Understanding Students’ Perceptions of Arabic Learning Challenges: A Constructivist Study

Rara Salvia Sari; Widiya Yul; Riko Andrian; Ilham

doi:10.25217/mantiqutayr.v5i2.5821

Authors

Rara Salvia Sari Arabic Language Education Study Program State Islamic University of Kerinci Jambi, Indonesia.
Widiya Yul Arabic Language Education Study Program State Islamic University of Kerinci Jambi, Indonesia.
Riko Andrian Arabic Language Education Study Program State Islamic University of Kerinci Jambi, Indonesia.
Ilham Syari’ah Islamiyah Programme Al-Azhar University Cairo, Egypt.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25217/mantiqutayr.v5i2.5821

Keywords:

Arabic Learning Challenges, Constructivist Approach, Student Perception

Abstract

The success of Arabic language education in Islamic higher education largely depends on a deep understanding of the challenges faced by learners. This study critically explores the perceptions of fourth-semester students in the Arabic Language Education program at the State Islamic Institute (IAIN) of Kerinci regarding the difficulties of learning Arabic as a foreign language, using a constructivist approach. Employing a phenomenological method, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focused group discussions. The findings reveal that students face not only linguistic challenges such as the complexity of Arabic grammar (nahwu) and phonology but also significant affective barriers: learning trauma from past experiences, language anxiety, and a sense of meaninglessness resulting from rote-oriented instruction. A misalignment between instructional approaches and learners’ experiential needs exacerbates these issues. Surprisingly, some students demonstrated resilience and learning creativity through informal study communities and self-directed digital learning. The constructivist perspective highlights how students reconstruct meaning within institutional limitations. This study underscores the urgent need for curriculum reform, teacher training grounded in psychopedagogical awareness, and the empowerment of learner agency. Future research should explore the role of technology and locally contextualized instructional design in promoting more transformative and engaging Arabic language learning experiences.

References

Almelhes, Sultan. “Enhancing Arabic Language Acquisition: Effective Strategies for Addressing Non-Native Learners’ Challenges.” Education Sciences 14, no. 10 (2024): 1–17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14101116

Anah, Saiul. “Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab Berbasis Konstruktivisme di STAI Taruna Surabaya.” Al-Fakkaar: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Bahasa Arab 2, no. 2 (2021): 100–114. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52166/alf.v2i2.2656

Andrian, Riko, and Widiya Yul. “Arabic Teaching Efficacy Model (ATEM): A Language Teaching Model Design.” International Journal of Arabic-English Studies 23, no. 2 (2023): 369–84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33806/ijaes.v23i2.468

Arafah, Muhammad, Syamsu Rijal, Sumarni, Suriyah Satar, and Besse Sulfiani. “The Study of Constructivistic Learning Experience, Democratic Attitude, Learning Independence & Learning Motivation of Senior High School Students at Wajo Regency South Sulawesi.” Jurnal Iqra` Kajian Ilmu Pendidikan 10, no. 1 (2025): 213–27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25217/ji.v10i1.4905

Arifah, Bilqis, Titi Fitri, Shofil Fikri, and Hakmi Hidayat. “Bahasa, Pendidikan, dan Agama dalam Pembelajaran.” Lahjah Arabiyah: Jurnal Bahasa Arab dan Pendidikan Bahasa Arab 6, no. 1 (2025): 38–54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35316/lahjah.v6i1.38-54

Cahyati, Lislis, Tatang, and Hikmah Maulani. “Analisis Faktor Kesulitan dalam Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab Siswa Kelas VIII SMP Miftahul Iman Kota Bandung.” Journal of Arabic Teaching, Linguistic and Literature 3, no. 1 (2023): 16–30. https://ejournal.stibada.ac.id/index.php/mumtaza/article/view/38

Chang, Jackie. “Challenges in Implementing English-Only Instruction: Insights from EFL Student Teachers in Taiwan.” Studies in English Language and Education 11, no. 3 (2024): 1270–89. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v11i3.37793

