Indonesian Teacher Uses Clown to Teach Koran

Learning the Koran is important for Muslims. But it does not always have to be serious, says Islamic teacher Yahya Edward Hendrawan.

To help children learn to read and recite the Koran with cheer, he makes it fun. He dresses up like a clown!

Hendrawan is a teacher in the Indonesian city of Tangerang. When he teaches reading to the children, he wears a colorful clown costume, with white and pink face makeup¹, and a red nose.

The 38-year-old teacher calls himself a "sharia clown." Sharia is drawn² from the teaching of the Koran. It is the law that governs Muslim daily life.

In an interview with the news agency MSN Hendrawan said, "There are many clowns out there. But I teach and motivate children to read the Koran. And who wouldn't want to read books cheerfully with a sharia clown!"

Hendrawan told Reuters news agency that when children are asked to recite the Koran, it is a bit difficult. "But if there are clowns," he explained, "they feel they go to the classroom with some purpose."

Hendrawan told MSN, "How can they read when they don't want to come? They must have a purpose. So, we try to get them to join first. We need to understand the children's world."

During the month of Ramadan, he rode to the school with his five-year-old son, Mirza. His son also dressed as a clown with big glasses and a big yellow and orange hairpiece. The father and son usually spent about an hour getting ready before meeting the children, including those from a community reading group.

It was not easy for Hendrawan to become the "sharia clown." His father did not accept his son's unusual methods for teaching the Koran. He told Hendrawan that he was an embarrassment³.

Hendrawan's father has since passed away. And he still talks about his father's words as cutting into his heart.

"His behavior hurt me so much," said Hendrawan.

However, the founder⁴ of the school encouraged Hendrawan. He gave him confidence to pursue his dream of teaching as a clown.

Hendrawan now takes on part-time entertainment jobs. He makes sure to include religious values in his performances. He also shares the importance of reading and writing in his programs.

To teach a child to read, he said, they first must come to class. And if the lessons are fun, then they are they more likely to go. The important thing, Hendrawan said, "is that they want to go to school first and be happy."

His love of teaching and keeping children entertained has won him praise in the community.

A parent of one of the students said that "he helps children build an interest in reading, which will reduce the time they spend playing with phones" or other devices.

This, the parent adds, will have a great effect on their development.

Words in This Story

recite – v. to read (something) out loud or say (something) from memory sometimes for an audience

orphanage⁵ – n. a place where children whose parents have died can live and be cared for : a home for orphans⁶

clown – n. someone who performs in a circus, who wears funny clothes and makeup, and who tries to make people laugh : someone who often does funny things to make people laugh

makeup – n. substances (such as lipstick⁷ or powder) used to make someone's face look more attractive

motivate – v. to give (someone) a reason for doing something

embarrassment – n. the state of feeling foolish in front of others

encourage – v. to make (someone) more determined⁸, hopeful, or confident

confidence – n. a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something

1 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

2 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

4 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

5 orphanage   

n.孤儿院

参考例句：

• They dispensed new clothes to the children in the orphanage.他们把新衣服发给孤儿院的小孩们。
• They gave the proceeds of the sale to the orphanage.他们把销售的收入给了这家孤儿院。

6 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。

7 lipstick   

n.口红，唇膏

参考例句：

• Taking out her lipstick,she began to paint her lips.她拿出口红，开始往嘴唇上抹。
• Lipstick and hair conditioner are cosmetics.口红和护发素都是化妆品。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。