Grammar efficacy and grammar performance: an exploratory study on Arabic learners

Previous research has clearly documented that self-efficacy in language learning positively affects students’ performance in acquiring language skills. While much research has studied grammar efficacy indirectly as part of writing efficacy, none of these focuses on Arabic language learning. Considering the impact of self-efficacy on language learning, as well as the important role of grammar in Arabic learning, this study examines the relationship between grammar efficacy and grammar performance among students learning Arabic as a foreign language in Malaysian public universities. Specifically, it intends to determine the relationship between grammar efficacy and grammar performance among Arabic learners on three aspects: Correction of grammar errors, vocalization of words, and construction of sentences. Using a newly-developed questionnaire, 140 students majoring in Arabic language from a public university in Malaysia participated in the study. The questionnaire covers three important aspects in Arabic grammar learning: Correction of grammar errors, vocalization of words, and construction of sentences. This study showed a moderate correlation between grammar efficacy and grammar performance. Efficacy of sentence construction appeared to correlate the highest among the three aspects. Teachers’ awareness on the importance of heightening students perceived confidence in accomplishing grammar tasks will eventually promote better learning among students

Grammar efficacy and grammar performance: an exploratory study on Arabic learners

Previous research has clearly documented that self-efficacy in language learning positively affects students’ performance in acquiring language skills. While much research has studied grammar efficacy indirectly as part of writing efficacy, none of these focuses on Arabic language learning. Considering the impact of self-efficacy on language learning, as well as the important role of grammar in Arabic learning, this study examines the relationship between grammar efficacy and grammar performance among students learning Arabic as a foreign language in Malaysian public universities. Specifically, it intends to determine the relationship between grammar efficacy and grammar performance among Arabic learners on three aspects: Correction of grammar errors, vocalization of words, and construction of sentences. Using a newly-developed questionnaire, this study showed a moderate correlation between grammar efficacy and grammar performance. Efficacy of sentence construction appeared to correlate the highest among the three aspects. Thus, teachers’ awareness on the importance of heightening students perceived confidence in accomplishing grammar tasks will eventually promote better learning among their students

Persepsi pelajar Melayu terhadap sifat dan konsep malu orang Melayu

Shyness is one of the valued characteristics that exists in every person. For the Malays, this characteristic is not only confined to emotions, but it also holds wider meanings which form a concept. This concept encompasses the principles, behaviours, beliefs, and rules that should be observed by the Malay community. A study by Norazlina Hj. Mohd. Kiram (2010) shows that the concept of shyness which is based on the Holy Quran and Hadith can be used as a fundamental principle of life and to show the true value of a Malay. This article aims to obtain the perceptions of 172 Bachelor of Arts Malay students in the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication at Universiti Putra Malaysia. The findings show that these Malay students understand the characteristics and concept of shyness but at a superficial level. Hence, this study is significant as it can be used as a guideline and reference for readers to gauge the extent of understanding of this unique concept among Malay students

Translation strategy in reading comprehension among good and poor learners of non - arabic speakers

Translation is regarded as one of the strategies widely used by second or foreign language learners despite the controversy regarding the use of the mother tongue in language learning, and reading process. Good and poor language learners have both been reported to employ this strategy, though the extent of their reading comprehension varies. Based on a qualitative approach, this study investigated Arabic learners’ use of translation strategy in reading an academic Arabic text. Seven university students participated in this study. Data were collected by means of think aloud and observation. The results reveal that Arabic learners, regardless of their proficiency level, very often resort to their mother tongue in comprehending the Arabic text at different linguistic levels: words, structures and sentences. Good learners demonstrated an efficient way of using this strategy for comprehension, while poor learners failed to do so, thus, affecting their reading comprehension

