Arabic Language Acquisition among Students in the Arabic Language Education Study Program at the Muslim Cendekia Institute

Abstract

Islamic educational institutions offering Arabic language instruction have experienced rapid growth in Indonesia. One such institution is the Muslim Cendekia Institute Sukabumi, widely recognized for its Arabic-speaking environment—a characteristic that applies to all its academic programs without exception. This study aims to examine the Arabic language acquisition process among students in the Arabic Language Education program at the institute. It employs a descriptive qualitative approach utilizing the Miles and Huberman data analysis model. Data were gathered from 24 seventh-semester students of the Arabic Language Education program—randomly selected using Microsoft Excel—through observation, interviews, and documentation. The results indicate that Arabic language acquisition at the Muslim Cendekia Institute Sukabumi is supported by several strategies: the implementation of motivating rules and regulations, the recruitment of competent lecturers, the creation of an Arabic-speaking environment, and a language preparation program requiring all students to complete two initial levels of language training alongside various extracurricular support activities. Empirical findings confirm—through observation and interviews—that students are capable of actively using Arabic for both academic communication and daily life within the campus environment. Upon entering the undergraduate program, all students take the same courses during the first three semesters before commencing specialized courses relevant to their respective fields of study from the fourth semester onwards. Consequently, there are no significant differences in the Arabic language acquisition process across the various study programs at the Muslim Cendekia Institute Sukabumi, except for the specialized courses offered from the fourth to the eighth semesters, which align with each student's specific field of study.