Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Walaupun saya belum fasih, saya senang menirukan aksen penutur asli di video. - Although I am not yet fluent, I enjoy imitating the accent of native speakers in videos.

Meskipun saya belum fasih, saya senang menirukan aksen penutur asli di video.
Walau saya belum fasih, saya senang menirukan aksen penutur asli di video.

Differences:

Walaupun and meskipun: very similar, both common in spoken and written Indonesian.
Walau: a bit shorter and slightly more informal / conversational, but still very natural.

All three are acceptable here; the meaning doesn’t really change.

Why is belum used instead of tidak in saya belum fasih?

Belum means “not yet”, while tidak means a simple “not”.

Saya tidak fasih. → I’m not fluent (and no particular hint that this will change).
Saya belum fasih. → I’m not fluent yet (implies you expect or hope to become fluent in the future).

In this sentence, belum suggests a positive attitude toward future fluency:
Walaupun saya belum fasih, ... → Even though I’m not fluent yet, ...

What does fasih mean exactly, and how is it different from lancar?

Both fasih and lancar relate to fluent speech, but they have slightly different feels:

Fasih = fluent, articulate, especially in speaking a language clearly and correctly.
Lancar = smooth, flowing, not stuck or hesitant. Can be used for speech, traffic, processes, etc.

In language learning:

Saya belum fasih berbahasa Indonesia.
→ I’m not yet fluent (in the sense of accuracy and naturalness).
Saya belum lancar berbicara bahasa Indonesia.
→ I’m not yet smooth/quick when speaking Indonesian (maybe I hesitate, search for words).

In this sentence, fasih is very appropriate because you’re talking about fluency in a language in general.

Why is saya repeated in Walaupun saya belum fasih, saya senang ...? Can I drop the second saya?

Indonesian often repeats the subject for clarity, especially when there are two clauses:

Walaupun saya belum fasih, saya senang menirukan aksen...

However, spoken Indonesian often drops repeated subjects when it’s clear from context. You’ll hear:

Walaupun belum fasih, saya senang menirukan aksen penutur asli di video.

Both are correct:

With saya repeated: slightly clearer, a bit more careful or formal.
Without the second saya: more colloquial, but still standard and natural in speech.

What’s the nuance of senang here? Could I use suka or gemar instead?

All three relate to liking something, but with different flavors:

Senang = glad, happy to do something.
→ Saya senang menirukan aksen... = I enjoy / feel happy imitating the accent.
Suka = like (neutral, most common word for “to like”).
→ Saya suka menirukan aksen... = I like imitating the accent.
Gemar = fond of, keen on (a bit more formal or “hobby-ish”).
→ Saya gemar menirukan aksen... = I am fond of / am into imitating the accent.

All three are grammatically fine here:

Saya senang menirukan... (emphasizes the pleasure you feel)
Saya suka menirukan... (plain “I like to…”)
Saya gemar menirukan... (sounds a bit more like a habit or hobby)

What’s the difference between menirukan and meniru? Is the -kan necessary?

Root verb: tiru = to imitate, copy.

Meniru = to imitate, copy (base active verb).
Menirukan = also “to imitate”, often with a slightly stronger sense of “doing the action to/for something/someone”.

In everyday use:

meniru aksen and menirukan aksen are both natural and mean “to imitate an accent”.
The -kan here doesn’t change the meaning much and is often optional with this verb.

So you can say:

Saya senang menirukan aksen penutur asli di video.
Saya senang meniru aksen penutur asli di video.

Both are correct and natural. Meniru is slightly simpler; menirukan feels just a bit more “complete” or careful, but it’s a subtle difference.

How does penutur asli work grammatically, and are there other ways to say “native speakers”?

Penutur asli literally breaks down as:

penutur = speaker (from tutur = to speak/utter)
asli = original, native

Together: penutur asli = native speaker.

Other common ways to say this:

penutur asli bahasa Indonesia = native speakers of Indonesian
orang lokal = local people (not exactly the same; more about being local than about language)
native speaker (some Indonesians also just use the English phrase, especially in language-learning contexts).

In your sentence:

aksen penutur asli = native speakers’ accent(s) or the accent of native speakers.

Why is it di video and not dalam video? What’s the difference?

Both di and dalam can be translated as “in”, but:

di = at / in / on (basic location preposition)
dalam = inside / within (more literally “inside of”)

In practice:

di video = in the video (location: the accent is heard in the video)
dalam video = inside the video (a bit more literal or formal; can sound slightly heavier)

Your sentence:

... menirukan aksen penutur asli di video.

is natural and idiomatic. You could say dalam video without being wrong, but di video is lighter and more common in everyday speech.

You might also sometimes see:

dari video = from the video (emphasizing the source of what you’re copying).

That would slightly shift the meaning to “I like imitating the accent from videos” (focusing on source rather than location).

Why is there a comma after Walaupun saya belum fasih? Is it required?

Indonesian generally uses a comma when a dependent clause comes first:

Walaupun saya belum fasih, saya senang menirukan aksen...
(Although I’m not yet fluent, I enjoy imitating the accent...)

This is considered good standard writing. If you reverse the order:

Saya senang menirukan aksen penutur asli di video walaupun saya belum fasih.

you typically don’t put a comma before walaupun.

So:

[Clause with walaupun] + , + [main clause]
[Main clause] + walaupun + [clause] (no comma)

Can I move the walaupun-clause to the end, like in English?

Yes. Both orders are correct and natural:

Original (subordinate clause first):
- Walaupun saya belum fasih, saya senang menirukan aksen penutur asli di video.
Main clause first:
- Saya senang menirukan aksen penutur asli di video walaupun saya belum fasih.

Nuance:

Starting with walaupun emphasizes the contrast upfront (typical in more careful or written style).
Putting walaupun later feels a bit more conversational, adding the contrast after the main statement.

But meaning is the same: even though you’re not fluent yet, you enjoy imitating the accent.

Is this sentence formal or informal? Could I use aku instead of saya?

Saya is the neutral/formal first-person pronoun. In this sentence:

Walaupun saya belum fasih, saya senang menirukan aksen...

the overall style is neutral to slightly formal, suitable for writing, class, or speaking politely.

In informal contexts with friends, you could use:

Walaupun aku belum fasih, aku senang menirukan aksen penutur asli di video.

Differences:

saya: polite, neutral, safe in almost all situations.
aku: more informal/intimate, used with friends, family, or people your own age when the relationship is close.

Grammar stays the same; only the pronoun changes.

How does Indonesian express “am” in “Even though I’m not fluent yet” if there’s no verb like “to be”?

Indonesian typically omits a “to be” verb (am/is/are) when linking a subject to an adjective or noun.

Saya fasih. = I am fluent.
Saya belum fasih. = I am not yet fluent.

The structure is:

Subject + (negation) + adjective

So in Walaupun saya belum fasih:

saya = I
belum = not yet
fasih = fluent

No extra verb is needed; the “am” is understood from the pattern.