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READABILITY OF THE SECOND GRADE ARABIC LANGUAGE BOOKS IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Corresponding Author(s) : Ala Muhammad Al Saadi
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 8 No. 2 (2020): March
Abstract
Purpose of the study: This study aims to measure the readability of Second Grade Arabic Language books in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Methodology: This paper discusses a quantitative survey conducted, based on previous studies which include Momni and Momni (2011), Nasser and Ibrahimi (2013) and Lami and Zoaeni (2014), to examine readability problems in Arabic language books used in UAE schools. The researchers developed a Cloze Test and performed the test on a randomly selected sample of 387 Second Grade students. Both descriptive and inferential statistics (T-Test, ANOVA) were analysed using SPSS version 22 and to examine the readability of Second Grade Arabic Language books.
Main Findings: The result indicates that the students’ average score in all the readability levels to the total score of the Cloze Test is at an unsatisfactory level. There are significant differences in the level of the poetic and prose texts’ readability among the genders and different academic averages.
Applications of this study: This study provides evidence that the long-term goal of the Abu Dhabi Educational Council (ADEC) has yet to be achieved. The outcomes suggest that there is a need to improve students' readability of Arabic Language books in the UAE, starting from the Second Grade.
Novelty/Originality of this study: Readability of Arabic Language Book was widely explained by other researchers, but there is no study conducted on Second Grade students in UAE.
Keywords
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- Aayid, A. (2008). Abu Dhabi for education that treats the weakness in the Arabic language in the schools. Emirates today news. Taken on the 17/6/2018 from the website: https://www.emaratalyoum.com/local-section/2008-04-25-1.184559
- Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) (2014). ADEC organizes Arabic medium teacher induction: An exciting journey of discovery. Retrieved from: https://adek.gov.ae/-/media/Project/TAMM/ADEK/Downloads/Private-schools/Private-Schools-Policy-and-Guidance-Manual-ar.pdf.
- Agnihortri, R. & Khanna, A. (1992). Evaluation of the Readability of School Textbooks: An Indian Study. Journal of Reading. vol (35), no (4), pp 282-288. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40033226
- Arifin, Z, Ab Halim, Z &Abu Bakar, K. (2013). The Readability of Balaghah Textbook of Malaysian Higher Certificate of Religion (Stam): A Pilot Study. Journal of Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences. Vol (7), No (2), pp 192-199. http://www.aensiweb.com/old/anas/2013/192-199.pdf
- Bani Saab, W. (2009). The readability of the school books. educational bag. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyad. https://www.slideserve.com/shaine-cunningham/6613432
- Bassyouni, S. (2002). Measuring some readability aspects of the Arabic language books at the first workshop of basic education. The summary of Ph.D., the Egyptian association for reading and knowledge, faculty of art. Ein Shams University. No(19), pages 151-200. http://kenanaonline.com/users/maiwagieh/downloads?page=5
- Begeny. J & Greene, D. (2014). Can readability formulas be used to successfully gauge the difficulty of regarding materials? Psychology in the Schools. Vol (51), No (2), pp 198-215. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21740 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21740
- David, D. (2006). A study of science textbook readability. Australian Science Teacher Journal. Vol (42), No (3), pp 1-61.
- Gallagher, K. (2019). Education in the United Arab Emirates. Springer: Abu Dhabi, UAE. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7736-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7736-5
- Hazayma, S.(2011). The readability of the Arabic book for the seventh grade in Jordan and its relation with some variables. The international magazine for educational research. The UAE's University, No (30), pages 60-81.http://search.shamaa.org/FullRecord?ID=85784
- Hwaity, S. (2010). The readability of the sixth-grade history book in Gaza city and its relation with some variables. Non-published master thesis. The faculty of education, Islamic University, Gaza. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12358/19515
- Jawarna, M. (2008). The readability level of the social and national education book of the fourth grade in Jordan. Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences, volume (9), No(2), pages 93-111. https://journal.uob.edu.bh/bitstream/handle/123456789/2319/JEPS090204.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
- Khalaf, M. (2015). Analytical study of the fourth-grade science book in Jordan in light of the developmental stage of the students. Al-Manara magazine, volume (21), No(4/A), pages 197-238. https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-724785
- Klare, G. (1988). The formative years. In Zakaluk and Samuels (Eds.), Readability: Its past, present, and future (pp.14-34). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
- Lami, R & Zoani, I. (2014). The readability levels and affecting factors and the difficulties of applying them. The basic educational college magazine of the human and Educational Sciences. Babel University, No (17), pages 172-182.https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-428979
- Lusa, L. (2014). Readability of Individualized Education Programs. Preventing School Failure. Vol (58), No (2), pp 96–102.
