The Importance of EFL Teaching in Hindu Gurukula Modern System

Si Luh Nyoman Seriadi Universitas Hindu Negeri IGBS Denpasar Email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT Education is a significant factor in building civilization. A civilization or a country will advance rapidly when its education system gives such a significant contribution to the development of Human Resources. The advancement of a nation determined by the extent of the educational institution which has succeeded in building its human being into a superior human being to be a dignified world citizen. Hindu civilization dramatically emphasizes the importance of education. In the history of Sanatana Dharma, training gets an enormous portion along with the building of the concept of gurukula, where teachers and sisya are living together in an educational institution. Moreover, when the West has not found an established educational system, India has built the world's earliest university Thaksashila or Taxila with a highly developed teaching system. But the progress of civilization in the past has not always been well inherited in the next era. Currently, Hindus, especially in Indonesia, are faced with Hindu-based education that can answer global challenges. Not only prosecuted to build superior human resources but educational institutions required to master technology as a worldwide phenomenon. Hindu educational institutions were requested to be capable of becoming a modern gurukula as well as capable of realizing superior human resources. Therefore, to answer the requirements of global challenges, students in gurukula must be able to overcome the language barrier. They have to be able to communicate well in English. Hence, the EFL(English as Foreign Language) Teaching becomes an essential part of the Hindu Gurukula Modern system. Keywords: EFL Teaching, gurukula, education

I. INTRODUCTION Speaking of human resources, Indonesia is ranked 121. This ranking Indonesia has also not yet reached an has increased from 2012, which was optimal level in the ranking of ranked 124. However, when competitiveness. The 2013 Human compared to the G-20 group, Development Index issued by UNDP Indonesia is in ranking number two at or known as the Indonesian Human the bottom. Australia is rated 2, Development Index (HDI), measures America (3), Germany (5), Japan (10), the quality of life of a country in terms Canada (11), United Kingdom (26), of education, health, and life and France (20), Russia (55), Brazil expectancy. Based on data published (85), and china ( 101). While in the by BPS (Indonesian Central Statistics ASEAN group, Indonesia's human Agency) in 2014, from 167 countries, resource competitiveness ranks below

12 Yavana Bhāshā: Journal of English Language Education March 2020, Volume 3, Issue 1 Singapore (9), Brunei Darussalam communities globally. Learning (30), Malaysia (62), Thailand (89) (BPS, English / EFL Teaching needs to be 2014: 28). Meanwhile, according to the applied in the modern Hindu 2016 UNDP report, for 2015, the Gurukula system, so that students Indonesian HDI was 0.689. This gain tremendous benefit from the number places Indonesia in the fusion of the Gurukula system of category of medium human teaching and learning the English development and ranks 113th out of language that can be useful in their 188 countries and regions. The value future life. of HDI increased by 30.5 percent from the amount in 1990. The low II. MATERIAL AND METHODS competitiveness of human resources This paper is the result of a requires Indonesia to make review of the Vedic Education system improvements to the education library in the form of the gurukula and system. its thinking in the modern context of Hindus also assume the importance of English in this responsibility for human resource modern era. In Bali, there are several development through systems of Gurukula Education systems such as education. Although the modern the Bali Mandara Singaraja School, Hindu education system in India has Pasraman Gurukula Bangli, and a long history, in Indonesia, Hindus several gurukula being built to continue to improve and build a more prepare Hindu human resources in established education system the future. Likewise, in Indonesia, following global challenges. The there are some Hindu Education education of ancient gurukula must Institutions that should seriously transform into modern gurukula, include English as a necessity at this which combines spiritual knowledge time. This study examines the context and science as a prerequisite in facing of the importance of teaching English global challenges today (Surpi, in the modern Hindu Education 2017:172). It is also vital to use the system. language of instruction in the form of international communications and III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION languages that are recognized by the 3.1 Importance of Hindu Gurukula United Nations. Because in modern Modern System relationships, Hindu human Hindu education system resources must prepare more to be emphasizes holistic learning between able to communicate globally. divine knowledge (truth/spirituality) Therefore, EFL learning is as a human development from within. essential to be able to meet these This Divine Knowledge is an criteria. English as a global language educational effort that touches the is the determining language for most profound aspects of humanity, removing students' language barriers building human excellence from when later communicating with other within. Meanwhile, knowledge,

