Surabaya – The Open House event at MI Masjid Nasional Al-Akbar Surabaya was filled with joy, creativity, and Islamic spirit. The program featured various student performances and competitions, including Mawlid recitation and a speech contest about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
The event began with cheerful music and welcoming remarks. Teachers guided students to prepare for their performances, creating an enthusiastic and lively atmosphere.
One of the students, Nadiyya Afifah, expressed her excitement about the activity.
“It was so much fun, especially when we practiced conversation at Pasar Senja. I didn’t expect many sellers to speak English fluently. I even practiced with an egg roll seller who spoke English very well. It was really exciting,” she said.
Another student, Althaf Ehsan, admitted that the program exceeded his expectations.
“At first, I thought it would be boring, but it turned out to be very enjoyable. After each lesson, there were games to strengthen our memory of the material, so learning felt like playing,” he explained.
Kinanthi, another participant, also shared her enthusiasm.
“I really like the games. I feel comfortable studying here. If the program lasted for a month, I would gladly stay and not want to go home,” she said cheerfully.
According to the accompanying teacher, Fajru Achmi Fauziah, affectionately known as Bu Amy, the program took place from January 6 to January 12, 2025. She explained that the learning methods were designed to keep students engaged through both classroom instruction and outdoor activities.
“In the classroom, students learned vocabulary and daily expressions used in everyday conversations. They also studied grammar for speaking to ensure proper sentence structure, English in use for topic-based conversations, and public speaking to build confidence in expressing opinions and presenting short speeches,” she explained.