Arabic vs. English Online Reading among Students of an Arab University in Light of Language of Instruction

Abstract

United Arab Emirates outperformed all Arab countries in internet penetration and it is a leading Arab country in the trend of shifting language (medium) of instruction from Arabic to English. This study compared between an Arabic medium group and an English medium group at United Arab Emirates University in interests and attitudes towards bilingual online reading. In addition, the study was interested in identifying variables, which can predict these interests and attitudes. A bilingual online reading interests questionnaire and a bilingual online reading attitudes scale were administered to 295 students from different majors, 43% of the students were Arabic medium students (AMS), whereas 57% of them were English medium students (EMS). Descriptive statistics and t-test statistics were used to compare between AMS and EMS in interests and attitudes towards bilingual online reading, while regression analysis was conducted to identify variables, which can predict these interests, and attitudes. Findings indicated that EMS had significant higher interests and attitudes towards bilingual online reading. It is obvious that English as a medium of instruction did not harm EMS online reading interests in Arabic, while each medium of instruction helped in generating attitudes differences in favor of online reading in its language of instruction, but these differences were at the expense of attitudes towards online reading in the other language. Otherwise, the comparison between the two groups indicated that each of gender and grading points average was inconsistent predictor of online reading interests and attitudes, but there was a clear significant negative relationship between grading points average of EMS and their interests and attitudes towards online reading in Arabic. Results of this study invite Arabic medium university teachers to encourage reading on the web in English to diversify their students' readings. On the other hand, English medium universities in the Arab world should not neglect Arabic reading in their websites and study activities to give their students right messages about the importance of reading in their first language.