Salam, Salim, Klipuk, Mintul, and Yeyen are studying Arabic with ustadz Manthuk at a boarding school. Ustadz Manthuk decided to give the students small assignments to practice their Arabic speaking skills.
Ustadz Manthuk: "Okay, now it's time to practice speaking Arabic. I will give you a topic and you have to talk about that topic in Arabic. Our topic this time is about the beauty of nature."
Salam: "I really like the natural beauty that Allah created. Like the green and wide mountains, or the blue and refreshing sea."
Salim: "I agree with Salam. But for me, I prefer the simpler beauty of nature like flowers and trees that thrive."
Klipuk: "I also really admire the beauty of nature, especially when I see the sunrise and sunset. I feel very calm and peaceful."
Mintul: "For me, the most beautiful natural beauty is when I see a big and beautiful waterfall. I feel like I live in another world."
Yeyen: "I agree with all my friends. However, for me the most beautiful beauty of nature is looking at the stars in the night sky. It makes me feel small and amazing."
"Very good! Now use Arabic!!!", ordered Ustadz Manthuk.
"This time you are practicing speaking in Arabic. I will correct if there are pronunciation mistakes and so on.", continued the Ustadz.
"Sukron, sukron.", Klipuk joked.
Everyone laughs
Ustadz Manthuk: "Okay, let's start with greetings. Can you repeat the sentence you said earlier in Arabic?"
Salam: "Ana ohibbu jamaal al-tabi'i alladhi khalqah Allahu, kaal jibaal al-akhdar wa al-wasee'a, aw al-bahr al-azraq wa al-mureeh."
Ustadz Manthuk: "Very good Greetings! Now Salim, how about you? Can you express your opinion in Arabic?"
Salim: "Ana amtaqidu ana akthar min Salam. Walakin lii, ana akthar uhibbu jamaal al-tabi'i alladhi yabda'u bial-nabaat wa al-shajarah allati tanbu'u al-shumar."
Ustadz Manthuk: "Well done Salim! You used the right words. Now it's Klipuk's turn. Can you talk about sunrise and sunset in Arabic?"
Klipuk: "Ana atma'an wujuuda li jamaal al-tabi'i, hususan fi waqt shuruq al-shams wa ghurubuha. Uhibbu an ashuhuda 'ala hadhihi al-ayyam fi mawtiin min al-mawatin."
Ustadz Manthuk: "Very good Klipuk! Now Mintul, can you express your opinion in Arabic about this beautiful waterfall?"
Mintul: "Li qalbi, jamaal al-tabi'i al-akthar tamattaa an ara al-sil' al-'azheem al-mustawdaa. Uhibbu an 'ish fi 'alam kharij al-dunia."
Ustadz Manthuk: "Very good Mintul! Now it's Yeyen's turn. How do you describe the beauty of the stars in Arabic?"
Yeyen: "Ana a'taqqadu, jamaal al-tabi'i alladhi fi sama' al-layl, wa taj'alni ahsan an athkur rabbii, alladhi khalaqa hadhihi al-nujum wa samawatiha."
After being tested one by one, the ustadz divided the five boys into two groups. Group 1 contains Salam and Yeyen, and group 2 contains 3 people namely Salim, Klipuk and Mintul. They are assigned to dialogue with each other. Of course in Arabic.
Ustadz Manthuk: "Okay, now we are forming two groups to practice speaking Arabic. Group 1 consists of Salam and Yeyen, and group 2 consists of Salim, Klipuk, and Mintul. You will have dialogue with each other about the topic I gave. The topic This time it's about your favorite food."
Group 1 starts talking, with Salam asking Yeyen what her favorite food is.
Salam: "Ya Yeyen, what's your favorite food?"
Yeyen: "I like to eat fried rice and fried chicken."
Salam: "Wow, that's really good. I also like fried rice, but prefer it with a sunny side up egg on top."
Yeyen : "Oh, that's delicious too. Greetings. Do you like to eat chili sauce?"
Salam: "Of course, I like hot chili sauce!"
In group 2, Salim, Klipuk, and Mintul are also talking about their favorite food.
Salim : "I like to eat meatballs. Meatballs are tasty and chewy."
Klipuk: "I prefer to eat chicken noodles. But it has to be spicy, okay?"
Mintul: "I like to eat rendang the most. The meat is tender and the seasoning is really good."
Suddenly Ustadz Manthuk came into the room and asked them: "What are you talking about?"
Salim: "We are talking about our favorite food, Ustadz."
Ustadz Manthuk: "Oh, I also like food. But when asked about my favorite food, the answer is 'knowledge'. It is the most nutritious food for our brains!"
All group members laughed at Ustadz Manthuk's hilarious answer.
"Because we were still using our birth language, now we are using Arabic as well. This time, make a different conversation," continued Ustadz Manthuk.
Groups 1 and 2 followed Ustadz Manthuk's request and started speaking in Arabic.
Group 1 starts a conversation about new name, which is about their hobbies in their free time.
Salam: "Ya Yeyen, maada yulathikum fi waqt al-farah?"
Yeyen: "Naam, ana uhibbu an athraka al-kutub wa ash-shafaf."
Salam: "Ana ya'ti al-masjid wa aqra al-Qur'an fi waqt al-farah."
Yeyen: "Mashaa Allah, dalika yantafi'u li-ruhi."
Meanwhile, in group 2, they are also talking about their hobbies in their free time.
Salim: "Ana uhibbu an athraka al-filam wa an astami'u li-l-musiqaa."
Klipuk: "Ana ushra' fi an ashariba al-qahwa wa an adkhul fi anfasi al-pole."
Mintul: "Ana ashrab al-kahwa wa astami'u li-l-musiqaa."
Ustadz Manthuk was pleased to see the progress the five boys had made in speaking Arabic. "Okay, all of you are very good at speaking Arabic. Keep practicing and keep improving your skills," he said with a smile.
"If I may know what the meaning of your conversation earlier?" asked Ustadz.
Salam: "Yes Yeyen, do you have any favorite activities in your free time?"
Yeyen: "Yes, I like collecting books and cleaning."
Salam: "I go to the mosque and read the Koran in my free time."
Yeyen: "Masha Allah, it's good for mental health."
In group 2, they also talked about hobbies in their free time.
Salim: "I like watching movies and listening to music."
Klipuk: "I like to drink coffee and read books."
Mintul: "I drink coffee and listen to music."
Ustadz Manthuk: "Very good, you are able to speak Arabic fluently. What did your conversation mean?"
Salam: "We are discussing our favorite leisure activities, Ustadz."
Ustadz Manthuk: "Okay, keep improving your Arabic language skills and don't forget to always seek useful knowledge for ourselves and others."
After that, Ustadz Manthuk motivated the five children to continue learning and developing their Arabic language skills. He also stressed the importance of seeking useful knowledge, both religious and world knowledge, and applying this knowledge in everyday life.
Salam, Yeyen, Salim, Klipuk, and Mintul feel inspired and more excited to learn Arabic and seek useful knowledge. They promised to continue practicing and trying to improve their Arabic skills and benefit from the knowledge they learned.
With great enthusiasm, they said goodbye to Ustadz Manthuk and promised to return to study at the same place the next time. Ustadz Manthuk also prayed that they would always be given convenience and blessings in studying.