- Mahmoud, S. (2012), measuring the readability of the primary school books using a computer program and their teacher’s judgments. The international magazine for the educational research, the UAE’s University, No (31), pages 89-121.http://search.shamaa.org/FullRecord?ID=73628
- Miqdadi, F. & Al-Zoubi, A. (2004). The Readability of the Fifth Grade mathematics Textbook in Jordan. Journal of the Educational Research Center. Qatar University, Volume (13), No. (25), pp. 203-223. http://hdl.handle.net/10576/8175
- Momni, A. & Momni, M. (2011). The readability of the fourth-grade Arabic book in Jordan. Damascus University magazine. Volume (27), No (3-4), pages 557-588. http://www.damascusuniversity.edu.sy/ma g/edu/images/stories/557-588.pdf
- Nasser, H. & Ibrahimi, I. (2013) the readability level of “our Arabic language†designed book for the fifth-grade students in Jordan. Om Al-Qura university magazine for the educational and psychological sciences, volume (5), No (1). Pages 62-90. http://search.shamaa.org/FullRecord?ID=100223
- Pennington, R. (2015). ADEC reveals major changes to the Abu Dhabi schools‟ curriculum. In The National.https://www.thenational.ae/uae/major-changes-announced-to-Abu-Dhabi-schools-curriculum-1.16778
- Rashid, H. (2009). Measuring the readability of the reading and texts book for the second preparatory grade, Al-Azhar. A paper submitted to the ninth scientific conference: Books on Teaching Reading in the Arab World, between Inequality and Directing. (15-16 July). Cairo: The Egyptian Association for Reading and Knowledge, pp. 338-393.
- Rashidi, M. (2005). The level of the readability of the Arabic language book for the fourth grade. (Non-published master thesis). The high educational studies college, Amman University, Jordan. http://search.mandumah.com/Record/574810
- Raqab, S. & Naqa, S. (2017). the level of readability of fourth-grade textbooks and its relationship ship with comprehension. the level of readability of fourth-grade textbooks and its relationship ship with comprehension. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12358/18514
- Ridge, N., Kippels, S. & Farah, S. (2017). Curriculum Development in the United Arab Emirates (Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research Policy Paper No. 18). https://doi.org/10.18502/aqf.0042 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/aqf.0042
- Salama, S. & Malaa, I. (2014). The Arabic language is a crisis of grammar, letters, and sovereignty of dialects. The Arabic Language Academy Forum. http://www.m-a-arabia.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28414.
