Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Ternyata panitia menambah sesi praktik seperti yang kami minta. - It turns out the committee added a practice session as we requested.

Ternyata signals a discovery or realization, often contrary to what was expected: “it turns out,” “as it turns out,” “turns out.”
Placement:
- Beginning: Ternyata, panitia menambah… (sets the overall tone of surprise/discovery)
- After the subject: Panitia ternyata menambah… (focuses the surprise on the subject)
- Both are natural; beginning placement is slightly more narrative.

Do I need a comma after ternyata?

It’s optional. Many writers put a comma when ternyata opens the sentence to mark a pause, but it’s acceptable without one in modern usage.

What exactly does panitia mean? Is it singular or plural?

Panitia = “the organizing committee/organizers.”
Indonesian doesn’t mark number; context decides if it’s one committee or multiple organizers.
To emphasize people: anggota panitia (committee members).
More formal: pihak panitia (the committee side).
Avoid using para panitia unless you literally mean the members collectively; even then, para anggota panitia is clearer.

Why menambah and not menambahkan? Are both correct?

Both can work here.
Menambah = to add/increase something (simple transitive): panitia menambah sesi praktik.
Menambahkan often highlights adding something to/into a target or in addition to something: panitia menambahkan satu sesi praktik (pada jadwal).
In many contexts they overlap; with a clear direct object like sesi praktik, both are fine.

Could I use the passive voice instead?

Yes:

Sesi praktik ditambahkan (oleh panitia).
Sesi praktik ditambah panitia. (more concise)
You can omit oleh panitia if it’s clear who did it.

What does sesi praktik mean, and is praktek acceptable?

Sesi praktik = a practical/hands-on session.
Standard spelling per KBBI is praktik (noun). Praktek is very common informally but nonstandard.
Praktikum is a specific lab/practicum course, not just any practice session.

How do I show how many sessions were added?

Add a numeral or quantifier:

menambah satu/dua/beberapa/lebih banyak sesi praktik
Example: Panitia menambah dua sesi praktik.

What does seperti yang do here? Could I use sesuai or sebagaimana instead?

Seperti yang introduces a relative clause meaning “as/like what …”: seperti yang kami minta = “as we requested.”
Alternatives:
- sesuai (dengan) yang kami minta (in accordance with what we asked) — neutral/formal.
- sebagaimana kami minta — more formal/literary.
- Add persis/tepat for “exactly as”: persis seperti (yang) kami minta.

Can I drop yang and just say seperti kami minta?

Yes, in casual speech: seperti kami minta is common. In careful or formal writing, keep yang: seperti yang kami minta.

Why is it yang kami minta, not yang kami meminta?

When the object is relativized/fronted with yang, Indonesian typically drops the meN- prefix and uses the bare verb:

buku yang saya baca (not: yang saya membaca)
yang kami minta (not: yang kami meminta) So yang kami minta is the standard object-relative form.

Does kami include the person I’m talking to? When would I use kita?

Kami = we (excluding the listener).
Kita = we (including the listener). If the listener was part of the group that requested it, use kita.

Is minta too informal? What about meminta or memohon?

Minta is neutral and very common in speech and many written contexts.
Meminta is more formal; use it in full clauses: kami meminta agar panitia menambah…
Memohon is very formal/polite (to plead/beseech).
Noun: permintaan (request): sesuai permintaan kami.

How do I make the time reference explicit (past, ongoing, future)?

Add aspect/tense markers:

Completed: sudah/telah — Panitia sudah menambah…
Ongoing: sedang — Panitia sedang menambah…
Future/intended: akan — Panitia akan menambah…
Just now: baru (saja) — Panitia baru menambah…

Does seperti yang kami minta imply “exactly as” or just “in line with”?

By default it means “as/like we asked,” not necessarily “exactly.” For exactness, add persis/tepat or use sesuai persis dengan permintaan kami.

What’s the difference between ternyata, rupanya, and nyatanya?

Ternyata: a found-out fact, often contrary to expectation.
Rupanya: apparently/seemingly (inference from clues), softer and less assertive than ternyata.
Nyatanya: the fact is/in reality (often to contrast claims with facts).

Why is it menambah (not something with a visible “t”)? What happened to the t in tambah?

It’s the meN- prefix assimilation rule:

meN- + verbs starting with t → men- and the initial t of the root drops.
Hence: tambah → menambah, tulis → menulis. The base root still starts with t; it just doesn’t surface after the prefix.