LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTER BUILDING: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF PTTI ORGANIZATIONS IN ARRISALAH ISLAMIC INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

Abstract

Language in modern Islamic boarding schools serves not only as a medium of communication but also as a means to internalize Islamic values. Challenges are frequently encountered in developing students' Arabic and English language skills, and thus, senior student organizations play a strategic role in supervising, guiding, and motivating other students. This study aims to analyze the role of the PTTI (Islamic Technology Boarding School Organization) at Arrisalah Islamic International College, Ponorogo in language development, supervision, and efforts to enhance language proficiency among students. A qualitative method is used in this study to explore various language development programs, supervision efforts, and improvement strategies implemented by senior student organizations. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observations of daily activities at the boarding school. Findings reveal that language development programs include daily, weekly, monthly, and annual activities such as routine vocabulary practice, penalties for language violations, conversations, drama, listening exercises, vocabulary tests, debates, drama contests, miss language, language courses, and language challenges. These programs face challenges, such as low student motivation and limited resources, but overall, they have a positive impact on students' language skills while fostering character traits such as honesty, discipline, hard work, creativity, independence, curiosity, appreciation of achievement, friendliness/communication, peace-loving attitudes, a love of reading, social awareness, and responsibility. This study provides insights for boarding school administrators to design more effective and sustainable language development programs. Keywords: Development, Supervision, Language Enhancement, Student Organization, Modern Islamic Boarding School