English abstract
During the practical training, the researcher has noticed that institutions which teach Arabic for speakers of other languages in Oman lack enough information about language partners in terms of their roles in developing speaking skill and the most important aspects, skills and methods that language partners must have in order to be effective in their mission. The current study aimed to achieve the following: -Make a list of characteristics for language partners that are advised by teachers of Arabic for speakers of other languages in order to be generalized to universities and institutions that teach a second language. -Make a list of the most important roles of the language partner and their mission with the student.
- Make a list of strategies that help the language partner to develop students' speaking skill.
The researcher used the descriptive design, as it is suitable for the study procedures. It is characterized by collecting, sorting and analyzing data and facts in order to infer their significance and reach to results.
The study population comprised of about 30 teachers who worked in the spring of 2018-2019 in the following institutions that teach Arabic for speakers of other languages: Arabia Experience Institute, Noor Majan Arabic Institute, AlJazeel Institute and Sultan Qaboos College for Teaching Arabic Language to Non-Native Speakers.
The researcher used the following methods while visiting the aforementioned institutes:
The questionnaire: It aims to know the linguistic partner and assess their roles by Arabic language teachers for speakers of other languages in developing the speaking skill. The questionnaire is conducted according to the three aforementioned goals and distributed to the study population in each institute.
In general, questionnaire results suggest the need to choose a suitable language partner who is qualified to deal with students, can play different roles and uses different methods to help students develop their speaking skill.
Table (19) illustrates a comparison between the three aforstated aspects. The aspect "characteristics of the successful language partner" came in top in terms of choice with a mean of 2.77. The two other aspects "roles of the language partner in developing the speaking skill" and "methods of the language partner" are equal with a mean of 2.63. Additionally, the phrase "transfers knowledge in a simple and modest way," which was included under the aspect of "roles of the language partner in developing the speaking skill," came in top in terms of choice with a mean of 2.97.
