THE LEVEL OF SPEAKING SKILLS IN ARABIC AMONG KUIPs STUDENTS BASED ON THE STANDARDS OF THE REFERENCE FRAMEWORK

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Speaking skills are an important element in linguistic production, which is a complex process that includes higher mental processes. Previous studies indicated that the field of teaching the Arabic language and learning it to non-native speakers is still in a state of backwardness in terms of a deficiency in determining the level and evaluating linguistic proficiency, especially in speaking skills. Based on this problem and the importance of speaking skills; This study aims to analyze the understanding of Arabic speaking skills by male and female students at Islamic University College of Perlis. To attain the study's goals, the researchers employed both descriptive and analytical methodologies. The researchers created a survey with ten questions encompassing all the relevant information about students' experiences with studying Arabic as a second or foreign language, focusing on speaking skills. This study was applied to a random sample of (205) male and female students from the bachelor’s degree programs and the language diploma program Arabic at Islamic University College of Perlis. The researchers used SPSS to analyze the questionnaire and process the data statistically: percentages, relative weight, and standard deviation. The study resulted in the result that the students’ proficiency level in the speaking skill corresponds to the A2 level with reference to the common reference levels - the self-assessment record - according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language: Learning, Teaching and Evaluation (CEFR), and the second level, which is the basic level, corresponds with reference to the reference levels proposed in the framework. Reference for teaching the Arabic language. The researchers recommended evaluating the curricula in teaching the Arabic language and learning it to non-native speakers at Islamic University College of Perlis and designing the curricula according to the standards of the unified frame of reference to improve students’ speaking skills.

Keywords: Speaking Skills, KUIPs, Reference Framework Standards.