The Language Switching in PMDG Students

A. About Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor (PMDG)

Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor (PMDG) is an Islamic boarding school found in 1926. The PMDG

has become famous for the application of discipline, strong network and heavy emphasis of foreign

languages (Arabic and English).

This school is also considered producing numerous leading figures of the history of Islam in

Indonesia such as Idham Chalid (2nd Chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama – National Hero of Indonesia),

Din Syamsuddin (the 14th chairman of Muhammadiyah and the 6th chairman of Majelis Ulama

Indonesia), Hasyim Muzadi (The 4th chairman of Nahdatul Ulama), Bachtiar Nasir (Da’i), Emha Ainun

Nadjib (Poet and Islamic Intellectual) and more.

PMDG has its own curriculum and education system, known as Kulliyatul Mu’alimin Al Islamiyyah

(KMI). In their learning process, it takes 4-6 years, covering the secondary educational level. This

education system is made referring to its motto: Berbudi Tinggi, Berbadan Sehat, Berpengetahuan

Luas dan Berpikiran Bebas (Noble Character, Sound Body, Broad Knowledge, Independent Mind)/

The PMDG specifically was established in 20th September 1926 by KH Ahmad Sahal, KH Zainudin

Fananie, and K.H. Imam Zarkasyi. Currently, the leadership of PMDG is held by Abdullah Syukri

Zarkasyi (since 1985), Hasan Abdullah Sahal (since 1985), and Syamsul Hadi Abdan (since 2006).

Every year this school accepts thousands for new students. The students are allocated to 14

branches of PMDG across Indonesia. Most of them are in Java.

The one that I have stayed in for days is PMDG 3 or known as Darul Ma’rifat Pondok Modern

Darussalam Gontor.

1 | The Language Switching in PMDG Students – Hani Ayu Rahmatiah

 Photo 1 : Mosque in PMDG 3 with 'Eid Mubarak' Banners in Arabic and Indonesian

This school is located in Kediri, East Java and has male students only. It was established in 1988 by

the Gontor Alumni in Kediri. From the principal, all the systems, circumstances, rules, curriculum are

the same as other Gontor. But technically, there are also some innovations that become this branch

uniqueness, especially in encouraging students to become entrepreneurs.

B. Language Switching in PMDG

According to Lin (2013), Language switching or code-switching – alternating between mixing multiple

languages in conversation – is a common practice among many bilinguals. PMDG considers their

society is bilingual since Arabic and English are only languages allowed to use. Before I stepped into

this school, I thought that bilingual thing is no way to have happened. Or if it is, it might be just as

their formal language in a formal situation.

As I walked into this school area, I was welcomed with a sort of student organization banners. These

banners are made for the new students of this year. A little thing that surprised me was the text

written on the banners are in English.

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The bilingual vibes I perceived when I see many of banners, quotes, signs written mostly in English

and Arabic. The cute part is most of them do not provide the Bahasa Indonesia translation along

with it. Especially for the room labels, rules, the important announcement for students, they are all

written in English or Arabic.

Photo 2 : Bilingual Area Sign in The School

Only those which might be addressed to new students or guests who are coming to this area, that

provide the Bahasa Indonesia translation of the text. All the administration things such as payment

card, saving book and those other kinds of stuff use English and Arabic on their text. It’s is quite

surprising me since I wasn’t expected that they are really putting aside the Bahasa Indonesia for

their students. But, I was still believing that Arabic and English are their formal language only.

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The second day during my stay, I was woken up by the voice of ceremonial speech, from the front of

the building where I stayed. It was the principal giving a morning directional speech to the students.

The principal use all Arabic during his speech. Like really 100% Arabic. While the master of

ceremony and the students are mixing Arabic-English with the percentage of 80% English and 20%

Arabic.

Since in my staycation time is the time where parents of the students are allowed to stay there for

days. There are some students working in cafeteria or selling products in the bazaar. When the

interactions come to the parents or fresh year students, those students use Bahasa Indonesia. But

when they ask help or say anything to their co-workers and partners, all I heard from them are

Arabic they use to speak to each other.

In almost the last day of my staycation there, I was waiting for my mum in the cafeteria. It is only me

and two student workers. It seemed really like nobody around us, so silent that I can even hear

leaves moving because the wind was blowing. So no wonder if I can hear those students small talks

during their activities arranging pieces of stuff in the cafeteria.

I stopped being skeptical about the bilingual thing in this school when I hear those students use

Arabic all the way, for hours. I was expecting them to even produce one Indonesian word to each

other because it is only two of them but they didn’t.

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I also have that one time stepped into the stationary. In front of me, there are two kids (2nd-year

students) buying their needs. The first one has a long argument with the officer since the officer

didn't give what he wanted. The kid keeps refusing the pen that the officer gives to him and appoint

to the pencil. The officer didn't want to take the pencil since what the kid said in Arabic is the pen.

So the officer said "What the hell is this thing in Arabic?" pointing at the pencil. (I was shocked he

use the words ‘the hell'). And the first kid cannot answer that. And finally, the officer said "In Arabic,

this is Qalamun Rasas. Repeat after me, Qalamun Rasas". "Qalamun Rasas," said the kid. "Repeat it

again," asked the officer, "Qalamun Rasas" the kid repeated. "Louder," the officer said, "Qalamun

Rasas," the kid said.

After the drama about pencil ended, the second kid come up and said. "I need Mustaratun Pen" =

What he meant was correction pen. The officer laughs and said "Nice try".

From that moment, I realized that these kids are not only taught but also forced to use whether

English or Arabic. But with more emphasize on Arabic. Their English is like their second and ‘guardian

angel'' language when they are cannot find the words in Arabic.

At the last day, I tried to walk around to find one Indonesian word used by their students (the

second year and senior year students). Finally, I bumped into a Central Language Improvement

Office and have a quite long QnA about the language encouragement there.

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So the PMDG can build this kind of strong bilingual area since their high priority of reinforcement.

The first year students are allowed to use Indonesian words sometimes since they are in intensive

language learning. But, when they are finished their language intensive course, all of the students

should use Arabic and English only They are also making every single of their students become the

spy of the language use. They are really not allowed to speak Indonesian whenever or wherever they

are in the school area. There are also the language police and court here that has the duty to set a

sentence to those who caught producing an Indonesian or local language. The majority kind of

punishments is something that encouraging their language, such as writing a poem or text in English

/ Arabic.

References:

Lin A. (2013). Classroom code-switching: three decades of research. Appl. Linguist. Rev. 4 195–218.

10.1515/applirev-2013-0009

Pondok Modern Darul Ma'rifat Gontor Kampus 3. (n.d.). Retrieved June 24, 2019, from

https://www.gontor.ac.id/pondok-modern-darul-marifat-gontor-3

Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor. Retrieved June 20, 2019, from

https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pondok_Modern_Darussalam_Gontor

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