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RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, in collaboration with several Saudi universities, conducted the Hamza Arabic language proficiency test for non-native speakers on Tuesday.

The academy aims to enhance the global status of Arabic, promote its use, and support the goals of the Human Capacity Development Program under Vision 2030.

The Hamza test, a computerized exam, assesses non-native speakers in four language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

It lasts 155 minutes, consists of 75 questions, and follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, targeting learners and teachers of Arabic at universities and educational centers.

Participating universities include Umm Al-Qura University, Islamic University of Madinah, King Abdulaziz University, King Faisal University, Taif University, Qassim University, and Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University.

By administering the Hamza test, the academy seeks to elevate Arabic’s scientific and global status, establish proficiency standards for non-native learners, and assist universities in assessing the language skills of students.

Mona Al-Shayqi, an Arabic language supervisor at the Madinah Education Department, said that learning another language is vital for students, as it opens doors to different cultures, and enhances critical and creative thinking by comparing language structures.

Language skills significantly boost job prospects, both locally and globally, with multilingual individuals excelling in scientific fields and understanding specialized terminology, she added.

Al-Shayqi, an applied linguistics expert, told Arab News that Arabic’s special status comes from its deep connection to Islam and the Qur’an.

Arabic allows learners to explore the rich heritage and intellectual legacy of a civilization that left behind vast knowledge in various arts and sciences, she said.

Mahmoud Abdulrahman, head of the language proofreading department at the Egyptian newspaper Al-Youm Al-Sabea, said Arabic stands out as one of the world’s richest languages, and is known for its adaptability across eras.

He highlighted the importance of learning different languages to express a range of emotions and engage in meaningful conversations with people from other cultures.

Bilingual individuals are better equipped for critical and creative thinking, he added.

Abdulrahman said that incorporating language learning into daily activities, like reading stories or watching movies, is an effective method to deepen understanding and maintain interest.

“Language is identity, language is homeland. As ancient philosophers said: ‘A person doesn’t live in a country; they live in a language. That is their true homeland.’”