Fakhrurrozy, M. Imam. “Nahwu dan Shorof Perspektif Pembelajar Bahasa Kedua.” Semnasbama: Seminar Nasional Bahasa Arab Mahasiswa V Tahun 2021 HMJ Sastra Arab Fakultas Sastra Universitas Negeri Malang 2, no. 0 (2018): 103–12. https://prosiding.arab-um.com/index.php/semnasbama/article/view/186

Farid, Edi Kurniawan, Mamluatun Ni’mah, and Nur Arifah. “The Teaching of The Speaking Skill Using The Audio-Oral Method for The Students of Islamic Senior High School of Zainul Hasan Genggong Probolinggo.” Mantiqu Tayr: Journal of Arabic Language 1, no. 1 (2021): 1–10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25217/mantiqutayr.v1i1.1197

Fiantika, Wasil M, Jumiyati, Honesti, Wahyuni, Jonata, Et.al. Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif. In Metodologi Penelitian Kualitatif. Edited by Novita Yuliatri. Rake Sarasin. Cetakan Pertama. Padang: PT. Global Eksekutif Teknologi, 2022. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=O-B3eJYAAAAJ&hl=en

Fitri, Siska Wahyuni, Nelfia Nofitri, Wulan Shay, and Darul Ilmi. “Teori Belajar Konteuktivisme dan Penerapannya dalam Pembelajaran PAI.” Education and Learning Journal 2 (2023): 434–39. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31004/anthor.v2i3.173

Fuad, Faturahman. “Analisis Kesulitan Belajar Bahasa Arab.” AL-Lisan: Jurnal Bahasa (e-Journal) 4, no. 2 (2019): 161–69. https://www.journal.iaingorontalo.ac.id/index.php/al/article/view/760

Hastang, Hastang, and Ahmad R. “Analysis of Arabic Language Learning Difficulties Among Students in the Qawaid Al-Lughah Al-Arabiyyah Materials.” Didaktika : Jurnal Kependidikan 17, no. 1 (2023): 31–42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30863/didaktika.v17i1.5052

Huda, Khoirul. “Penggunaan Contextual Teaching and Learning pada Mata Kuliah Reading Bagi Peserta Didik Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris.” JALIE: Journal of Applied Linguistics and Islamic Education 7, no. 1 (2023): 113–32. https://ejournal.unkafa.ac.id/index.php/jalie-unkafa/article/view/648

Ihsan, Muhammad, Syarifaturrahmatullah, Ihsanuddin Masdar, and Arinhda. “Analisis Faktor Kesulitan Belajar Ilmu Nahwu dan Sharaf.” IJM: Indonesian Journal of Multidisciplinary 1, no. 4 (2023): 1549–63. https://journal.csspublishing/index.php/ijm%0AAnalisis

Khasanah, Nginayatul. “Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab Sebagai Bahasa Kedua (Uregensi Bahasa Arab dan Pembelajarannya di Indonesia).” An-Nidzam : Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan dan Studi Islam 3, no. 2 (2016): 39–54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33507/an-nidzam.v3i2.16

Machmudah, Umi, and Uin Malang. “‘Peran Bahasa Arab Sebagai Sarana Inovasi pada Aktifitas Ekonomi Kreatif’ the Role of Arabic as a Tool of Innovation in Creative Economy Activity in Indonesia.” Repository, 2015. 1–18. http://repository.uin-malang.ac.id/4806/1/4806.pdf

Maesaroh, Siti. “Peranan Metode Pembelajaran Terhadap Minat dan Prestasi Belajar al-Qur’an Hadis.” Jurnal Kependidikan 1, no. 1 (2013): 150–68. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56672/alwasathiyah.v2i2.97

Manizar, Elly. “Peran Guru Sebagai Motivator dalam Belajar [The Teacher’s Role as a Motivator in Learning].” Jurnal Pendidikan Agama Islam Vol. 1, no. No. 2 (2015): 171–88. https://jurnal.radenfatah.ac.id/index.php/Tadrib/article/view/1047

Maryani, Novy, Ade Arip Ardiansyah, and Ahmad Mohammed Hasan. “`Arabic Language Learners as an Example of Their Willingness to Communicate in a Second Language (L2-WTC) Accomplishment.” Jurnal Al Bayan: Jurnal Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa Arab 16, no. 2 (2024): 463–79. DOI; https://doi.org/10.24042/albayan.v16i2.24312

