ALECGS presents visions to keep pace with digitization challenges

The event lasted for three days and wrapped up Monday evening. It brought together a special group of researchers and people who care about the Arabic language and its literature.

ALECGS took part in a research presentation led by Dr. Issa Saleh Al Hammadi, the Director of ALECGS. The presentation was titled “A Framework for International and Regional Tests of the Arabic Language.”

ALECGS contributed to the event with engaging discussions and fresh ideas that enhanced the academic conversations. This highlighted how crucial innovation is in language education, especially as we face modern challenges brought on by digital advancements and technology.

Dr. Al Hammadi kicked off the first session of the conference by highlighting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's dedication to promoting education and the Arabic language around the world. He expressed gratitude to all the organizations involved, as well as the participants and attendees, for their role in making this academic event a great success.

In his research paper, Al Hammadi highlighted how crucial it is to have a structured approach for testing the Arabic language on both international and regional levels. This framework plays a significant role in tracking and assessing how different countries and regions are creating and evaluating Arabic language proficiency tests and understanding the results from these assessments.

He discussed how these experiments are designed to create a complete set of standards for teaching the Arabic language. He highlighted the important role of ALECGS in improving language education, thanks to the ongoing support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. This support has led to significant achievements, including advancements in research, the building of international partnerships, and progress on the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language project.

The study focused on creating a set of guidelines for assessing language skills and the tasks related to them. It aimed to put together a detailed document outlining the key frameworks and teaching principles needed to create specialized international tests for language proficiency. Additionally, it involved developing different models for proficiency tests and figuring out how to interpret their results, specifically to measure how well individuals understand and extract meaning from various types of texts.

Al Hammadi highlighted that the goals of international and regional tests are more than just measuring student performance. These tests aim to enhance educational policies, review teaching programs and curriculums, and give useful tools for assessing how well students and educational institutions are doing. He emphasized the importance of clearly defining the four key language skills: listening, reading, speaking, and writing, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of students' abilities.

He highlighted how important proficiency tests are for reaching various educational and job-related goals. These tests help determine how well people can use a language, which is essential for university admissions and job applications. He stressed that when creating these tests, it's crucial to consider different skills, such as reading comprehension, drawing conclusions, understanding ideas, and assessing information.

Al Hammadi emphasised the importance of including key elements in language tests, such as vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills. He highlighted that these elements should be connected to the cultural and educational background of the Arabic language. At the same time, he suggested that it’s beneficial to consider global methods for teaching languages.

In his research paper, Al Hammadi shared some suggestions to improve the teaching of the Arabic language. He recommended that steps be taken to strengthen both international and regional assessments of Arabic. Additionally, he proposed creating practical ways to put these assessments into practice, aiming to boost the quality of Arabic language education worldwide.