The Majelis Pengendali Asrama Pelajar (MPAP) of Al-Zaytun continues to advance educational quality by strengthening the professional capacity of its educators. One such effort is the English Language Upgrading program for boarding school mentors, held regularly every Friday evening via Zoom from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. WIB. The program brings together 28 boarding school mentors with the aim of preparing language mentors who can foster authentic international communication in students’ daily lives.
This initiative represents a concrete realization of Al-Zaytun’s vision as a Center for Education that Develops a Culture of Tolerance and Peace toward a Healthy, Intelligent, and Humane Society. Mastery of international languages—particularly English—is viewed as a vital instrument for broadening perspectives, encouraging cross-cultural dialogue, and equipping students to thrive in an increasingly dynamic global community.
The English upgrading program is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Frida Unsiah, S.Pd., M.Pd., a lecturer in English at Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, who is also a parent of a Grade 7 student. This collaboration reflects a meaningful synergy between higher education and boarding school education, enriching language learning through practice-oriented, reflective approaches aligned with students’ real needs.
One learning session, held on Friday, January 16, 2026, focused on strengthening speaking and reading comprehension skills. Participants took part in presentation practice under the theme “The Most Iconic Spot in Ma’had Al-Zaytun,” moderated by Ustdh. Robiatul Fitriani. The exercise was designed to build confidence in public speaking, accuracy in language structure, and the ability to convey ideas clearly, coherently, and communicatively.
The learning approach positions boarding school mentors as active learners while simultaneously preparing them to become language practice mentors for students. Through hands-on practice, discussion, and feedback, the mentors not only improved their own language proficiency but also equipped themselves to guide students in using English in daily boarding life, classroom activities, and the rhythm of unsyithoh yaumiyah.
In addition to presentation sessions, the program incorporates interactive Wordwall-based games aimed at enhancing vocabulary and text comprehension. This method aligns with Al-Zaytun’s educational objectives, which emphasize mastery of science and technology, high-level skills, discipline, and the practical application of knowledge in real-life contexts.
Substantively, the English upgrading activity is closely aligned with Al-Zaytun’s mission to develop individuals who are knowledgeable, highly skilled, disciplined, and prepared to live and contribute at both national and international levels. English is not treated merely as an academic subject, but as a communication tool, a means of building confidence, and a bridge for global interaction grounded in ethics, spirituality, and a culture of tolerance.
The primary goal of this English Language Upgrading program is to prepare boarding school mentors to serve as practical language guides for students. With consistent mentoring, English is expected to extend beyond the classroom and become an integral part of students’ daily lives—aligned with the Sapta Janji Darma Bakti and the rhythm of unsyithoh yaumiyah. Through this initiative, Al-Zaytun reaffirms its educational direction: nurturing a generation that is faithful, strong in character, proficient in international languages, and ready to contribute humanely on the global stage. (Nissa Nurhadidah Faried)