Ramadhan English course a rigorous language lesson

By Agus Maryono

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): It was 4 o'clock in the afternoon. In a room measuring six by nine meters some 50 students of a pondok pesantren (traditional Muslim boarding school) in Purwokerto were reading the Koran. They had just performed the asar (afternoon) prayer in the mosque only two meters away from the room.

After seven minutes, the melodious recitation of Koranic verses changed into a conversation conducted in English. "Are you tired?" "Yes, I am very very tired and hungry." "Do you want to sleep?" "No, it's time for study now." That was part of a conversation overheard by The Jakarta Post.

After a while a man with glasses who was dressed in a neat robe and wearing a rimless cap entered the room. He was ustadz (teacher) H. Syarif Hidayatullah, 38, a teacher of English and director of the language institute at the Al-Ikhsan boarding school. Syarif started with reading the Al-Fatihah letter, followed by the students.

"You have to speak and practice English every day and don't be lazy," was heard among other advice given by the teacher.

The 50 students in the room were participants in the school's Hard Teaching System (HTS) program of English in the month of Ramadhan. Some of them are students from the boarding school and some are from other schools. Most of them are high-school graduates, while some are university students, or even university graduates.

Before the class started they were recommended to read verses from the Koran. The program lasts 25 days, from the 1st until the 25th of Ramadhan.

This type of English teaching is rare.

"As far as I know there is no other Moslem boarding school in Java, or even in the whole of Indonesia, that organizes this type of program. Usually pondok pesantren specialize in the study of the kutubul asfar (classic text books)," said Syarif, the son of K.H. Abu Hamid, caretaker of Al-Ikhsan school.

"When I was a santri (student of Moslem boarding school) in East Java I often heard insinuations from the community to santri like me, 'You stay in a boarding school, so what do you want to become?' I felt deeply insulted but also challenged to respond," said Syarif, explaining the background of his opening of an English course at the boarding school in 1986.

"I do not want santri after finishing boarding school to become kiai (Islam scholars). They must be able to play a role in other sectors and in wider fields. With adequate ability in English their ideals can be realized," said Syarif, a graduate of Tribakti University in Jombang, East Java.

The participants in the English program at Al-Ikhsan hail from Jakarta, Bandung and many other places in Java, Sumatra and Bali. Sixty percent of them come from West Java (Tasikmalaya, Ciamis, Garut and Pandeglang).

"I do not know how to account for this. Maybe because many graduates from West Java have attained success and so have drawn their friends into coming here," said Abu Hamid.

"I knew about the HTS program from a friend who last year joined it and after one month could speak English fluently. So, I have followed in his footsteps by participating in the program," Firman, 24, a student coming from the Musadaddiyah Muslim boarding school, Garut, West Java, told the Post after class.

Another participant, Listiono, 28, a university graduate from Bali now working as a consultant, came to Purwokerto for the one- month course at Al-Ikhsan.

"I greatly enjoy the program. It is cheap (only Rp 50,000). Besides I can also learn about religion," said Listiono.

Unique

The Hard Teaching System model is unique. It uses tough methods like the military. Flinging books, slamming desks if a participant is sleepy or late, penalizing a student by having him run around the school, etc. Sometimes the penalty just involves singing a song in front of the class.

Penalties are meted out for mistakes such as late arrivals, doing the wrong exercises, failure in doing homework or being caught not using English in the school area.

"Yes, it is this tough method that I call the hard teaching system," said Syarif.

Another form of penalty is to have an HTS participant speak English in front of another class. It applies to both men and women participants. There are six classes for the HTS program, three for men and another three for women: Pre-elementary I, Pre- elementary II and Secondary School (children's level).

"Many people do not agree with the model I am applying, but for me it is the result that counts. You can see it for yourself," said Syarif. "During the training program participants are obliged to use English as their everyday language. I always assess participants from outside on their ability to use the English language for their placement," he added.

Students who do not use English in everyday activities will be sanctioned as related above.

"After two weeks following the program, I can speak English though not fluently because of my limited vocabulary," said Dede Uba'Idillah, 20, a participant from Bekasi, West Java, who is also a student at the Assidiqiyah boarding school in Jakarta.

The material taught in the program is in fact not much different from that of other English courses, that is conversation, grammar, idioms, listening, and so on. The difference may be in the time spent and the methodology. The HTS program over 25 days involves about 150 hours with four sessions a day.

An interesting aspect, apart from the English lessons, is the religious advice given by Syarif. "As a Muslim I feel obliged to convey religious messages. Therefore while teaching I give the participants advice based on Islam," said Syarif, who often sheds tears when advising the students.