The Arabic Literature Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) continues to enhance its curriculum by introducing a new course, Saudi Colloquial Arabic, in the second semester of the 2025/2026 academic year. The course is designed to broaden students’ linguistic competence, particularly in understanding and using Arabic as it is spoken in everyday communication within Saudi society. The course is taught by Dr. Raeef Al-Tamimi, M.Acc., a lecturer with extensive expertise and experience in Arabic language studies. His involvement provides students with a valuable opportunity to learn the Saudi dialect in an authentic manner, covering pronunciation, vocabulary, and its practical use in daily interactions.
Through this course, students not only learn common expressions and vocabulary used by native speakers but also gain insight into the cultural aspects embedded in the language. The learning process is designed to be interactive, incorporating conversation practice, discussions, and various communication simulations that help students use Arabic more naturally and contextually.
The introduction of the course has received positive responses from students. Adennia, the class coordinator of the Saudi Colloquial Arabic course, shared that the material is relatively easy to follow due to its similarities with Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha), which students have previously studied. “In my opinion, the course is not too difficult because it shares many similarities with Fusha. One challenge is that we sometimes still tend to use sentence-ending grammatical markers, as we do in formal Arabic. There are also certain vocabulary items that can be difficult for Indonesian speakers to pronounce. However, Dr. Raeef often provides alternative expressions that are easier for us to say, which makes the learning process more comfortable and accessible,” she explained.
The introduction of the Saudi Colloquial Arabic course marks an important step in helping students understand the diversity of Arabic as it is used in real-life contexts. Beyond its academic value, proficiency in Arabic dialects can serve as a valuable asset for students pursuing further studies, student exchange programs, or careers in international environments where Arabic is widely spoken. Through this curriculum innovation, the Arabic Literature Study Program at UGM hopes to equip students with a more comprehensive command of Arabic, enabling them to communicate effectively not only in formal settings through Fusha, but also in everyday interactions with native Arabic speakers.
Author: Indana Zulfa Maulida
