The Content of Arabic Language Textbooks for Lower Secondary Form: An Analytical Study

Abstract

The textbook is an essential tool in the learning process, as it contains information and concepts that help students understand the subjects and develop their skills. The textbook provides diverse and comprehensive content, covering various topics and contributing to expanding students' horizons. Additionally, the textbook can be used as a reference for review and developing research skills. Overall, the textbook is an indispensable companion in the journey of learning. This research aims to enhance the quality of education in lower secondary schools by improving the Arabic language textbooks used for instruction, thus contributing to the development of Arabic language learning, and providing suggestions for selecting suitable Arabic textbooks in lower secondary schools. The researcher adopted an analytical approach in his study, aiming to identify the basic principles in producing a good textbook and its specifications in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers. This study utilized the educational book analysis tool developed by Dr. Rushdi Ahmad Ta’eema for analyzing the content of the prescribed Arabic language textbooks in the lower secondary schools. Based on the researcher's findings, he concluded that there are several improvements that the government can make to improve Arabic language textbooks in secondary schools in Malaysia, particularly regarding the three criteria: content, educational activities and production. Content analysis showed advantages such as the use of custom texts and age-appropriateness of the material, but there are still points for improvement include insufficient attention to synonyms and antonyms. Educational methods need enhancement, along with the provision of supplementary materials and the necessity of including a teacher’s guide alongside the books.