The Effectiveness of The Mukhayyam al-‘Arabī Program in Improving Students' Speaking Skills in Malaysia

This study investigates the effectiveness of the Mukhayyam al-‘Arabī program in enhancing the speaking proficiency of 60 Form Four students at Maktab Mahmud Yan, Kedah, Malaysia. Conducted over three weeks, the program adopted an immersive Arabic learning approach facilitated by Indonesian educators: a mixed-methods design combined pre- and post-tpre-andservations and semi-structured interviews. Results showed an 85% average improvement in pronunciation and confidence. Students reported improvementrted increased motivation and reduced speaking anxiety due to the Arabic-only environment and interactive activities such as role-playing and group discussions. The program’s success demonstrates how short-term immersion when paired with theoretical knowledge and real-life communicative competence. When paired with culturally responsive pedagogy and supportive environments for Arabic language pedagogy in Southeast Asia, this study offers a practical model for improving oral fluency. It highlights the importance of cross-cultural collaboration in language instruction.