Theories and Concepts of Arabic Text Reading Strategies

Reading strategies are a crucial aspect of second language acquisition, including Arabic, especially in the context of higher education which requires students to deeply understand academic texts. This article examines the theories and concepts of Arabic reading strategies through a review of three main frameworks: cognitive theory, metacognitive theory, and schema theory. These theories explain that reading is not merely a mechanical process of recognizing letters and words, but a complex, interactive mental process that requires readers to construct meaning from the text. In the context of Arabic, reading strategies serve as the primary medium for connecting students' existing knowledge with new texts, in addition to helping them critically structure their understanding. This article also discusses practical strategies such as skimming, scanning, chunking, and the SQ3R technique, which have proven effective in enhancing student comprehension. Emphasis on reading strategies is seen as capable of overcoming the weaknesses of traditional approaches like the grammar-translation method, which tends to be passive. Therefore, mastering reading strategies is not only important for understanding academic texts but also serves as a foundation for self-directed learning, increased motivation, and the development of critical thinking skills. This article concludes that Arabic reading strategies need to be systematically integrated into the higher education curriculum to produce students capable of accessing, understanding, and analyzing Arabic texts more effectively.

reading strategies, Arabic language, cognitive theory

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