Writing a Letter of Complaint About a Course
You are writing to the coordinator of an Indonesian language intensive course in Malang. You paid in full, but two of the promised weekly conversation sessions were cancelled, the homestay was moved to a different suburb without notice, and the advertised cultural excursion did not run. You want a partial refund or replacement sessions. You must write in Indonesian in a formal register. Your teacher warns you that a very confrontational letter may get a defensive response, but a very soft letter may be ignored. You have the enrolment brochure, which lists the sessions and the excursion.
1. Draft the strategy for your letter, specifying the register choices and the order of information.
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Order: opening courtesy → statement of purpose → factual account → impact → specific request → closing goodwill. Open with Dengan hormat and a courteous line referring to your enrolment. State the purpose plainly but without accusation: Saya menulis untuk menyampaikan beberapa masalah terkait program yang saya ikuti. Then list the three shortfalls factually and specifically, referring to the brochure as the basis of expectation - this shifts the issue from personal dissatisfaction to a documented commitment. Describe the impact briefly (lost practice hours, disruption), which supplies a reason for remedy without emotive language. Then make a concrete, bounded request: replacement sessions by a stated date, or a partial refund of a named proportion. Close with willingness to discuss. Register choices: use Anda, formal vocabulary (mohon, diharapkan, sebagai tindak lanjut), avoid kamu and avoid sarcasm. Firmness comes from specificity and a clear request, not from harsh words - this answers the teacher's warning directly.
2. Your draft contains the sentence: 'Kalau tidak dibayar kembali, saya akan menulis di media sosial.' Assess this sentence and rewrite it.
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The sentence is a threat, and in a formal Indonesian letter it is counterproductive. It shifts the register from permohonan to confrontation, invites a defensive or legalistic reply, and may be read as an attempt at coercion - which weakens your moral position even though your underlying complaint is valid. It also names a consequence you may not carry out, which damages credibility. The firmness you want can be achieved by stating a deadline and next step neutrally: Saya berharap mendapat tanggapan dalam dua minggu ke depan. Apabila tidak ada tanggapan, saya akan menghubungi pihak penyelenggara untuk meminta penjelasan lebih lanjut. This preserves pressure, stays within polite register, and describes an action you can actually take. The principle: assert your rights through documentation and a clear timeline, not through implied retaliation.