A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON PERCEPTION OF SCIENCE STUDENTS AT ISLAMIC SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF MALAYSIA

Abstract   Purpose of the study: To analyse students’ perceptions of Arabic language learning for science purposes in USIM. Problem of the study: The existing Arabic module in the Higher Education Institution in Malaysia did not discuss the topic related to Science in Arabic language learning for science students, except in USIM. Using the existing modules, researchers analysed respondents' perceptions of Arabic Language for Science Purpose. Methodology: This study applies a quantitative approach which involves 169 science students at the Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM) as respondents and randomly selected. The data were analysed descriptively by looking at the percentage and mean score by using SPSS Statistics 25. Main Findings: The descriptive analysis findings demonstrate that the overall mean of interest was 3.72, the mean of the module was 3.78, the mean of the use of scientific terms was 3.49 and the mean of the learning duration was 3.08. The findings showed that using the specific module of Arabic Language for Science had successfully nurtured students' interest in Arabic and able to introduce them to scientific terms in Arabic. This study could be a measurement of the use of Arabic language modules that contain specific content based on "Specific Purposes" for Institutions of Higher Learning in Malaysia. Applications of this study: This study involves science students who have studied the subjects (اللغة العربية للعلوم) using the Arabic Language for Science Purpose module within a semester from Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Science and Technology and Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at USIM Novelty/Originality of this study: This study could be a measurement of the use of Arabic language modules that contain specific content based on the "Specific Purposes" for Institute of Higher Learning and the Private Higher Learning Institution (IPTS) in Malaysia