Tabiat membaca dalam bahasa Arab

Reading habits of Arabic language materials among student

Analisis keperluan pembelajaran bahasa Arab dalam kalangan warga emas

Analisis keperluan merupakan satu syarat penting dalam membina sesuatu program bahasa Arab yang efektif terutamanya yang melibatkan golongan dewasa khususnya warga emas. Prinsip atau teori pembelajaran dewasa yang melihat bahawa golongan dewasa mempunyai autoriti dalam menentukan keperluan dan kehendak pembelajaran memerlukan kepada analisis awal keperluan tersebut sebelum menjalankan sesuatu modul pembelajaran bahasa kepada mereka bagi memastikan keperluan dan kehendak ini dipenuhi. Oleh itu, objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti faktor yang mendorong warga emas mempelajari bahasa Arab, menyenaraikan bahan yang bertepatan dengan keperluan pembelajaran mereka serta menganalisis proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran bahasa Arab yang sesuai untuk mereka. Kajian yang menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif ini melibatkan lima (5) orang responden yang pernah mengikuti kursus bahasa Arab. Pengumpulan data kajian dibuat melalui rakaman temu bual. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa terdapat tiga (3) faktor utama golongan warga emas mempelajari bahasa Arab iaitu faktor agama, faktor komunikasi dan faktor kemasyarakatan. Berkenaan bahan pembelajaran, golongan warga emas cenderung untuk mempelajari topik yang berkaitan dengan tema agama, tema komunikasi, unsur bahasa seperti fonologi, morfologi, sintaksis, kosa kata serta keindahan bahasa dan unsur kemahiran bahasa iaitu membaca, bercakap, mendengar dan menulis. Kajian yang dijalankan ini telah berjaya membuktikan akan kepentingan melaksanakan analisis keperluan kerana ia terbukti berjaya dalam menyingkap keperluan dan kehendak pembelajaran bahasa Arab dalam kalangan warga emas yang boleh direalisasikan dengan pembinaan suatu modul khusus untuk golongan tersebut. Analisis keperluan merupakan satu syarat penting dalam membina sesuatu program bahasa Arab yang efektif terutamanya yang melibatkan golongan dewasa khususnya warga emas. Prinsip atau teori pembelajaran dewasa yang melihat bahawa golongan dewasa mempunyai autoriti dalam menentukan keperluan dan kehendak pembelajaran memerlukan kepada analisis awal keperluan tersebut sebelum menjalankan sesuatu modul pembelajaran bahasa kepada mereka bagi memastikan keperluan dan kehendak ini dipenuhi. Oleh itu, objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti faktor yang mendorong warga emas mempelajari bahasa Arab dan menyenaraikan bahan yang bertepatan dengan keperluan pembelajaran mereka. Kajian yang menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif ini melibatkan lima (5) orang responden yang pernah mengikuti kursus bahasa Arab. Pengumpulan data kajian dibuat melalui rakaman temu bual. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa terdapat tiga (3) faktor utama golongan warga emas mempelajari bahasa Arab iaitu faktor agama, faktor komunikasi dan faktor kemasyarakatan. Berkenaan bahan pembelajaran, golongan warga emas cenderung untuk mempelajari topik yang berkaitan dengan tema agama, tema komunikasi, unsur bahasa seperti fonologi, morfologi, sintaksis, kosa kata serta keindahan bahasa dan unsur kemahiran bahasa iaitu membaca, bercakap, mendengar dan menulis. Kajian yang dijalankan ini telah berjaya membuktikan akan kepentingan melaksanakan analisis keperluan kerana ia terbukti berjaya dalam menyingkap keperluan dan kehendak pembelajaran bahasa Arab dalam kalangan warga emas yang boleh direalisasikan dalam membina sesuatu program pembelajaran untuk golongan tersebut

Arabic Language Efficacy Questionnaire (ALEQ): assessing self-efficacy and achievement

Self-efficacy has long been a focus in language learning. Perceived as one’s belief in his or her own capabilities in accomplishing a particular task, it affirms that personal behaviours, thoughts, beliefs and environmental conditions pose great impact on achievement. However, in Arabic language learning, research on self-efficacy is still at its infancy, what more of an instrument which precisely measures self-efficacy in Arabic language learning environment. Hence, this paper aims at verification of a newly-developed instrument, Arabic Language Efficacy Questionnaire (ALEQ), as well as to explore the relationship between self-efficacy and Arabic language achievement. A sample of 234 undergraduate students majoring in Arabic language was exposed to ALEQ, and a set of tests to determine their achievement in reading, writing and grammar. A principal components analysis with varimax rotation yields a 3-factor solution with satisfactory psychometric properties. The Pearson’s r correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between efficacy in reading, writing and grammar and students’ achievement. Results clearly document that the ALEQ is a multidimensional measurement of Arabic language efficacy. It is concluded that although ALEQ has broad applicability, the scale herein may have relevance to the students’ level of confidence in learning Arabic language and may be used in both research and teaching environments

The difficulty of translating collocations from Arabic into English encountered by a sample of Arab students

The present study aimed at exploring the difficulty that was encountered by a sample of Saudi undergraduate students when they translated collocations from Arabic into English. The researchers attempted to identify the reasons behind such a difficulty and find practical solutions to this difficulty. They followed an experimental descriptive method in the study. They also designed a quiz on collocations and administered it to the students as part of the requirements of a course the students were taking at that time. The quiz was given to 50 Saudi undergraduate students at the Department of English at Teachers College of King Saud University in the second semester of the academic year 20015. The quiz consisted of 15 Arabic sentences which apparently included collocations. The research data and findings revealed that the majority of the students could not translate collocations correctly because they adopted literal translation, used bilingual dictionaries and had very little knowledge of the concept of collocations in both languages. To help Arab students overcome this enormous difficulty, the researchers offered some recommendations and suggestions at the end of their study

Koheren dan kohesi dalam kisah Ashab al-A'raf

Koheren dan kohesi merupakan dua kriteria penting untuk mengangkat penulisan sesebuah kisah untuk menjadi sebuah wacana dan teks naratif yang baik, yang mudah difahami. Kajian yang menggabungkan koheren dan kohesi menerusi wacana naratif kurang mendapat perhatian penyelidik terdahulu, terutama dalam teks al-Quran, yang mengandungi pelbagai kisah. Surah al-A'raf memaparkan pelbagai kisah dalam bentuk wacana naratif. Gabungan beberapa kisah yang terdapat dalam satu surah merupakan salah satu bentuk wacana naratif yang terdapat dalam al-Quran. Kajian ini mengambil inisiatif untuk menghuraikan perkaitan antara setiap ayat dalam kisah Ashab al-A'raf menggunakan Teori Kohesi Halliday (1976), dan Teori Struktur Retorikal Mann dan Thompson (1987). Dapatan kajian membuktikan perkaitan antara ayat, dan antara bahagian dihubungkan secara koheren dan juga kohesi