The Effectiveness of Cooperative learning approach on Arabic Teaching among Non- Native Speakers at Universities in Malaysia

Abstract

Cooperative learning is considered as one of important approach of learning acquisition and skills acquirement. It is firmly believed that the approach enhancing students’ academic achievements, skills and also helping them in social interaction and human relation. Hence, this research attempts to explore the effectiveness of cooperative learning approach in  teaching Arabic for non-native speakers in selected universities of Malaysia, as well as to investigate any of relevant skills which  effected by using cooperative learning. A total of 100 students were randomly selected from 3 universities (UPSI, IIUM, and USIM) and self-reported instruments were distributed for data collection.  The instrument was divided into two parts. The first part focuses on cooperative learning in general and consists of 8 distinctive questions while the second part consisted of 16 questions which categorized into 3 dimensions. The questionnaire was distributed to the respondents and they were asked to define the degree to which they agree or disagree with each item in the questionnaire rated from 1 to 5 used the Liker-style scale. Multiple Linear Regression was used to investigate a hypothesized relationships between students’ interaction and their skills on one hand and Arabic language proficiency on the other hand. It was found as a result of Multiple Linear Regression that both factors (interaction and skill) were substantially and statistically predict Arabic language proficiency. However, gender, age, year of study and university were found to be statistically insignificant.