Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Dia berencana ikut kursus mengemudi bulan depan. - She/He plans to join a driving course next month.

Dia is gender-neutral: “he” or “she.” To specify, add a word or name: dia (laki-laki/perempuan), or just use the person’s name.
Ia is more formal/literary and mostly used as a subject in writing.
Beliau is a respectful “he/she” for elders or esteemed people (teachers, officials). Don’t use it for yourself or peers.

Do I need akan to show the future?

No. Indonesian doesn’t require tense marking; bulan depan already indicates the future. You can say:

Dia berencana ikut ... (has a plan to…)
Dia akan ikut ... (will…) Using both (Dia berencana akan ikut …) is common but some consider it redundant; many prefer berencana (untuk) ikut.

Is untuk required after berencana?

No. All are correct:

Conversational: Dia berencana ikut ...
More formal: Dia berencana untuk ikut ... or Dia berencana untuk mengikuti ...

What’s the difference between ikut and mengikuti here?

Ikut = join/attend (casual, intransitive).
Mengikuti = to follow/attend something (takes an object, a bit more formal).
Both are fine: Dia berencana ikut/mengikuti kursus mengemudi ...

Can I say mengambil/ambil kursus?

Ambil kursus is common in speech.
Mengambil kursus is understandable but can sound more literal.
Most natural choices: ikut/mengikuti kursus.

What’s the nuance difference among kursus mengemudi, les mengemudi, and sekolah mengemudi?

Kursus mengemudi: a driving course (series of classes).
Les mengemudi: driving lessons, often private; more colloquial.
Sekolah mengemudi: a driving school (the institution).

Is mengemudi the same as menyetir (and Malay memandu)?

Mengemudi is standard/formal “to drive (a vehicle).”
Menyetir is more colloquial (common with mobil).
Malay memandu ≈ Indonesian mengemudi; in Indonesia memandu usually means “to guide.”

Where does the time phrase go? Can I put bulan depan at the start?

Yes. Both are correct:

Dia berencana ikut ... bulan depan.
Bulan depan dia berencana ikut ... (emphasizes the time).
A comma is optional after a short fronted time phrase.

Do I need a preposition before bulan depan (like pada or di)?

Most natural: no preposition — bulan depan.
More formal: pada bulan depan.
Di bulan depan is common in speech but considered nonstandard by some. Use pada with specific dates/days: pada tanggal 5.

How do I negate this idea of “planning to”?

Dia tidak berencana ikut ... = does not plan to.
Dia belum berencana ikut ... = has not planned to yet (implies it might happen later).

Can I drop the subject dia?

Sometimes, if context is clear: Berencana ikut kursus ... (common in texting/headlines). In normal sentences, keep dia to avoid ambiguity.

Can I use merencanakan instead of berencana?

Different grammar/meaning:

Berencana is intransitive: Dia berencana ikut ... (plans to do something).
Merencanakan + object: Dia merencanakan perjalanan (plans the trip).
Dia merencanakan kursus mengemudi suggests organizing the course, not taking it.

Why is there no “a/the” before kursus?

Indonesian has no articles. Kursus mengemudi can be “a driving course” or “the driving course” depending on context. To make it definite, use itu/ini: kursus mengemudi itu.

Any quick pronunciation tips for this sentence?

c in berencana = “ch”: be-ren-CHA-na.
ng as in “sing”; mengemudi ≈ me-ngə-MU-di (the e is a schwa).
Dia = DEE-ah; stress is fairly even across words.

Does depan mean “front” or “next”?

Both, by context:

Time: bulan depan, minggu depan = next month/week.
Space: di depan rumah = in front of the house.

How would I ask someone this?

Neutral: Kamu berencana ikut kursus mengemudi bulan depan?
Formal/polite: Apakah Anda berencana ikut kursus mengemudi bulan depan?