The Impact of Language Immersion on Arabic Language Acquisition for Speakers of Other Languages: “Enhancing Arabic Language Skills for Speakers of Other Langugaes” Program as a Model

Abstract

This study aims at examining the process of Arabic language learning through immersion within classical Arabic speakers. It investigates how Arabic language is acquired through imitation and emulation and to what extent that can be effective and efficient for speakers of other languages. In our Linguistic program, we are keen on establishing an institutional cognitive foundation based on “experimentation”. For this, Mohamed Bin Zayed University for humanities has launched an educational program that aims at Arabic language acquisition for speakers of other languages. This program serves its international students and provides within its learning environment a set of pedagogical strategies and methods that conform to theories of language acquisition. Providing such a learning environment for speakers of other languages would enable them to learn and comprehend the basic principles of Arabic language. For this, we underline our quest of establishing the optimal epistemological setting for non-native learners of Classical Arabic language, based on integrating educational programs worthy of experimentation and examination. This, in turn, foregoes several traditional learning phases that primarily rely on teaching rules, concepts, and literary texts, highlighting the perception of Arabic language acquisition within modern educational communities. These are the main objectives of our research. In addition, the impact of such linguistic programs on language learning was investigated through analyzing the results of a pre-test and a post-test of the four basic skills of learners participating in this experiment.  Findings of this experiment reveal the linguistic and cultural outcomes of the “Language Partner” Program and reflect the necessity of updating the educational methods and structures.