READABILITY LEVEL OF THE ARABIC LANGUAGE TEXTBOOK OF DIPLOMA TAHFIZ AL-QURAN & AL-QIRAAT DARUL QURAN JAKIM

Abstract

Textbooks, or special reference books for language learning, are an important medium in language learning at IPTs in Malaysia. The level of language achievement among IPT students who are not native speakers of Arabic is still low due to various factors, including the ineffective content of textbooks. The evaluation of reading material takes into account many aspects, especially the level of readability. Readability is the level or ease of a material or reading text, while a quality textbook is a reading text that is easy to understand. This study evaluates the readability of Arabic texts among Diploma Tahfiz Al-Quran and Al-Qiraat Darul Quran students in Malaysia. A total of 300 students consists of students in semester 4 and students who have gone through semester 4. This study is to evaluate the level of readability of the textbooks they use through a level-Cloze Test, which will be the start of further study of the book. This readability study serves as a document that can help JAKIM, lecturers, syllabus drafters, textbook writers, and other parties involved. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, the Cloze Test was constructed from three Arabic texts found in Darul Quran Arabic textbooks. Through this test, students are tested to see the difference in scores obtained from the aspect of readability. The study data is analyzed quantitatively and descriptively. The results of the test conducted found that the mean score for the Cloze Test on the textbook was 88%, so this result proves that the level of readability of Darul Quran JAKIMs Arabic textbook is at frustration levelwhich means that the textbook is not suitable enoughfor the ability of students at the Diploma level in Darul Quran JAKIM, which is still at a low level that is less suitable for teaching and learning purposes. Therefore, the responsible parties, especially the drafters of the Darul Quran Arabic language curriculum, should take into account the level of readability of the text provided before it is used as student learning material in order to match the level of the students language skills.