Analisis Kesulitan Mahasiswa dalam Menguasai Keterampilan Istima’ Bahasa Arab dan Strategi Pemecahannya

Abstract

Listening ability or istima’ is one of the basic skills in learning Arabic which is often a challenge for students. This study aims to analyze the difficulties faced by students in mastering istima’ skills and to identify effective problem-solving strategies. This study used a descriptive qualitative approach with Arabic Language study program students at university X as subjects. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires designed to explore the obstacles experienced by students in understanding spoken Arabic conversations. The analysis results show that students face several main difficulties, including: limited vocabulary, the speaker's speaking speed, dialect differences, and lack of consistent listening practice. These difficulties result in low understanding of context, misinterpretation of meaning, and decreased student confidence in communicating. This study also found that effective problem-solving strategies include: the implementation of structured listening exercises, the use of relevant audio-visual media, thematic vocabulary development, and collaborative learning through group discussions. In addition, intensive guidance from lecturers and the use of educational technology have been shown to significantly improve students' istima’ skills. This study concludes that mastering istima’ skills requires a combination of continuous practice, appropriate learning strategies, and adequate resource support. The implications of this research emphasize the importance of curriculum design that is responsive to student difficulties and the implementation of innovative learning methods to improve Arabic listening skills. These findings can serve as a reference for educators and students in optimizing the Arabic language learning process, particularly the istima' skill.