English

Story Telling

Listen to Indonesian legends and traditional songs in simple English.

The Legend of Rawa Pening

Long ago, near Rawa Pening in Central Java, there was a boy named Baruklinthing. He was different from other children, but he had a kind heart. One day, Baruklinthing came to a village and asked for food. Many villagers laughed at him and refused to help. Only one old woman welcomed him and gave him a simple meal. Baruklinthing thanked her and told her to prepare a rice paddle if heavy rain came. Then he placed a stick in the ground and asked the villagers to pull it out. Nobody could do it. Baruklinthing pulled the stick easily, and water came out from the hole. The water grew bigger and bigger until the village became a wide lake. The old woman survived because she listened to him. People now know the lake as Rawa Pening. This legend teaches us to be kind, helpful, and respectful to every person.

Enthing-enthing

Salatiga is a cool and friendly city in Central Java. One famous traditional snack from Salatiga is Enthing-enthing. This sweet snack is made from peanuts and palm sugar. The peanuts are roasted until they smell delicious, then mixed with warm melted sugar. After that, the mixture is shaped into small pieces and cooled until it becomes crunchy. Enthing-enthing tastes sweet, nutty, and a little sticky at first bite. Many families buy it as a souvenir when they visit Salatiga. Children can learn many English words from this food, such as peanut, sugar, sweet, crunchy, snack, and souvenir. Enthing-enthing also shows local wisdom because it uses simple ingredients and careful handmade steps. When we enjoy this snack, we do not only taste something delicious. We also learn about the creativity of local people and the culture of Salatiga.

Traditional Song

Suwe Ora Jamu

A Javanese folk song from Central Java, translated into simple English for practice.

English Lyrics

  1. It has been a long time since I drank jamu,
  2. Jamu made from cassava leaves.
  3. It has been a long time since we met,
  4. When we finally met, my heart felt disappointed.