Qur’anic Perspective on Empowering Humanistic Foreign Language Teaching

Abstract

Abstract Divinity-based humanistic education which includes foreign language teaching has become a growing concern. Within the development of humanistic foreign language teaching over decades, however, discussion on how Qur’anic perspective may have contributed to this area is still under study. This document analysis explores the contribution of Islamic scripture on the development of humanistic foreign language teaching. Data were derived from about 11 Qur’anic terminologies addressing aspects of Stevick’s pedagogy as a model of humanistic language teaching. Content analysis shows that these Qur’anic verses have provided some essential guidelines for developing an empowering humanistic foreign language learning necessarily required by language teachers, regardless of their faith affiliations. This issue is comprehensively addressed in various Qur’anic terms such as qawlan baliighan (effectiveness) qawlan sadiidan (responsibility), qawlan ma’ruufan (feelings and social relations) and bilisaani qawmih (intellectuality and self-actualization). Although these Qur’anic terminologies are more frequently used as communication principles, their impacts in developing a more empowering humanistic language teaching is also of paramount importance.