Primary Landing Page

Timor-Leste is one of Australia’s closest neighbours, yet few people realise just how close the two countries are. When Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002, Tetum became one of its two official languages. Shaped by the country’s history and regional connections, Tetum has strong Portuguese influences and includes many words derived from Malay.

Despite Timor-Leste’s proximity to Australia, expertise in its languages and cultures remains relatively uncommon outside the country. Located within the Southeast Asian archipelago, Timor-Leste has a rich cultural heritage shaped by Timorese, Portuguese, Chinese and Indonesian influences.

Learning Tetum provides valuable insight into Timor-Leste’s society, culture and history, making it particularly useful for anyone seeking to engage more deeply with the country and its people.

Overview

ANU is the only university in Australia that offers Tetum, providing courses with specialised and flexible approach. In our classes we read and engage with Tetum-language media, write and speak the language. Because of its grammatical simplicity, Tetum students usually move quickly in their language progression.

Our courses, all of which are offered 100% online, range from beginner to advanced level. In Tetum 1, which students will gain a practical command of basic Tetum and an elementary capacity to read Tetum newspaper articles with the help of a dictionary. In the most advanced course, Tetum 4, students will learn how to discuss and write about a variety of topics including government officials and functions, health, the environment and Timorese history.

Study options

Tetum at ANU is delivered fully online in a supportive and interactive environment, giving students plenty of opportunities to communicate and practise with their teacher and classmates. Written and multimedia resources are also available to guide their studies.

Students can take Tetum as a major or minor within a range of degrees, as the language component of a Diploma of Languages, as electives within another degree or as individual courses.

It is open to ANU students, cross-institutional students from other universities and interested members of the public through Open Universities Australia.

Undergraduate courses include Tetum 1, Tetum 2, Tetum 3 and Tetum 4.

Visit ANU Programs and Courses for study options, or Open Universities Australia for studying Tetum 1-4 as subject.

The School of Culture, History and Language places a unique emphasis on in-country experience. For more information on exchange programs and in-country language opportunities, visit the ANU global programs or enquire cap.student@anu.edu.au.

ANU Students:

  • Minor (24 units)
  • Learn online
  • Can be incorporated into Bachelors and/or Masters programs as electives

Non-ANU Students: