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Indonesian students win big at International English Olympiad in Bali

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Indonesian students achieved remarkable success at the English for Speakers of Other Languages International Olympiad (ESOLIO) 2026 in Bali, securing the most gold medals.
  • Participants also dominated awards for speaking, writing, and listening skills across four competitive levels.
  • The event, held from June 28 to July 2, 2026, involved over 100 students from seven countries and aimed to foster global communication and cultural diversity.

Indonesian students have achieved a significant victory at the English for Speakers of Other Languages International Olympiad (ESOLIO) 2026, held in Bali. The nation's participants secured the highest number of gold medals, alongside dominating awards for speaking, writing, and listening abilities, marking a proud moment for the country's English language education.

ESOLIO not only aims to produce champions but also to build international networks, strengthen cross-country friendships, and instill a spirit of multiculturalism in the younger generation. Participants are future leaders who need to possess global communication skills while respecting cultural diversity.

— Munasprianto RamliDirector of Abak Academy and Chairman of ESOLIO, explaining the event's objectives.

The competition, organized by Abak Academy, ran from June 28 to July 2, 2026, and brought together over 100 students from seven countries: Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. ESOLIO is designed for students from primary school to high school, using the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as its standard. The competition was divided into four levels: Bright Explorers (A1-A2), Curious Walkers (A2-B1), Determined Runners (B1-B2), and Visionary Flyers (B2-C1).

ESOLIO becomes a forum that brings together students from various countries to build friendships and showcase their abilities at an international level.

— Joseph DavisA Peace Corps volunteer and judge at the ESOLIO 2026 competition.

Munasprianto Ramli, Director of Abak Academy and Chairman of ESOLIO, emphasized the event's broader goals beyond just crowning champions. "ESOLIO not only aims to produce champions but also to build international networks, strengthen cross-country friendships, and instill a spirit of multiculturalism in the younger generation," he stated. "Participants are future leaders who need to possess global communication skills while respecting cultural diversity."

English is a bridge that strengthens relationships between participants from various countries. All participants showed very good abilities, making the judging process competitive.

— Sabrina HariantoA Peace Corps volunteer and judge, commenting on the competition.

To ensure academic quality and objective assessment, Abak Academy collaborated with Peace Corps Indonesia, who served as the academic team and jury members, particularly for speaking and writing evaluations. Four Peace Corps volunteers, Rebecca Hobart, Rosalina F. Macon, Sabrina Harianto, and Joseph Davis, participated as judges. Joseph Davis highlighted ESOLIO as a platform for students from various nations to build friendships and showcase their international capabilities. Sabrina Harianto noted that English serves as a bridge connecting participants, and Rebecca Hobart praised the dedication of students, teachers, and parents.

I appreciate the dedication of the students, teachers, and parents in preparing for the competition.

— Rebecca HobartA Peace Corps volunteer and judge, acknowledging the effort put into the competition.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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