UM Revolutionizes Arabic Learning at SIR Through Interactive Games and Innovative Teaching Methods

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (19/08/2024)— The Indonesian School in Riyadh (SIR) witnessed the enthusiasm of its students during the Innovation Showcase and Training on the Utilization of HKI-Certified Featured Products in the fields of Arabic language literacy and numeracy, organized by the Community Service Team of Universitas Negeri Malang (UM) on Monday (19/08) local time. The team was led by Dr. Muhammad Alfan, S.Pd., M.Pd. This successful event not only introduced innovative methods for learning Arabic but also promoted UM as a top choice for pursuing higher education.

The event began with a session with 12th-grade students from the Indonesian School in Riyadh. During this session, one of the team members, Mochammad Rizal Ramadhan, S.Pd.I., M.Pd., presented UM's profile. "We want to introduce UM as a university that excels not only academically but is also active in international engagements. The warm response from SIR students shows their interest in learning more about UM," he stated.

Besides UM, the Department of Arabic Literature at UM also received special attention. Dra. Hj. Nur Anisah Ridwan, M.Pd., a lecturer in the department, discussed promising career prospects. "We hope students will consider UM’s Arabic Literature as a study option that offers wide career opportunities," said Dr. Hj. Nur Anisah Ridwan, M.Pd., with confidence.

Dr. Hj. Nur Anisah Ridwan, M.Pd. also conducted a training session on teaching Arabic to children through songs, including both original Arabic songs and Indonesian songs with Arabic lyrics.

The most anticipated session by the students was the literacy and numeracy training using educational games such as Arabic Snakes and Ladders, Arabic Dominoes, Arabic Classification Cards, and Android-based media. "These engaging media are a new way to learn Arabic in a fun manner. With these games, SIR students can learn while playing, making the learning process more effective and enjoyable," said Dr. Muhammad Alfan, S.Pd, M.Pd.

Positive feedback came from the student participants. “Learning Arabic became more exciting and challenging with these games,” said an enthusiastic 12th-grade student. "We usually only learn from books, but today we could learn while playing. It didn’t feel like studying at all," added another student.

After the training session, the event continued with a virtual exhibition of HKI-certified featured products in Arabic literacy and numeracy, presented by Mochammad Rizal Ramadhan, S.Pd.I., M.Pd. "This training aimed to provide an understanding of the procedures for obtaining HKI certification. Additionally, we demonstrated various HKI-certified featured products in Arabic literacy and numeracy to support more interactive and engaging learning, including Qur’anic Natural Science," he explained during the presentation.

The second session included a discussion and Q&A, where participants could further explore the presented material. The discussion flowed smoothly with the participation of the teaching staff of the Indonesian School in Riyadh (SIR), students from King Saud University (KSU), and students from the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program from Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY).

Moreover, the Education and Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Riyadh, Badrus Sholeh, Ph.D., delivered closing remarks. He warmly welcomed the community service program at SIR.

“We are very pleased with UM's community service program, as it greatly benefits students, teachers, and university students studying in Riyadh. It’s no surprise that Arabic language proficiency is one of the main focuses at the elementary, middle, and high school levels,” he remarked.

“With the profile and competencies of UM's academic community, we sincerely hope that this program will continue in the future. We also encourage the 12th-grade SIR students to consider continuing their studies at UM,” added Badrus Sholeh, Ph.D.

UM's Community Service Team also had the opportunity to visit the Indonesian Embassy office in Riyadh, exchanging souvenirs and memorabilia with the Education and Cultural Attaché and the teaching staff of SIR.

Moreover, this community service activity left a lasting impression on the students and teachers of the Indonesian School in Riyadh. "We are very grateful to UM for their dedication and knowledge sharing through this event. We hope this collaboration continues in the future," said a teacher at the event’s conclusion.

The Innovation Showcase and Training on the Utilization of HKI-Certified Featured Products demonstrated that innovation in education can captivate students’ interest, making the learning process more enjoyable and meaningful. UM's community service initiative not only strengthens its network with the global educational community but also continues to promote creative and innovative teaching methods.