- Sayed, M. (2017). In the methods of teaching Arabic. College of Education, Damascus: Publications of the University of Damascus, Syria. http://www.arabacademy.gov.sy/uploads/memebers/books/alsayed/taraek1.pdf
- Tayma, R. & Manaa, M. (2001). Teaching Arabic in public schools, theories, and experiences. Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt: Dar Al-Fikr Al-Arabi. https://www.academia.edu/15270224
- Tayma, R (2004) Language Skills Levels, Teaching content analysis in the humanities, I 2, Dar al-Fikr al-Arabi, Egypt. https://archive.org/details/2342pdf_201912
- The Ministry of Education of the UEA (2010). The developed national document of the Arabic language curriculum for the kinder garden stages up to secondary education. The ministry of education in the UAE-curriculum administration, UAE. https://www.moe.gov.ae/arabic/docs/arabic2011.pdf
- Taha Thomure, H. (2019) Arabic Language Education in the UAE: Choosing the Right Drivers. In: Gallagher K. (eds) Education in the United Arab Emirates, (pp. 75-93). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7736-5_5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7736-5_5
- Wzo, S. (2018). The readability level of the Arabic book for the sixth grade in the Syrian Arab Republic. master thesis in Faulty Education, Damascus University, Damascus. https://archive.org/de tails/hanansyria2_gmail_20180124/page/n15/mode/2up
- Zorbaz, K. & Mustafa, K. (2016). Word-sentence lengths and readability levels of texts in Gazi Tomer Turkish textbooks for foreigners. International Periodical for the Languages, Literature, and History of Turkish. Vol (11), No (3), pp 2509–2524. https://doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.9290 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.9290
References
Aayid, A. (2008). Abu Dhabi for education that treats the weakness in the Arabic language in the schools. Emirates today news. Taken on the 17/6/2018 from the website: https://www.emaratalyoum.com/local-section/2008-04-25-1.184559
Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) (2014). ADEC organizes Arabic medium teacher induction: An exciting journey of discovery. Retrieved from: https://adek.gov.ae/-/media/Project/TAMM/ADEK/Downloads/Private-schools/Private-Schools-Policy-and-Guidance-Manual-ar.pdf.
Agnihortri, R. & Khanna, A. (1992). Evaluation of the Readability of School Textbooks: An Indian Study. Journal of Reading. vol (35), no (4), pp 282-288. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40033226
Arifin, Z, Ab Halim, Z &Abu Bakar, K. (2013). The Readability of Balaghah Textbook of Malaysian Higher Certificate of Religion (Stam): A Pilot Study. Journal of Advances in Natural and Applied Sciences. Vol (7), No (2), pp 192-199. http://www.aensiweb.com/old/anas/2013/192-199.pdf
Bani Saab, W. (2009). The readability of the school books. educational bag. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyad. https://www.slideserve.com/shaine-cunningham/6613432
Bassyouni, S. (2002). Measuring some readability aspects of the Arabic language books at the first workshop of basic education. The summary of Ph.D., the Egyptian association for reading and knowledge, faculty of art. Ein Shams University. No(19), pages 151-200. http://kenanaonline.com/users/maiwagieh/downloads?page=5
Begeny. J & Greene, D. (2014). Can readability formulas be used to successfully gauge the difficulty of regarding materials? Psychology in the Schools. Vol (51), No (2), pp 198-215. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21740 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21740
David, D. (2006). A study of science textbook readability. Australian Science Teacher Journal. Vol (42), No (3), pp 1-61.
Gallagher, K. (2019). Education in the United Arab Emirates. Springer: Abu Dhabi, UAE. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7736-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7736-5
Hazayma, S.(2011). The readability of the Arabic book for the seventh grade in Jordan and its relation with some variables. The international magazine for educational research. The UAE's University, No (30), pages 60-81.http://search.shamaa.org/FullRecord?ID=85784
Hwaity, S. (2010). The readability of the sixth-grade history book in Gaza city and its relation with some variables. Non-published master thesis. The faculty of education, Islamic University, Gaza. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12358/19515
Jawarna, M. (2008). The readability level of the social and national education book of the fourth grade in Jordan. Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences, volume (9), No(2), pages 93-111. https://journal.uob.edu.bh/bitstream/handle/123456789/2319/JEPS090204.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Khalaf, M. (2015). Analytical study of the fourth-grade science book in Jordan in light of the developmental stage of the students. Al-Manara magazine, volume (21), No(4/A), pages 197-238. https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-724785
Klare, G. (1988). The formative years. In Zakaluk and Samuels (Eds.), Readability: Its past, present, and future (pp.14-34). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
Lami, R & Zoani, I. (2014). The readability levels and affecting factors and the difficulties of applying them. The basic educational college magazine of the human and Educational Sciences. Babel University, No (17), pages 172-182.https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-428979
Lusa, L. (2014). Readability of Individualized Education Programs. Preventing School Failure. Vol (58), No (2), pp 96–102.