Meiliyati, Ruhamauliyah. “Persepsi Mahasiswa Ekonomi Syariah Terhadap Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab di UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta.” Aphorisme: Journal of Arabic Language, Literature, and Education 3, no. 1 (2022): 36–51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37680/aphorisme.v3i1.1185

Moghazy, Mohamed. “The Role of Students Motivation in Teaching Arabic as a Second Language in Dubai.” International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation 08, no. 05 (2021): 151–57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51244/ijrsi.2021.8506

Nasir, Muh. Yasril. “Persepsi Mahasiswa Terhadap Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab pada Program Studi Non PBA di Fakultas Tarbiyah IAIN Parepare.” Institut Agama Islam Negeri Parepare, 2024. https://repository.iainpare.ac.id/id/eprint/8799/1/2020203888204018.pdf

Nerita, Siska, Azwar Ananda, and Mukhaiyar Mukhaiyar. “Pemikiran Konstruktivisme dan Implementasinya dalam Pembelajaran.” Jurnal Education and Development 11, no. 2 (2023): 292–97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37081/ed.v11i2.4634

Nisa, Khoirun, Ayu Shaumina Mubarokah, and M. Yunus Abu Bakar. “Transformasi Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab Melalui Metode Teori Konstruktivistik.” Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Indonesia 2, no. 1 (2024): 394–409. DOI: https://doi.org/10.62017/jppi.v2i1.2782

Nissa, Fadhila Syahda, Rizky Ardiansyah Sarah Aulia, Ayunda Zahra Al-A`raaf, and Dede Indra Setiabudi. “Analisis Kesulitan Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab Bagi Mahasiswa Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Arab IAI AL- AZIS.” Sabda Jurnal Sastra dan Bahasa 43, no. 4 (2023): 342–46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.572349/sabda.v2i2.629

Norlaila, Norlaila, Ahmad Muradi, M. Kamil Ramma Oensyar, and Ahmad Arifin. “Students’ Difficulties In Arabic : A Study of the Background of Students Arabic Language Education.” Ijaz Arabi Journal of Arabic Learning 8, no. 2 (2025): 992–1012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18860 /ijazarabi. V8i2.32092

Nurhasnawati. “Model-Model Pembelajaran Konstrutivisme.” An-Nida’ 36, no. 2 (2011): 273. https://ejournal.uin-suska.ac.id/index.php/Anida/article/viewFile/304/287

Nurlaila, and Muassomah. “Analisis Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab Berbasis Konstruktivisme di MAN 1 Pamekasan.” Taqdir 6, no. 2 (2020): 45–70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19109/taqdir.v6i2.5945

Pamessangi, Andi Arif. “Analisis Kesulitan Belajar Bahasa Arab Mahasiswa Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Arab IAIN Palopo.” AL IBRAH: Journal of Arabic Language Education 2, no. 1 (2019): 11–24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24256/jale.v2i1.1206

Pauseh, Amanah Noor, Nanda Nurul Azmi, and Alvira Pranata. “Analisis Faktor-Faktor Kesulitan Belajar Bahasa Arab Serta Solusinya untuk Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar.” Armala 3, no. 1 (2022): 47–56. http://e-journal.iainptk.ac.id/index.php/armala/article/view/864/358

Pratama, Nanda, Muhammad Syafii Tampubolon, and Khanafi Khanafi. “Problematika Pembelajaran Mahasiswa Lulusan Sekolah Umum pada Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Arab di Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Tarbiyah Madani Yogyakarta.” Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan dan Sains Islam Interdisipliner 1, no. 2 (2022): 117–24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59944/jipsi.v1i2.45

Ridho, Arsyad Muhammad Ali, Ahmad Dika Purnama, and Hafidz Shiddiq Hamonangan Lubis. “Urgensi Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab Sebagai Sarana Memahami Agama Islam pada Ruang Lingkup Pendidikan Tinggi Islam.” ICONITIES (International Conference on Islamic Civilization and Humanities). 2023. 590–601. https://proceedings.uinsby.ac.id/index.php/iconfahum/article/download/1341/933/

