Student-Centered Teaching Approach Combined with Coaching and Mentoring Elements in Arabic Language Speaking Proficiency

摘要

The acquisition of Arabic speaking skills becomes an important issue in Arabic language learning. So, the National University of Malaysia (UKM) has offered the PPPJ3503 Oral Arabic Language Course as one of the department’s elective subjects to undergraduate degree students. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the proficiency of speaking in Arabic and identify improved language-speaking factor among students. This research was a quantitative case study using data from survey instruments and focus group interview. The focus group consisted of 21 study pants. The study questions focus on their speaking compe tence after attending Oral Arabic Language courses with a student-centered teaching approach combined with coaching and mentoring elements. The findings show that there are self-improvements in Arabic speaking proficiency among students taking the course. The improvements in Arabic speaking proficiency among students were caused by spontaneous activities, video recording assignments, Arabic Linguaphone textbooks, Arabic speaking drill exercises repeatedly, discussions in the lecture room and student’s self-esteem. This Oral Arabic course has proven that student-centered teaching approach combined with coaching and mentoring elements is good to be applied in the teaching of spoken Arabic and Arabic in general. This study also identifies ways to improve Arabic speaking proficiency through a student-centered teaching approach combined with coaching and mentoring elements in teaching Arabic speaking skills.