself for
suitability before showing to students. Show YouTube videos in full-screen mode, so that posted comments cannot be viewed by students.
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© NSW Department of Education and Communities, 2013
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment
and Workplace Relations through the National Asian Languages and Studies in Schools Program.