The Bilingualism Effect: The Impact of Arabic Proficiency on The Cognitive Executive Functions of Islamic Boarding School Students
Abstract
This study examines the phenomenon of bilingualism in the context of Arabic language proficiency and its impact on the cognitive executive functions of Islamic boarding school students, using a descriptive qualitative approach. The boarding school environment, which requires the simultaneous use of Arabic and Indonesian, creates a unique setting of natural bilingualism. The focus of this study is on three main components of cognitive executive functions: inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation over the course of one academic semester within the pesantren environment. The results indicate that students who actively use Arabic in their daily lives demonstrate better inhibitory control, higher working memory capacity, and greater cognitive flexibility compared to students who use Arabic passively. This study supports the bilingual advantage hypothesis and enriches psycholinguistic research within the context of Islamic education in Indonesia.
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