Arabic Smart Debate Academy 6.0 in Conjunction With Rehlah Arabiy Brings the Language of the Qur’an to Life

By, Muhammad Hanif Bin Naim, Muhammad Hafiz Zhafri bin Abd Kamal and Salsabeel Binti Norazam

Arabic is not merely a language of communication; it is the language of divine revelation which is a bridge to understanding the Qur’an. With this conviction, the Lughah Arabiyah Department (LAM), in collaboration with the Arabic Debate and Public Speaking Club, IWON Pagoh and facilitators from IIUM Pagoh, successfully organized Takallum Arabiy Series II: Arabic Smart Debate Academy 6.0 at Sekolah Menengah Agama Parit Sulong. The two-day, one-night program gathered 157 students from Form 1 to Form 3 in an immersive Arabic-speaking environment designed to strengthen both skill and spirit.

Breathing Life into the Arabic Language

Unlike the first series, Takallum Arabiy Series II focused on active communication and real-life language simulation, encouraging students to live the Arabic language rather than simply memorizing it. Through engaging group activities, roleplays, and games, students were trained to express themselves confidently while discovering the joy and beauty of the Arabic tongue. According to Ustazah Noramirah Binti Hairudin, the Secretary of this program, “We want our students not just to know Arabic, but to feel it, to speak, to think, and to love it. With ADC Pagoh’s support, Arabic becomes not a subject to fear, but a language to embrace.”

Three Groups, Three Learning Paths, One Shared Vision

To ensure effective learning outcomes, students were divided into three main groups based on proficiency levels, each guided by facilitators using tailored learning modules. The head trainer for Nujum Mustaqbal which gathered students who gained A & B, was Br. Muhammad Hanif Bin Naim. In this group, a total of 51 students were focusing on writing and speaking skills. This group emphasized structured communication, confidence, and creative expression through debate, storytelling, and entrepreneurship activities.

Students began with ice-breaking games such as Find Your Match, Bomb Your Number!, and Group Taaruf, designed to build comfort and camaraderie. They then moved on to interactive Arabic sessions like Roleplay Scenarios, Hot Seat: Who Am I?, and Run for the Idioms, where they learned idiomatic expressions and their meanings. Further sessions included movement-based games (Arabic Energizer Commands), Arabic Spelling Bee, Quick Fire Story Chain, and I Am the Successful Businessman, an activity where students rebranded a product and pitched it entirely in Arabic. The final sessions, Are You the Imposter? and Arabic Mafia, merged logic and language mastery through Arabic-only roleplay, creating a playful yet linguistically rich environment. These activities allowed students to not only expand their vocabulary but also to think in Arabic, fostering creativity, teamwork, and eloquence. There were 8 facilitators who successfully shared their best in encouraging Arabic Language. They were: Br. Muhammad Ameerul Zulhaqeem Bin Mohd Jamali, Br.Muhammad Syuqrin Akma Bin Mohd Daem, Sr. Nurulhuda Husna Binti Wan Mohd Rafi, Sr. Lina Masturina Binti Alwi, Sr. Fatin Nadzirah Binti Mohd Azhar, Sr. Nur Thaqifah Irdina Bt Mohd Nadzri, Sr. A’leeya Sofea Binti Mohamad Asri and Sr.Nur Asyiqin Binti Ahmad Aswad

The second group was named Dhiyaul Isyraq which only focused on those who gained C in their previous exam which gathered for almost 51 students. The head facilitator here was Ustazah Nur Amnah binti Duniya which was supported by 8 facilitators which were Sr. Nur Nadia binti Mahasan, Sr. Amirah Aqeela binti Ahmad Sukri, Sr. Wan Alisha binti Wan Azlan, Sr. Nur Hanan Hidayah binti Saihuddin, Sr. Nur Izlin binti Md Jefrin, Br. Ahmad Wafiudin bin Rahmat, Sr. Najah binti Amrah and Sr. Siti Umairah binti Ismail. This group concentrated on vocabulary building and sentence construction, with lessons creatively integrated into games and team challenges. In At-Tamsil As-Sari’ (Quick Action), students acted out Arabic words, while The Speaking Ball encouraged them to ask and answer questions in Arabic during an active ball-toss game. Haramul Kalimat (Pyramid of Words) challenged students to arrange Arabic words on stacked cups in the shape of a pyramid. The next session, Quick Vocab and Chain of Words, required quick thinking and sentence building, while the final session encouraged creativity through Tasrif Song which composes verb-conjugation songs and Quick Dialogue, where students performed situational roleplays. These methods transformed the learning atmosphere into one of laughter and movement, proving that Arabic learning can be both interactive and enjoyable.

The last group was Syu‘lah Amal which gathered almost 55 students from D, E, and F students. Here, led by Sr. Salsabeel binti Norazam, this group catered to beginners, focusing on engagement, enjoyment, and motivation to learn Arabic through simple yet meaningful activities. The facilitators were Sr. Nurshyaza Izurien binti Hasrezal, Sr. Noor Azza Aina binti Mohd Zaki, Sr. Umi Kalsum, Sr. Nur Adilah binti Selamat, Sr. Syafiyah binti Abdul Rashid, Br. Nik Ahmad Afiq Isra bin Nik Muhammad Norisam, Sr. Noor Anees Adura binit Noorazlan, Sr. Nur Farzana binti Nizar and Br. Muhammad Firdaus bin Khairol Azuan. The ice-breaking session introduced games such as Find Your Match, Human Bingo, and Worth Your Value, which helped students practice simple questions and answers in Arabic. Later, through Arabic Around Us, students searched for Arabic vocabulary around the school environment, compiled lists, and shared meanings across groups. The fun continued with The Best Actor, where students guessed Arabic words through expressive gestures, and Arabic Drama Challenge, where they created and performed a three-minute drama based on three randomly drawn Arabic words. This approach succeeded in making Arabic learning less intimidating and more expressive, nurturing confidence among students who were initially shy or hesitant.

Explorace Arabiy: Learning Through Adventure

The highlight of the program was the Explorace Arabiy, a creative language adventure featuring six checkpoints that tested students’ memory, teamwork, and fluency. From listing Arabic words alphabetically in Alif Ba Ta, to whispering Arabic tongue twisters in Radio Rosak, each station brought the language to life. Students expressed their creativity in Pendapat Kamu, Mahkota Kamu (drawing and presenting ideas in Arabic), while Isma‘ul Amar! tested their ability to follow Arabic commands through movement. Bahsu Kinzi had participants searching for hidden Arabic words in flour, and Silsilah Muttasilah closed the trail with reflections on Arabic proverbs, all delivered in a spirit of joy and collaboration.

A Teacher’s Hope and a Team’s Commitment

One of the Arabic teachers shared a heartfelt message to the head facilitator: “I hope this program leaves a real impact to the extent that our students gain the confidence to speak Arabic. Some say such programs don’t work, but I believe your team can prove that Arabic can be fun, meaningful, and alive.”

Indeed, that belief became reality. The dedication of the ADC and IWON Pagoh team transformed classrooms into arenas of creativity and confidence, showing that language mastery grows through experience, not fear. The principal himself during his speech said that ADC and IWON Pagoh successfully achieved the program’s objectives, which were to expand vocabulary, strengthen speaking confidence, build friendships between students and facilitators, cultivate love for the Qur’anic language, and create a joyful, informal Arabic learning environment.

By the end of the two-day journey, laughter and Arabic phrases filled the air,  proof that with the right approach, students can not only learn the language but live it. “When the tongue dares to speak Arabic, the heart begins to fall in love with the Qur’an.