CHALLENGES OF ONLINE ARABIC LANGUAGE LEARNING FOR CHINESE STUDENTS IN MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the challenges faced by Chinese students in learning Arabic online at Malaysian universities and to identify differences in these challenges based on gender, university, academic level, and region. The researchers adopted a descriptive quantitative approach, selecting a cluster random sample of 236 Chinese students majoring in Arabic from five Malaysian universities. Data was collected via a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS through means, standard deviations, percentages, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Scheffe’s post hoc tests. Findings revealed that students mainly faced challenges in three key areas: interaction and language skills, technology and infrastructure, and teaching strategies and assessment methods. Additional difficulties were linked to limited resources and physical and psychological stress. Significant differences in challenges were found based on gender, academic level, and region, while the university variable showed no statistical significance. The researchers recommend that educators and relevant authorities in China and Malaysia actively work to address these issues and enhance the quality of online Arabic language education.