Arabic Language Communication Outside the Classroom among Non-Native Learners: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

This study investigates the opportunities and challenges of Arabic language communication outside the classroom for non-native Arabic learners, emphasizing the crucial role that out-of-class interaction plays in promoting academic success and enhancing learners' Arabic proficiency. A survey was administered to assess the nature of students' linguistic interactions both within and beyond the university, with 131 non-native learners participating. The research includes an introduction, four main sections, and a conclusion. The first section discusses the importance and status of the Arabic language, the second explores communicative language teaching, the third addresses the challenges learners face in communication, and the fourth analyzes the survey results, followed by the study’s findings and recommendations. The results reveal that opportunities for communication within the university are strong, with 74.90% of participants reporting high levels of engagement, while good opportunities also exist beyond the university, with 72.74% confirming positive interactions. However, the findings also highlight several obstacles to effective Arabic communication, most notably the frequent use of students' native languages in residential settings and the lack of effective mechanisms to encourage the use of Arabic.