The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language (KSGAAL), in collaboration with seven Saudi universities, yesterday conducted the Arabic language proficiency test for non-native speakers (Hamza) for 315 individuals in-person for the first time.
KSGAAL Secretary-General Dr. Abdullah Al-Washmi pointed out that the academy enjoys the support of Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of KSGAAL Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan for all its programs, strategies, and operations, including for the Hamza test.
Launched in December 2023, the test is administered in person in Saudi Arabia, and in several other countries including China, Indonesia, and India. This year it was also administered globally online, reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s global presence in serving and promoting the Arabic language, in line with the objectives of the Human Capability Development Program, one of the Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives.
Al-Washmi expressed gratitude for the collaboration with Saudi universities in this e
ndeavor. The seven higher education establishments are Umm Al-Qura University, the Islamic University of Madinah, King Abdulaziz University, King Faisal University, Taif University, Qassim University, and Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University.
Since its launch, seven Hamza tests were administered for 1,979 learners from Saudi Arabia and abroad.
According to Al-Washmi, Hamza is a standardized computerized test that assesses non-native speakers’ proficiency in four language skills: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing, and speaking. It was designed according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The academy developed the assessment system and evaluation tools through a team of specialists and experts who conducted benchmark comparisons and a survey of internationally accredited language tests to build the standards and indicators on which the test is based, drawing from the analysis of several global examinations. This led to the establishment of the linguist
ic proficiency criteria and their sub-indicators, based on which learners are evaluated.
The test is part of the academy’s endeavor to raise the status of the Arabic language, and to establish a globally recognized standard of linguistic proficiency among learners of Arabic as a second language. It also provides valuable input to universities and Arabic language teaching institutes to determine the level of language proficiency of their students who are non-native speakers.
Moreover, it reinforces the academy’s strategic mission of building bridges of cooperation with entities involved in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers in Saudi Arabia and abroad, and gives the opportunity to disseminate the correct use of spoken and written Arabic language and facilitate teaching it.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
