Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Murid itu percaya diri saat wawancara. - That student is confident during the interview.

itu is a demonstrative that can mean that, and very often functions like the in Indonesian. Murid itu = the/that student (already known in context). Near vs far: ini = this, itu = that.

Why is there no verb like is in the sentence?

Indonesian doesn’t use a linking verb before adjectives. An adjective can be the predicate by itself: Murid itu percaya diri = The/That student is confident. No adalah is needed (or correct) before an adjective.

Is percaya diri one word or two? What part of speech is it?

Two words. percaya diri is an adjectival phrase meaning confident. The noun self-confidence is kepercayaan diri: Ia menunjukkan kepercayaan diri.

How do I say not confident or less confident?

Not confident: tidak percaya diri.
Lacking confidence/less confident (softer): kurang percaya diri. Example: Murid itu tidak/kurang percaya diri saat wawancara.

How do I show past vs present? Does it mean was or is?

Indonesian has no tense inflection; context or time words clarify:

Past: Tadi saat wawancara, murid itu percaya diri.
Past (yesterday): Kemarin saat wawancara, …
General present: Murid itu percaya diri saat wawancara. You can add saat itu to emphasize a past moment.

Can I use ketika, waktu, selama, or pada saat instead of saat?

saat/ketika/waktu ≈ when/at the time (point in time).
selama = during/for the duration (span of time).
pada saat = more formal at the time. Colloquial di saat is common but often replaced by saat or pada saat in careful writing.

Can I move the time phrase to the front?

Yes. Saat wawancara, murid itu percaya diri. Fronting adverbials like this is very natural. A comma helps readability.

What are the related forms of wawancara?

Noun: wawancara (an interview).
Active verb: mewawancarai (orang) = to interview (someone).
Passive verb: diwawancarai = to be interviewed.
Interviewer: pewawancara; interviewee/source: narasumber. Example: Murid itu diwawancarai pewawancara senior.

Is di wawancara correct?

If you mean was interviewed, it must be one word: diwawancarai (passive verb). As a prepositional phrase for location, di wawancara is not idiomatic; use saat wawancara or dalam wawancara instead.

How do I make it plural (students)?

murid-murid or para murid = students.
para murid itu / murid-murid itu = those students. Plural marking is optional if context is clear: Murid percaya diri saat wawancara can mean students are confident.

Should I use murid, siswa, or mahasiswa?

murid: student (often general or school-age).
siswa: school student (elementary to high school), formal/common.
mahasiswa: university student. Pick based on level: Mahasiswa itu percaya diri saat wawancara.

Can I use adalah here? Murid itu adalah percaya diri?

No. adalah links a subject to a noun phrase, not an adjective. Correct options:

Murid itu percaya diri.
Murid itu adalah orang yang percaya diri.

Is there a casual/slang way to say confident?

Yes: pede/PD (from percaya diri). Informal: Dia pede banget saat wawancara. Use percaya diri in neutral/formal contexts.

How do I say very, quite, more, most confident?

Very: sangat/amat/begitu percaya diri
Quite: cukup percaya diri
More … than …: lebih percaya diri daripada …
Most: paling percaya diri Example: Ia paling percaya diri di antara teman-temannya.

What’s the nuance difference between confident and overconfident?

Positive: percaya diri
Overconfident/too confident: terlalu percaya diri or percaya diri berlebihan; slang: kelewat pede. Example: Dia terlalu percaya diri saat wawancara.

How does yang change the meaning if I add it?

yang makes a relative/attributive clause. Murid yang percaya diri saat wawancara itu diterima = The student who was confident during the interview was accepted. Without yang, percaya diri is the main predicate.

Pronunciation tips for this sentence?

c in wawancara = ch (like chair): wa-wan-CHA-ra.
saat has two vowels in a row: sa-at (pronounce both; slight glottal break).
u in itu is like oo in boot. Indonesian stress is light; keep syllables clear and even.