Yavana Bhāshā: Journal of English Language Education 13 March 2020, Volume 3, Issue 1 science, and skills are education from brilliant in the Vedic civilization. So, outside the self to create an entirely one must consider how to advance superior human being. So ideally, Hindu education in Indonesia so that Hindu-based education must build it can become an established human strength from within and from educational institution that adapted to outside the human nature itself current conditions (Surpi, 2017:173). (spiritual and scientific). Upanisad In the Hindu context, the asserted the goal of human education education system must provide to make a better, purer, more refined, education and knowledge to the and more profound desire is the first students of knowledge and skills, goal of education. Thus, the task of have the ability to distinguish good educational institutions is to develop and evil, have forward-looking humans into ideal human beings insight, be wise, be able to become (Singh, 2005: 79). This means community leaders, successors of strengthening character, controlling truth, brilliant orators, advance desire and drive, increasing the power science, educate the morality of the of concentration and will is the goal of sisya and condition that students education. follow the teachings of the Vedas and The struggle of Hindus in protect sacred traditions. Indonesia for the improvement of the In the history of humankind, the Hindu Education System has just importance of education in the Vedic experienced a step forward with the civilization shown the formation of a issuance of the Minister of Religion traditional education system in the Regulation of the Republic of form of the gurukula or ashram since Indonesia Number 56 of 2014 ancient times where Acarya / teacher concerning Hindu Religious and sisya lived together to get a full Education. This is a struggle and education. This education system is awaiting almost 56 years after the very brilliant where the students learn establishment of the Parisadha Hindu directly from the teachers by living Dharma Indonesia in 1959, Hindus in together, seeing and imitating the Indonesia are longing for the dharma lifestyle of the teachers, and establishment of Vedic-based Hindu studying in full the branches of Vedic education. The birth of PMARI must knowledge accompanied by learning make all Hindu universities in philosophy, ethics and also moral Indonesia to improve and realize the directly. So the learning system is very format of Hindu education that is intensive and happy. Besides, the good for now and the future. Hindus importance of education is indicated must learn much from the success of by the existence of the oldest other parties in managing religious university in the world, Thakshasila education so that it becomes a or Taxila. It is estimated to stand prestigious educational institution. In between 1000 B.C to 500 A.D (Apte, the past, the ancient Hindu education 1949: 8). Thakshasila combines system, the Gurukula, was very traditional and modern education

14 Yavana Bhāshā: Journal of English Language Education March 2020, Volume 3, Issue 1 systems. The existence of Thakshasila technology, the Hindu tertiary is supported by a library that has a institution becomes a campus that fantastic collection of books. Both the prints superior Hindu human Gurukula in the past and Thaksasila resources with religious qualifications University have a teaching system and an established Brahma Widya, that combines the intelligence of mastering Tarka Sastra which is reason, mastery of knowledge and synergized with the development of superiority of character. John science, technology as well as the Marshall, who has researched for 20 other soft skills such as leadership, years in Thaksasila, revealed that rhetoric, ability to work together. This Thaksasila is a remarkable historical is important because Hindu HR does legacy with the discovery of various not only require superior character as historical objects, buildings and a a Hindu educational entity but can highly organized education system speak on the international stage, able from at least five centuries BC and five to build relationships, and be able to centuries after that students from become role models. Thus, to be able seven different nations namely to speak in the International stage, Persian, Macedonian, Maurya, Greek, students must also mastery English as Seythian (Sakhas), Partian and the primary language of international Cushan (Marshall, 1918: 23, Surpi, society. Hindu education must 2017:174)). develop rapidly, with professional In the concept of ancient Hindu management but based on Vedic education, the primary purpose of Education and the local wisdom of education is to awaken the potential Nusantara, as well as the teaching of advantage of sisya through rigorous EFL, so that it can become a modern education for 24 hours by the teachers teacher who produces scholars, (Acarya). The Acarya in this system is masters, and doctoral degrees. Brahmins, who have the superiority of knowledge, intelligence, and nobility 3.2 Importance of EFL Teaching to guide the students to explore the It is commonly believed that advantage of talent before returning English is becoming a widely used to society to become an ideal citizen. language, and through it, one can In the Bhagavata Purana, it is stated participate in several social activities, that Narada Muni is a perfect teacher because language is more than merely who has the most secretive dharmam a way of expression, it helps people guhyam qualifications for religious form relationships and know-how to life principles. Spiritual qualification interact in different social contexts is emphasized in this system as a key depending on sociolinguistic to the success of the education system. situations. English is one of the Based on the ancient Hindu essential languages in the world. As education system and the stated by Baugh (2002), it is spoken by development of a modern education more than 380 million people in the system based on sciences and United Kingdom, the United States,

Yavana Bhāshā: Journal of English Language Education 15 March 2020, Volume 3, Issue 1 and the former British Empire. It is the discover when and how to engage largest of the Western languages. learners in the classroom Many people are aware of the value environment. EFL teachers are that the English language has in interested in providing their learners today's world. For that reason, the with the knowledge needed to be demands for learning are increasing competent to a certain extent in the every day. Different factors make that target language. According to Canale language dominant and essential; and Swain (1980, 1981), to be qualified some people see it as their window to is in terms of three dimensions. In the outside world in the sense that other words, they have defined they can use it as a medium of communicative competence as communication with others from knowing grammatical rules and different countries because it is widely vocabulary and they named that spread. Others believe that through component the linguistic or that language they can check recent grammatical competence. The second researches and read books from other competence which is the countries so it represents for them a sociolinguistic one, is concerned with source of knowledge. It is widely knowledge of socio-cultural practices recognized that the English language of the language to know how to use is becoming an effective means to the language being taught communicate, to participate in appropriately. Whereas the third is international business activities, and strategic competence which is the to obtain information about the events ability to use specific strategies to all around the world. In her book compensate for breakdowns in "Teaching English Overseas," Mckay communication. Developing (1992) demonstrates that the reason communicatively competent learners for the widespread of English is the is the goal that most EFL teachers wish belief that a particular proficiency in to accomplish, but of course, that language may provide social and communicative competence is not economic gains. sufficient. Learners need other Teaching English to non-native dimensions to succeed, to be accurate speakers is a challenging experience and fluent, and to achieve that. for teachers. TEFL refers to teaching Teachers are supposed to set some English in formal contexts, and plans which should be designed with English, in that case, represents a taking into consideration different foreign language for learners. Stern goals and of course, their learner's defines language teaching as the levels and needs. activities intended to bring about According to Sulistiyo (2009), language learning (1983: 21). In other there are several factors creating words, language teaching is more difficulties for teaching EFL in than instructing a class, it is a process Indonesia. First, EFL teachers must that involves different activities, and it teach students in large classes, often is the responsibility of the teacher to with more than 50 students. Although

