Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.
2 Arabic Language Teaching, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract
Educational books are among the main tools for teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, and they must be designed according to specific standards to ensure their quality and effectiveness. The books of the Arabic for the World series are widely taught in institutes and educational institutions, and learners use them as a starting point in their journey to learn Arabic, with the first book in the series serving as the initial step for most students before progressing to subsequent levels. To determine the suitability of any book for learning, it must be evaluated according to scientific standards, most notably Earl Stevic’s criteria for evaluating educational books. In this evaluative study, the descriptive-analytical method was used to analyze the content of the first book in the Arabic for the World series according to the features, dimensions, and components emphasized in Stevic’s criteria, with the aim of identifying the book’s compliance with the standards and determining its strengths and weaknesses. The analysis included the main characteristics of the educational material such as strength, lightness, and transparency, in addition to dimensions of evaluation and its components, including appropriateness of language use, usage models, lexical surveys, and surveys of relationships between structures. The study concluded that the first book in the Arabic for the World series provides a solid linguistic foundation and organized lessons covering the four skills, but it suffers from simple texts, a lack of exercises and activities, and limited connection to Arabic culture, which necessitates updating the content and enriching the dialogues and exercises to achieve comprehensive and effective learning.
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