Dr. Ibrahim Suliman Ahmed Book and research

Dr. Ibrahim Suliman Ahmed

Centre for Languages and Pre-University Academic Development

International Islamic University Malaysia

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Published RESEARCH 2007Research Management Centre, IIUM

Computer Assisted Arabic Language Learning

Scholars and Activities By

Dr. Ibrahim Suliman Ahmed and Asst.Prof.Dr.Mohd.Feham Mohd. Galib. Head of The Quranic Language Division

Centre for Languages and Pre-University Academic Development

International Islamic University Malaysia

The objectives of this research are to introduce Computer Assisted Language Learning scholars and their activities to the Arabic readers, to provide the Arabic readers with many issues of CALL etc.

The researchers designed questionnaire with eleven items about CALL issues e.g. (the future of CALL, the present status of CALL, methodology of CALL, CALL and research, the theoretical framework of CALL, the development of CALL materials, the opportunities for training CALL teachers and the CALL in the third world as well as the CALL scholars' comments and suggestions). The researcher sent this questionnaire to CALL scholars over the world for their responses. The researchers used their opinions and suggestions after analysing their responses and designing Arabic CALL book for Arabic readers.

The significants of this research are based on the researchers' knowledge that is no other researchers have dealt with Computer Assisted Language Learning in Arabic language, provides suggested Arabic CALL curriculum, guides our teachers as well as our students in IIUM in designing Arabic CALL lessons and CALL curriculum

The development of CALL material relates very much on education systems; an enhanced understanding of language pedagogy, each country’s education policies and resources. Training teachers is fundamental, but often neglected due to time and cost factors

The book provided guidelines in designing Arabic CALL Lab and Arabic CALL Curriculum. Examples of the findings is that CALL future depends on the technology development and the book suggested that Arabic CALL should be consider as a compulsory subject for Arabic language students. More research needed to be done in Arabic CALL.

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Published Book 2007

Research Management Centre, IIUM

Evaluation for Arabic Language programmes

This book aim to evaluate Arabic Language Software programmes designed by very famous companies in the world. The criteria for evaluating the Arabic Language Software Programmes were used by the present researcher.

The aim of this evaluation is to trace the strength and the weakness of these programmes, in order to enhance the readers understanding of Arabic language as well as the Arabic culture.

The book starting with literature review and the theoretical framework to establish strong ground for better understanding. For instance, some of these programmes are:

Lessons in Arabic Language, Learn Arabic programme, Talk Now, Learn Arabic with Malay Language, Rosetta Stone, Learn Arabic programme 2, Passport to Arabic programme, The Wolf and the Little seven Goats, Arabic programme for Beginners, Learn Arabic

The book ended with conclusion and suggestions. Hopefully this book may help our colleagues, and our students in our university at undergraduate and graduate levels. Nevertheless, hopefully it may help any one in our globe.

Examples of the findings that Arabic language teachers have had to reassess their pedagogy in the light of this new technology and bring its benefits to their students. They have had to plan and design different learning strategies for their students that incorporate every new advance technology.

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THE ROLE OF THE LANGUAGES DURING THE ERA OF TECHNOLOGY

Dr. Ibrahim Suliman Ahmed

Paper published in the proceeding of the Malaysia International Conference on Foreign Languages, organized by Foreign languages department at Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, UPM 14-15-2007 at Putrajaya Marriot hotel.

1-Introduction::

This paper explores the reasons for learning Arabic. Two sample populations were canvassed; one attending night classes in Arabic at the Faculty of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and the other from on-line respondents

2-Objectives:

The intention of this study is to highlight the problems faced by those learning Arabic and offer solutions for those problems inherent in the learning of the Arabic language. The development of suitable Arabic language materials as well as the use of state of the art technology in learning will be discussed.

3. The Study Design

3.2.1. Population

The population for this study comprised of adults who enrolled in Arabic night classes at the Faculty of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). The total number of learners enrolled in the various classes of the program was 20.

In addition the researcher posted the same questionnaire on “LINGUIST SERV” and “ARABIC SERV” as well as sending it to some scholars and he received responses from Japan, Australia, America and other counties.