16 Yavana Bhāshā: Journal of English Language Education March 2020, Volume 3, Issue 1 the definition of a ‘large’ course in In short, three factors may language learning varies (Wright, influence the success of EFL teaching 2005), this number is not ideal for a in Indonesia. According to Sulistiyo language classroom. Second, not all (2009), these are class size, student students who attend English classes motivation, and teaching focus. These are motivated. English is a three factors align with Bradford’s compulsory subject, which means that (2007) view that less effective English students must learn the language for learning and teaching in Indonesia is examination purposes; however, their often due to classroom size and exposure to English occurs only for student motivation, although approximately two hours per week. Bradford also includes the factor of Students’ low motivation and teacher qualifications as contributing minimal English learning hours are to the limited effectiveness of EFL obstacles not only for teachers but also teaching in Indonesia. for students as learners. Third, at both school and 3.3 Importance of EFL Teaching in university, the English-teaching focus Hindu Gurukula Modern System is mainly on reading skills (Sawir, Based on the 2013-2014 Global 2005; Setiyadi, 2001; Sugirin, 1999), Competitiveness Report released by with less emphasis on English the World Economic Forum (WEF), grammar and vocabulary. This Indonesia's competitiveness in 2013 teaching emphasis based on the rose to 38th place from the 50th rank assumption that students will in 2012. However, it is still low understand an English text properly if compared to some neighboring they know the structure of English countries. This report examines the and have an adequate vocabulary. competitiveness of 148 countries in One consequence of this is that the the world, based on the level of teaching of other skills—such as productivity and the level of welfare speaking, writing, and listening—is in each state. It is estimated that in the relatively ignored (Sugirin, 1999). next few years, the hope of qualified English is a compulsory subject taught Indonesian workers is still a dream. during junior and senior secondary Because low levels of education still schools and at tertiary levels of dominate the increase in the number education in Indonesia. The teaching of the workforce, expertise, and and learning activities conducted in certification are still minimal. Hindu these classrooms mostly involve tertiary institutions must also think memorizing vocabulary, studying about producing high-quality human grammar and reading English texts. resources, possessing high This tends to focus on learning the qualifications and competitiveness as rules of the English language rather the demands of this century. than using English for communication Education management can no longer (Sawir, 2005). be done traditionally and in a superficial manner but must pay

Yavana Bhāshā: Journal of English Language Education 17 March 2020, Volume 3, Issue 1 attention to global issues and continue resources but must also be able to to make improvements in a better speak English at least. Because if it direction. Hindu universities should will not be left far behind and crushed not produce unproductive graduates by the flow of modernity. Hindu or even increase the number of Education Institutions must also educated unemployed in the country. become agents of change by being Hindu tertiary institutions must able to produce resilient Human be able to become a modern Resources (HR) to live amid global institution in the archipelago that can currents, not produce graduates who make a real contribution towards the are unable to compete and do not development of Human Resources, understand the rapid flow of world improve the Human Development development. Higher education must Index, and readiness to face the AEC increase resources, management of a (ASEAN economic community) and superior education system to answer global competition. For this reason, a global challenges. Hindus must sound learning system and become excellent HR not only get a curriculum are needed. Qualified diploma and a bachelor's degree. In lecturers not only have high academic the future, Indonesian Hindus must degrees but well-established produce more professionals who can knowledge and skills. Ancient Vedic work in the national and international wisdom, Eastern wisdom must be arena, politicians, entrepreneurs, and integrated with Western development other essential fields. Balinese Hindus to build an established and modern are genetically superior, but they will education system. Management must be perfect when coupled with be carried out with advanced education, professionalism, courage professional management. Also, and good character. This is a tough quality scientific research must task for tertiary institutions amidst the continue to be improved, which is low purchasing power of the people useful in making development and the willingness to pursue higher policies in the country. The education. Hindu universities must seriousness of the institution in also be able to attract young people to implementing English learning or EFL higher education more and more teaching must also be increased. Thus, every year. Hindu education institutions will become respected institutions.

IV. CONCLUSION Teaching English (EFL Teaching) is very important in the modern gurukula system. Because communication skills are essential in the global era. The Hindu Education system must produce quality human

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