Facilitating students’ speaking proficiency in Ma’had Walisongo performance

Abstract

This study aims to explain the impact of the Ma’had Walisongo Performance program on students’ English-speaking proficiency at Ma’had Al-Jami’ah UIN Walisongo. The program includes various performance-based English activities such as speeches, storytelling, and drama, designed to enhance students’ fluency, confidence, and communicative competence. The research employed a qualitative descriptive method, with data collected through observations, interviews, and documentation. The participants consisted of seven individuals, including three second-semester students, three Ma’had administrators (musyrifah), and one chief of Ma’had (Ma’had leader), selected through purposive sampling in the academic year 2024/2025. An observation checklist adapted from Leong & Ahmadi (2017) was used to assess students’ speaking proficiency based on linguistic, psychological, and environmental aspects. The findings revealed that participation in the Ma’had Walisongo Performance program significantly improved students’ speaking proficiency, particularly in vocabulary enrichment, fluency, and self-confidence. Students reported that the activities helped them overcome anxiety, express themselves creatively, and develop better public speaking skills. The Ma’had administrators and the chief acknowledged the program’s effectiveness in fostering students’ language development while also highlighting logistical and motivational challenges. These results indicate that the Ma’had Walisongo Performance program serves as an effective and engaging platform for improving students’ speaking skills in an EFL environment. Keywords: EFL, English Language Learning, Ma’had Performance, Speaking Proficienc