Identifying English Learning Needs in an Indonesian Islamic Boarding School: A Needs Analysis Study

Katrin Pepita; Rojab Siti Rodliyah

doi:10.24256/ideas.v14i2.9599

Authors

Katrin Pepita English Language Education Study Program, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
Rojab Siti Rodliyah English Language Education Study Program, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24256/ideas.v14i2.9599

Keywords:

Need Analysis; Pesantren; Insider; Outsider

Abstract

Pesantren or Islamic boarding school students live in the school around the clock, which opens wide opportunities for English acquisition, yet it is not only a true case, leaving Indonesia as a country with low proficiency in the language. This article aims to explore what students in a pesantren need in terms of an English program. Under the insider and outsider perspectives, the study used a mixed-method approach, taking 35 former year students and 77 recent students as the samples. The survey was used to examine the programs offered by the Pesantren, while a focus group discussion with a group of alumni and interviews with 2 student participants, 3 teachers, and 1 principal, as well as document analysis, were used for triangulation purposes. The findings reveal students’ perceptions of the skills and programs required for attempts to realize which are suitable for the context.

References

Abrar, A., & Widiati, B. (2024). The Use of Drilling Method in English Speaking Skills. Jurnal Pendidikan: Riset dan Konseptual, 8(3), 436-443.

Badda Badda, A. (2024). The effectiveness of including translation-related exercises in beginners’ L2 reading comprehension classes.

Chadafi, M. (2024, March). The Use of English as a Lingua Franca in Islamic Boarding Schools: Challenges for Language Policy and Education at Mambaus Sholihin Islamic Boarding School in Suci Gresik Indonesia. In ANCOLT: International Conference on Language Teaching (Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 355-373).

Chang, A. C. (2024, November). The Effects of Extensive Listening on EFL Learners’ Improvement of Listening Comprehension and Aural Vocabulary: Material Selection, Practice Modes, and Frequency. In Selected Papers from the Thirty-third International Symposium on English Language Teaching and Learning (p. 12).

EF Education First. (2025). EF English Proficiency Index 2025. EF Education First. https://www.ef.com/epi

EPI, E. (2025). EF English Proficiency Index: A ranking of 116 countries and regions by English skills. Education First.

Faruqi, D. (2023). Perkembangan Pesantren di Indonesia. Al-Wihdah: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 1(1), 17-31.

Flowerdew, L. (2012). Needs analysis and curriculum development in ESP. The handbook of English for specific purposes, 325-346.

Habibah, N. (2020). An analysis of students’ need for learning English at Islamic boarding school. Journal Of Language Education and Development (JLed), 3(1), 339-357.

Harmer, J. (2007). The Practice of English Language Teaching (4th ed.). Pearson Education Limited.

Husni, M. S., Walid, M., & Zuhriah, I. A. (2023). Internalisasi Nilai-Nilai Pendidikan Agama Islam Dalam Membentuk Akhlakul Karimah Santri Pondok Pesantren Al Hikmah Tuban. Paramurobi: Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam, 6(1), 1-22.

Irawan, L. A., & Haerazi, H. (2020). Islamic cultural notes in ELT instruction in the Islamic boarding schools of Haramain Nahdlatul Wathan Narmada, West Nusa Tenggara. AKADEMIKA: Jurnal Pemikiran Islam, 25(2), 385-406.

Karim, S. A., Kumalasari, D., Ningrum, P. L., A’yun, S. Q., Justinio, M., & Aziz, Y. A. (2024). Watching English Movies to Enhance EFL Students’ Listening Ability. Edu Cendikia: Jurnal Ilmiah Kependidikan, 4(02), 212-221.

Karman, K., Andas, N. H., Ibrahim, N. A., & Suhrah, S. (2024). A Learning Need Analysis in English Speaking Program for Students of Pondok Tahfidz Al-Qur’an. Journal of English Language and Education, 9(1), 35-44.

Kemdikbud. (2015). Capaian Nilai Ujian Nasional Tahun Pelajaran 2014/2015. https://hasilun.pusmendik.kemdikbud.go.id/#2015-2019!smp!capaian!02&05&999!T&T&T&T&1&!3!&

Kemenag. (2025). Available at https://kemenag.go.id/opini/sudah-saatnya-diwujudkan-direktorat-jenderal-pondok-pesantren-lnCxK

Kroll, B. (1979). Learning and acquisition: Two paths to writing. English Education, 11(2), 83-90.

Latif, H. A. (2019). Needs analysis of English for specific purposes on Islamic boarding school students. Voices of English Language Education Society, 3(2), 136-144.

Macalister, J., & Nation, I. P. (2019). Language curriculum design. Routledge.

Mart, C. T. (2012). Developing speaking skills through reading. International Journal of English Linguistics, 2(6), 91.

Metruk, R. (2019). USING ENGLISH MOVIES AND TV PROGRAMS FOR DEVELOPING LISTENING SKILLS OF EFL LEARNERS.

Nor, M. R. M. (2021). Characteristics of Preserving Salafiyah Islamic Boarding School Traditions: Lessons from Indonesia and Malaysia. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 10(1), 67-88.

Oluigbo, C. U., Ngozi, E. C., & Ohaegbu, P. M. N. I. (2024, January). Determination of sample sizes in research using Taro Yamane formula: An overview. In Proceedings of the 1st Annual Faculty of Science International Conference, Niger Delta University (Vol. 1, pp. 76-84).

Serafini, E. J., Lake, J. B., & Long, M. H. (2015). Needs analysis for specialized learner populations: Essential methodological improvements. English for specific purposes, 40, 11-26.

Sharipova, C. (2024). MONOLOGICAL SPEECH AS A KEY FACTOR IN SPEECH DEVELOPMENT FOR LEARNERS OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. Академические исследования в современной науке, 3(38), 149-152.

Smith, G. F., Jung, H., & Zenker, F. (2022). From task-based needs analysis to curriculum evaluation: Putting methodological innovations to the test in an English for academic purposes program. English for Specific Purposes, 66, 80-93.

Smith, V., Windle, S., & Johnny, L. (2025). Meeting the needs of EAP students in Canadian colleges: Insights from a needs analysis study. English for Specific Purposes, 78, 139-155.

Tyler, R. W. (1949). Basic principles of curriculum and instruction. The Univeristy of Chicago Press.

Umar. (2022). English Language Teaching in Pesantren in Indonesia: Development And Challenges. Journal of English Language and literature. Journal of English Language and literature, 7(1),55-64. doi: 10.37110/jell.v7i1.143

Wibowo, A., Zahro, I. Z., & Apriyanti, C. (2023, February). STUDENT NEED ANALYSIS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING AT PONDOK PESANTREN NAHDLATUSSUBBAN. In PROCEEDING ENGLISH NATIONAL SEMINAR" CRITICAL THINKING IN ENGLISH EDUCATION FOR A JUST SOCIETY"(2023) (pp. 75-84). ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM STKIP PGRI PACITAN.