Zhong Wen dari Desa Naga Timbul

Catatan dari Rotalent Belajar Seri Kedelapan dan Kesembilan – Rotary Club Medan Talenta

Madrasah Alawiyah Sidratul Ulya, Desa Naga Timbul, Tanjung Morotai, Deli SerdangSabtu, 10 Mei 2025

Menyapa Pagi dengan Semangat Belajar

Pagi itu, aula Madrasah Alawiyah Sidratul Ulya terasa berbeda. Deretan bangku tersusun rapi, papan tulis sudah terpasang, dan di sudut ruangan terdengar bisik-bisik antusias para siswa. Mereka bukan sedang menunggu guru biasa. Mereka tengah bersiap mengikuti sesi Rotalent Belajar—program pendidikan dari Rotary Club Medan Talenta—yang kali ini memasuki seri kesembilan.

Yang istimewa, pelajaran hari itu bukan Matematika, bukan Bahasa Indonesia, melainkan sesuatu yang benar-benar baru bagi sebagian besar siswa: pelajaran dasar bahasa Mandarin, atau yang dikenal dengan zhōng wén (中文).

Belajar Nada, Bunyi, dan Budaya

Kegiatan dimulai dengan pengenalan dasar: empat nada utama dalam bahasa Mandarin, kosakata sederhana seperti angka, salam, serta nama-nama benda di sekitar. Para pengajar menyampaikan materi secara ringan, sambil menyisipkan lagu anak-anak dan permainan tebak kata agar pelajaran terasa menyenangkan.

“Dulu saya cuma tahu tulisan Mandarin itu seperti gambar. Tapi sekarang saya bisa bilang nǐ hǎo dan tahu artinya ‘halo’. Rasanya keren.”— Rahma, siswi kelas X

Suasana kelas hidup dengan tawa dan rasa ingin tahu. Meski beberapa siswa tampak canggung di awal, mereka cepat beradaptasi dan mulai menikmati proses belajar.

Mimpi, Bahasa, dan Peluang

Di sela-sela sesi latihan percakapan, Ilham, siswa kelas XI, duduk serius mencatat setiap kata baru yang dia dengar. Saat ditanya mengapa ia begitu bersemangat, jawabannya sederhana tapi menginspirasi:

“Saya ingin kuliah ke luar negeri. Siapa tahu, bisa ke Taiwan atau Tiongkok. Bahasa Mandarin penting. Ini pertama kalinya saya belajar, tapi saya mau lanjut.”— Ilham, siswa kelas XI

Sementara itu, Fitri, yang awalnya ragu-ragu untuk maju ke depan kelas, justru tampil paling percaya diri saat praktik berbicara. Ia mengaku sempat merasa takut, tapi kini ingin belajar lebih banyak.

“Ternyata saya bisa. Saya pikir ini susah, tapi kalau dijelaskan pelan-pelan, jadi seru.”— Fitri, siswi kelas XI

Pendidikan Sebagai Jendela Dunia

Kegiatan ini bukan hanya sekadar memperkenalkan bahasa asing. Lebih dari itu, ini adalah usaha kecil membuka jendela dunia bagi anak-anak desa. Kepala Madrasah Alawiyah Sidratul Ulya menyampaikan harapan agar inisiatif seperti ini terus hadir secara berkala.

“Mereka butuh jendela ke dunia luar. Bahasa adalah salah satu cara paling baik untuk membukanya.”— Kepala Madrasah Alawiyah Sidratul Ulya

Rotary Hadir, Bukan Sekadar Mengajar

Melalui program Rotalent Belajar, Rotary Club Medan Talenta percaya bahwa pendidikan tidak boleh mengenal batas—baik geografis maupun ekonomi. Setiap modul, setiap kunjungan, adalah wujud nyata komitmen Rotary dalam membangun generasi muda yang siap menghadapi masa depan.

Seri kesembilan ini menjadi bukti bahwa anak-anak di pelosok tidak kalah cerdas atau bersemangat. Mereka hanya perlu kesempatan. Dan jika Rotary dapat menjadi jembatan menuju kesempatan itu, maka satu langkah kecil hari ini bisa berarti perubahan besar di masa depan.

Ditulis oleh Tim Rotalent Belajar

Dokumentasi: Rotary Club Medan Talenta

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Zhong Wen from Naga Timbul

Field Notes from Rotalent Belajar Series #08 & #09 – Rotary Club Medan Talenta

Madrasah Alawiyah Sidratul Ulya, Naga Timbul Village, Tanjung Morotai, Deli SerdangSaturday, May 10, 2025

Greeting the Morning with a Spirit to Learn

That morning, the small assembly hall at Madrasah Alawiyah Sidratul Ulya felt different. Chairs were neatly arranged, a whiteboard stood ready at the front, and soft chatter filled the air as students waited. They weren’t expecting an ordinary teacher. They were preparing to join Rotalent Belajar—an educational outreach program by Rotary Club Medan Talenta—now entering its ninth edition.

What made this session special was the subject matter: not math, not science, but something entirely new to most of them—basic Mandarin Chinese, or as the instructors introduced it, zhōng wén (中文).

Tones, Sounds, and a Glimpse of Culture

The session began with the fundamentals: the four tones in Mandarin, simple vocabulary such as numbers, greetings, and objects around them. The instructors used an interactive approach, blending in children’s songs and word games to make the session fun and engaging.

“Before, I thought Chinese writing was just pictures. But now I can say nǐ hǎo and I know it means ‘hello.’ It feels cool.”— Rahma, 10th-grade student

The class quickly came to life with laughter, curiosity, and newfound confidence. What started with uncertainty turned into an atmosphere of enthusiasm and discovery.

Dreams, Language, and Opportunity

During a pair-speaking exercise, Ilham, an 11th-grade student, sat focused, jotting down every new word he heard. When asked what motivated him, his answer was clear and hopeful:

“I want to study abroad—maybe in Taiwan or China. Mandarin is important. This is my first time learning it, and I want to keep going.”— Ilham, 11th-grade student

Meanwhile, Fitri, who was initially shy to participate, ended up delivering one of the most confident roleplays during practice. She admitted she had doubts at first but grew more excited as the lesson progressed.

“I didn’t think I could do it. I thought it would be too hard, but the way it was taught made it fun.”— Fitri, 11th-grade student

Education as a Window to the World

This initiative was about more than just introducing a new language—it was about opening a window to the wider world. The school principal expressed appreciation and hope for continued collaboration.

“They need a window to the outside world. Language is one of the best ways to open that window.”— Principal, Madrasah Alawiyah Sidratul Ulya

Rotary in Action: Not Just Teaching, But Empowering

Through Rotalent Belajar, Rotary Club Medan Talenta reaffirms its commitment to education that transcends borders—geographic, economic, or linguistic. Each session is a step toward building future-ready youth, equipping them not just with knowledge, but with the tools to dream beyond their current horizons.

This ninth session stands as proof that children in remote areas are no less bright or eager to learn. They are simply waiting for an opportunity. And if Rotary can be the bridge to that opportunity, then every small step today may become a big leap for tomorrow.

Written by Rotalent Belajar Team

Documentation: Rotary Club Medan Talenta