The existence of ‘kitab kuning’ dates back to the 1st and 2nd centuries of the Hijri calendar. To this day, people continue to write these texts on yellow paper to preserve the distinctive identity of ‘kitab kuning.’
As one of the subjects taught to students by their teachers, ‘kitab kuning,’ primarily written in Arabic, is interpreted into the local dialect to facilitate comprehension and learning. Notably, the meanings are written in Arabic script, positioned slightly inclined beneath the pronunciation to fit.
The pedagogical approach in pesantren for using ‘kitab kuning’ involves a blend of listening and writing. This practice, unconsciously, enhances the students’ ability to expand their ‘mufradat’ or Arabic vocabulary. Nevertheless, challenges do arise.