Mahmoud, S. (2012), measuring the readability of the primary school books using a computer program and their teacher’s judgments. The international magazine for the educational research, the UAE’s University, No (31), pages 89-121.http://search.shamaa.org/FullRecord?ID=73628
Miqdadi, F. & Al-Zoubi, A. (2004). The Readability of the Fifth Grade mathematics Textbook in Jordan. Journal of the Educational Research Center. Qatar University, Volume (13), No. (25), pp. 203-223. http://hdl.handle.net/10576/8175
Momni, A. & Momni, M. (2011). The readability of the fourth-grade Arabic book in Jordan. Damascus University magazine. Volume (27), No (3-4), pages 557-588. http://www.damascusuniversity.edu.sy/ma g/edu/images/stories/557-588.pdf
Nasser, H. & Ibrahimi, I. (2013) the readability level of “our Arabic language†designed book for the fifth-grade students in Jordan. Om Al-Qura university magazine for the educational and psychological sciences, volume (5), No (1). Pages 62-90. http://search.shamaa.org/FullRecord?ID=100223
Pennington, R. (2015). ADEC reveals major changes to the Abu Dhabi schools‟ curriculum. In The National.https://www.thenational.ae/uae/major-changes-announced-to-Abu-Dhabi-schools-curriculum-1.16778
Rashid, H. (2009). Measuring the readability of the reading and texts book for the second preparatory grade, Al-Azhar. A paper submitted to the ninth scientific conference: Books on Teaching Reading in the Arab World, between Inequality and Directing. (15-16 July). Cairo: The Egyptian Association for Reading and Knowledge, pp. 338-393.
Rashidi, M. (2005). The level of the readability of the Arabic language book for the fourth grade. (Non-published master thesis). The high educational studies college, Amman University, Jordan. http://search.mandumah.com/Record/574810
Raqab, S. & Naqa, S. (2017). the level of readability of fourth-grade textbooks and its relationship ship with comprehension. the level of readability of fourth-grade textbooks and its relationship ship with comprehension. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12358/18514
Ridge, N., Kippels, S. & Farah, S. (2017). Curriculum Development in the United Arab Emirates (Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research Policy Paper No. 18). https://doi.org/10.18502/aqf.0042 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/aqf.0042
Salama, S. & Malaa, I. (2014). The Arabic language is a crisis of grammar, letters, and sovereignty of dialects. The Arabic Language Academy Forum. http://www.m-a-arabia.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28414.
Sayed, M. (2017). In the methods of teaching Arabic. College of Education, Damascus: Publications of the University of Damascus, Syria. http://www.arabacademy.gov.sy/uploads/memebers/books/alsayed/taraek1.pdf
Tayma, R. & Manaa, M. (2001). Teaching Arabic in public schools, theories, and experiences. Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt: Dar Al-Fikr Al-Arabi. https://www.academia.edu/15270224
Tayma, R (2004) Language Skills Levels, Teaching content analysis in the humanities, I 2, Dar al-Fikr al-Arabi, Egypt. https://archive.org/details/2342pdf_201912
The Ministry of Education of the UEA (2010). The developed national document of the Arabic language curriculum for the kinder garden stages up to secondary education. The ministry of education in the UAE-curriculum administration, UAE. https://www.moe.gov.ae/arabic/docs/arabic2011.pdf
Taha Thomure, H. (2019) Arabic Language Education in the UAE: Choosing the Right Drivers. In: Gallagher K. (eds) Education in the United Arab Emirates, (pp. 75-93). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7736-5_5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7736-5_5
Wzo, S. (2018). The readability level of the Arabic book for the sixth grade in the Syrian Arab Republic. master thesis in Faulty Education, Damascus University, Damascus. https://archive.org/de tails/hanansyria2_gmail_20180124/page/n15/mode/2up
Zorbaz, K. & Mustafa, K. (2016). Word-sentence lengths and readability levels of texts in Gazi Tomer Turkish textbooks for foreigners. International Periodical for the Languages, Literature, and History of Turkish. Vol (11), No (3), pp 2509–2524. https://doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.9290 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.9290