Motivation as the Mediator in Relationship between Non-verbal Communication of Arabic Language Teachers and Student Learning Outcomes

Abstract

Effective communication requires a strong combination between verbal and nonverbal communication which is one of the skills that need to be mastered by a teacher. The estimate of 65-70 percent of message in communication is obtained by nonverbal and only 30-35 percent is obtained through speech. This study is aimed at investigating the impact of NVC practice of Arabic language teachers on the motivation of students and their learning outcomes in Arabic language in Malaysia. Quantitative study used a survey questionnaire and was involved a population of 84,841 students. Sampling was done through stratified random sampling and only 750 students were chosen in all over Malaysia as respondents. The SEM model was analysed using the approach by Baron and Kenny (1986). The findings show that the relationship NVC motivation in students was significant (β= .133, p < 0.01), NVC learning outcome (β = .350, p<0.01), motivation learning outcome (β = .439, p<0.01). In the test of indirect effect (mediator), the findings show that motivation was statistically proven through the Sobel test (β= 0.133, Sobel Test = 4.68, SE = 0.01, p < 0.01) as the mediator in the relationship between NVC and learning outcome. Hence, the result shows that, the higher the motivation possessed by the students the better their learning outcome in Arabic language. Therefore, inevitably the teachers play vital roles during teaching and learning to use more NVC approach to enhance the higher learning outcomes for students in Arabic language learning.