Teachers’ Perception on Speaking Strategies in Pesantren Context

Abstract

Teaching strategies are unique ways of processing information that learners employ to better comprehension, learning, and retention of information. Learners employ learning methods to service in the conception of fresh information then the determination of language challenges. That is why the strategy is needed by the learners on speaking fluency for students in pesantren context. Pesantren has progressed to the point where it is no longer just a holy old-style schooling scheme and focus for a dakwah, but also a principal of personality development, talents expansion, and the focus of schooling which enables learners toward communicate internationally. Pesantren in Madura is a residential school similar to other pesantren that once primarily focused on religious knowledge and deepening religion for dakwah, but today it is more focused on academic growth that can balance religious knowledge. Expecting pesantrens are able to be a model of other educations to implement the strategies in teaching speaking especially teaching speaking using speaking strategies. The aim at this research is to answer the questions in this research question. The research questions are: 1) How is the teachers' perception on speaking strategies in the pesantren context? 2) What are the challenges of using strategies for speaking in the pesantren context?. This research approach and type uses a qualitative descriptive approach. This research was carried out in pesantrens in Madura by taking two speaking teachers in each pesantrens who had at least two years of teaching at pesantrens in the English center. The data collection technique in this study used a questionnaire with a closed-ended question model and used interviews. It is vital to confirm the data in this study using a triangulation of techniques or methods because the data collection process used two instruments, namely questionnaires and interviews. The findings expose that teachers showed positive perception toward the teachers’ perception on speaking strategies in pesantren context with various reasons such as for increasing language skill, medium for future education and career. The implementation of speaking strategies in pesantren did not go smoothly, and some teachers discovered issues that they needed to address, such as difficulty in finding an appropriate model due to the diversity of learners' learning styles in teaching speaking in pesantren, students lack of motivation, and limited time. Not only lack of motivation and limited time, but teachers and students also lacked facilities due to teaching and learning practices.