Why I Advocate for the Arabic Speaking Competition: An Educator's View

It is a powerful opportunity to nourish their confidence, talent, and creativity. Ultimately, ASC is designed to improve essential communication skills, which are vital to bringing any language to life.

When ASC was first launched, I encouraged students to view the competition as an opportunity to discover a more personal connection with their Arabic language learning. This is achieved through purposeful language manipulation and a deepened curiosity for the culture of the Arab world. Consequently, ASC encourages the use of authentic language and explicitly prizes originality, which significantly boosts creativity when manipulating language.

As students show interest in participating, they experience excitement but also nervousness. Speaking is a skill that not only reveals your knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and cultural capital; it ultimately tests your interpersonal linguistic skills, which cannot be merely taught but must be actively practised. For this reason, I guided my students through each stage of preparation; from selecting their topic and building their confidence, to refining their delivery for clarity in a supportive classroom environment.

The diversity of the content empowered students to explore a range of vocabulary not traditionally taught in the classroom. Some elected to speak about cultural heritage or Arabic literature, while others chose pertinent social topics.

ASC has had a remarkable impact on my students' overall linguistic skills. Even hesitant students became more confident whenshowcasing their Arabic knowledge, regardless of their level. The resulting boost to their confidence significantly contributes to improving their performance in critical assessments like the GCSE speaking exam.

One particularly memorable speech was delivered by an Arabic heritage student. Though timid and initially reluctant to take part, she ended up delivering a heartfelt speech about her heritage country. Such moments catalyze both language growth and personal development for students.

Taking part in ASC profoundly impacts not only students but also teachers, extending beyond trophies or certificates to instill best practices. ASC uniquely celebrates students’ distinct linguistic skills through a powerful voice performance, thereby creating a purposeful opportunity to foster and improve Arabic oracy.

I strongly encourage all Arabic students to take part in an ASC. My advice to teachers is to consistently encourage, trust, and guide students throughout their learning journey. In my experience, you will be astonished by their potential and their achievements.

The 2025 Arabic Speaking Competition is open now! Learn more: https://qfi.smapply.org/prog/asc_2025/

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Qatar Foundation International (QFI). While QFI reviews guest contributions for clarity and to ensure the content is valuable for our audience, the accuracy and completeness of the information are the responsibility of the author.