A Survey of Teachers' Opinions on the Arabic Language Curriculum in Islamic Schools in Southern Thailand

Abstract

This study aims to explore the opinions of Arabic language teachers in private Islamic schools in Southern Thailand regarding the Arabic language curriculum, with a particular focus on the challenges they face in teaching, the effectiveness of the curriculum, and the needs of the students, especially non-native Arabic speakers.

The researchers employed both analytical and quantitative methods, using questionnaires and interviews. The study covered 50 respondents from 10 private Islamic schools in Southern Thailand, with five teachers from each school. In addition, interviews were conducted with 20 teachers from the same schools included in the study.

The statistical findings revealed that the curriculum content significantly considers individual differences and greatly helps students in comprehension (an average score of 3.76 out of 5, equivalent to 75.2%). It also provides sufficient opportunities for language practice and supports good moral values (average score of 3.75 = 75%). Meanwhile, the other questionnaire content elements ranged between 3.63 and 3.74 (72.6% – 74.8%). The overall average for all curriculum elements was 3.71 out of 5 (74.2%). This indicates that most questionnaire elements received a high rating based on respondents’ opinions, though they did not reach the level of excellence.

Furthermore, the interviews indicated the importance of updating the curriculum to include modern teaching methods and interactive materials. They also emphasized the need for continuous teacher training, while most participants pointed out the insufficient integration of cultural and religious aspects in the current content.

The study recommends updating the curriculum, providing ongoing training and support for teachers, and incorporating cultural and religious dimensions into the teaching process to enhance the effectiveness of Arabic language learning in private Islamic schools in Southern Thailand.