3.3 Results

Table No.1 Sample 1 responses

The reasons	Numbers of the learners	Percentages
To perform and practice my religion	20	100%
To learn about another culture	18	90 %
To communicate with others	14	70 %
For business	10	50 %
For tourism	8	40 %
To work in another country	6	30 %
For security reasons	2	10 %

As shown above, 100 % of the participants study Arabic in order to perform and practice their religion, while 90 % of them study Arabic to learn about another culture. 70 % of the participants study Arabic to enable them to communicate with others and 50 % of them study Arabic for business. Interestingly only 40 % of them study Arabic for tourism and less than that (only 30 %) study Arabic to enable them to work in an Arabic speaking country. Only 10 % study Arabic for security reasons.

Table No.2 Sample 2 responses

The reasons	Numbers of the scholars	Percentages
to communicate with others	08	80%
to learn about another culture	08	80 %
for tourism	06	60 %
working in other countries	04	40 %

Besides the above reasons the researcher received very interesting comments from the scholars: “I have always been fascinated with language for their own sake.” “The demand from the community. Employment opportunities.” “I study Arabic to exchange true information. I welcome more complete information that is not found in the western new media. I would like to learn about Arab schools, weddings, food and the daily lives of typical families” “History, Islam.” The Internet gives me the impression of close contact with native speakers and their families and friends.”

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Language plays important roles in our daily live, for interaction with our neighbors and other countries all over the world. Language has a key role to play in conjunction with the unity of the nation and play its great role in terms of peace all over the world. The advantage of languages is tremendously important in coming future days as well as in the present time. Using communication technology (e-mail. chatting room, web sites, power point etc) will improve language learning and teaching

Designing Arabic Language Curriculum for Tourism in Malaysia.

Paper presented at First International Conference on Arabic and Literature organize by Arabic Language Department IRK. IIUM 28-30 November

This paper is a summary of our book " Arabic for Tourism in Malaysia". Which is approved by research center. The researchers noticed that many Arabian have been visiting Malaysia since last six years.. In recent few years, many Arabian find their way to Malaysia, even we know that many of them knew English, but still some of them don’t know, therefore they need guiders to guide them. The guiders should know Arabic Language.” The topics proposed for this book may be stated as follows:

• In the aeroplane, in the airport, in the subway, in the train, immigration, Customer service, Transportation (e.g. the taxi, Cars rental), in the hotel, in the restaurants, in the bus.
• Tickets (MAS, AIRASIA), The attractively places in Malaysia ( e.g. K.L, K.L.C.C, Menara K.L , Putra Jaya ,Cameron Highland, Lankawi, etc ), Malaysian States and Cities, The Guiders, Visiting the historical places in Malaysia, The National park, Visiting Malaysian universities (e.g. IIUM), Malaysian islands, Malaysian cultures, Interest for Tourist
• Study many books and magazines about Malaysian states

* THE OBJECTIVE

The present researchers decided to design “Arabic for Tourism in Malaysia for many reasons to: Help Malaysian guiders for guiding Arabian tourists, help Arabian tourists in reaching many attractive places in Malaysia in an easy way, improve Malaysian economic, provide many jobs for Malaysian guiders, enhance Islamic brotherhood between Malaysian and other Muslims in Arabian countries.

* METHODOLOGY

The researchers planed to use various methods in order to achieve this project e.g.:

• to visit Malaysian tourist information office in Kuantan, to interview some tourists, to interview some authorities from tourist information office in Kuantan, study many books and magazines about Malaysian states,
• To access the Internet in order to locate another information

* SIGNIFICANCE OF RESEARCH:

• The outcome of this research expected to help and improve the communication between the Malaysian guiders and Arabian tourists
• to facilitate the Arabian living in Malaysia, to attract many Arabian to Malaysia, to play great role in improving Islamic brotherhood between Malaysian and Arabian, to boost Malaysian economic,

to attract Many Arabian students to Malaysia in general and IIUM in particularly

• May be will be consider as a course for students in order to deal with Arabian

Each unit contains a variety of Language tasks developed around topics related to the travel industry. This book (course) will emphasize on Arabic language skills in general and in communication skill in particularly.