Rijali, Ahmad. “Analisis Data Kualitatif.” Alhadharah: Jurnal Ilmu Dakwah 17, no. 33 (2019): 81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18592/alhadharah.v17i33.2374

Sairil, and Pratomo Widodo. “Educational Background Problems in Learning Arabic in Islamic Affiliated University.” Seminar Tahunan Linguistik 2019, no. May (2019). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380602187

Sari, Bernadetha Titis Wulan. “Pengaruh Durasi Belajar Terhadap Hasil Belajar Matematika Siswa Kelas 5 Ledok 006 Salatiga.” Jurnal Review Pendidikan dan Pengajaran 2, no. 1 (2019): 139–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31004/jrpp.v2i1.264

Setiyawan, Agung. “Problematika Keragaman Latar Belakang Pendidikan Mahasiswa dan Kebijakan Program Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab.” Arabiyat: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Arab dan Kebahasaaraban 5, no. 2 (2018): 195–213. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15408/a.v5i2.6803

Surur, Misbakhus. “Tantangan dan Peluang Bahasa Arab di Indonesia.” Risda: Jurnal Pemikiran dan Pendidikan Islam 6, no. 2 (2022): 174–82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59355/risda.v6i2.90

Suryana, Ermis, Marni Prasyur Aprina, and Kasinyo Harto. “Teori Konstruktivistik dan Implikasinya dalam Pembelajaran.” JIIP - Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan 5, no. 7 (2022): 2070–80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54371/jiip.v5i7.666

Susanti, Sani, Fitrah Aminah, Assa`idah Intan Mumtazah, Aulia Mey Aulia, and Tania Angelika. “Dampak Negatif Metode Pengajaran Monoton Terhadap Motivasi Belajar Siswa Sani.” PEDAGOGIK Jurnal Pendidikan dan Riset 2, no. 2 (2024): 86–93. https://ejournal.edutechjaya.com/index.php/pedagogik/article/view/529

Tahrun. “Pengembangan Model Pembelajaran Berbasis Konstruktivisme pada Kelas Maya Melalui LMS SISFO.” Prosiding Seminar Nasional Pendidikaan Program Pascasarjana Universitas PGRI Palembang. 2021. 1–12. https://jurnal.univpgri-palembang.ac.id/index.php/Prosidingpps/article/view/5468/4807

Wahab, Muhbib Abdul. “Peran Bahasa Arab dalam Pengembangan Ilmu dan Peradaban Islam.” ARABIYAT: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa Arab dan Kebahasaaraban 1, no. 1 (2014): 1–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15408/a.v1i1.1127

Yasin, Agus, Fadlurrahman, Sayadi, and Muhammad. “Urgensi Strategi Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab di Era Milennial.” Innovative: Journal of Social Scieance Research 3, no. 2 (2023): 275–86. https://j-innovative.org/index.php/Innovative/article/view/320

Yul, Widiya, and Noza Aflisia. “Takwin Al-Biah Al-Lughawiyyah Fi Ma’had Nurul Haq Semurup Kerinci.” Ihya Al-Arabiyah : Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Arab Takwin 8, no. 1 (2022): 28–44. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30821/ihya.v8i1.12236

Yul, Widiya, and Amilya. “Shaut Al- ‘ Arabiyah Analyzing Vocabulary Learning through the Lens of Students’ Learning Styles : A Framework for Arabic Language Teaching.” Shaut Al-‘Arabiyah 13, no. 1 (2025): 88–102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24252/saa.v13i1.56156 Analyzing

Yul, Widiya, Umi Rofingah, Riko Andrian, Muhlasin Muhlasin, and Jihan Fitri Rozanie. “Unlocking The Secret to Arabic Fluency: Exploring The Critical Role of Language Environment in Maximizing Arabic-Speaking Outcomes.” Arabi : Journal of Arabic Studies 8, no. 1 (2023): 1–10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24865/ajas.v8i1.584

Yusanto, Yoki. Ragam Pendekatan Penelitian Kualitatif. Journal of Scientific Communication (Jsc). Vol. 1, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31506/jsc.v1i1.7764

Zein, Muh. “Peran Guru dalam Pengembangan Pembelajaran.” Inspiratif Pendidikan 5, no. 2 (2016): 274–85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24252/ip.v5i2.3480