Student Perceptions in Learning Basic Arabic Language

Abstract

Higher education institutions usually offer classes for the learning of Arabic to their students, be it as a mandatory course or an elective learning. When studied as an elective course, students will sometimes follow it with uneven effort. This study is conducted based on the performance of students who registered for a basic Arabic learning class as their foreign language learning at UKM. Specifically, the focus of this study is to understand the learning perception of students while learning SKVA 5013 Bahasa Arab 1. This study aims to find out the learning and types of perceptions that the students have. This study also aims to classify students’ learning perceptions, with the intention of distinguishing both aspects. Each and every form of perception would also be elaborated on in order to correlate them with the performance of the students in class. A quantitative method was used in this study, involving 49 UKM students registered in the class SKVA 5013 Bahasa Arab 1. An online questionnaire method is used with the assistance of Google Forms software. The responses from the questionnaire are taken as the main data to be analysed in the form of percentages. Both aspects—students’ perceptions—are measured by looking at the agreed-upon or disagreed-with percentages. The findings of the study show that the students practiced the majority of the attitudes asked in the questionnaire. They showed a positive attitude towards learning Arabic in addition to implementing specific attitudes regarding the basic language skills that coincide with the course structure, i.e., attitudes of writing and pronunciation. The study also found that students have good perceptions about some aspects of Arabic learning. Therefore, Arabic language teachers as well as coordinators planning Arabic language teaching at the level of higher education institutions are expected to be able to regulate a more conducive academic environment and learning facilities. This is to ensure the success of all learning goals while at the same time acquiring excellence from students.