Oral Reading Errors among Chinese Students Learning Arabic as a Foreign Language

The aim of this study was to describe and analyze the oral reading errors made by Chinese learners of Arabic as a foreign language. The study sample comprised 40 male and female Chinese nationals enrolled in Arabic language programs at Yarmouk University, Jordan University, and various Chinese universities during the first semester of the academic year 2022/2023. Participants were selected using a stratified sampling method. The study employed the Reading Miscue Inventory (R.M.I), originally developed by Goodman and Burke in 1972, which is a well-established tool used in various studies to assess reading performance. Results indicated that the students produced a range of errors in oral reading, with the most common errors involving difficulties related to diacritical marks in word formation, followed by omissions of letters or words. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the frequency of oral reading errors between Chinese students studying Arabic in Jordan and their counterparts studying Arabic in China, with students in China showing a lower incidence of errors. This study contributes to the understanding of reading challenges faced by Chinese learners of Arabic and highlights the need for targeted instructional strategies to improve their oral reading skills.