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Abstract

Abstract

This study investigated the experiences of 24 international students from eight countries studying Arabic as a second language at a university in the Occupied Palestinian territories. Five native Arabic instructors who taught the students were also interviewed. The study attempted to answer the following research question: what challenges in communication did Arabic as a foreign language learners report when using Palestinian colloquial Arabic (ammya) with Palestinians (locals) outside of the university classroom? Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Findings show that students preferred using ammya to communicate with locals, that locals were willing to speak ammya, and that effective communication requires increased cultural awareness. Implications for Arabic study abroad second language learning programs are provided.

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/content/journals/10.1075/sar.21032.abu
2025-04-30
2025-05-22

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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keywords: native and non-native interactions ; linguistic experiences ; colloquial palestinian Arabic ; authentic contexts

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