Ninth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

English has been the most commonly used as an international language around the world. English can help facilitate conversation between people of different linguistic backgrounds and has become the medium in several arenas, including academic field. With the help of English, this experimental study was set and aimed to explore the important role of English language as a motivation booster in learning Islam in an Islamic and Quranic class for young learners in Pattani, a southern border province of Thailand, where the majority of the people are Muslims. The finding showcases that learners are empowered by integrating English communication in the religious class as they were encouraged to speak and listen to English in the class. In addition, it was also found that the learners’ motivation and engagement increase when they learn some Islamic words, some prayers’ meaning, songs and Islamic storytelling in English. With this approach, the learners can have a chance to learn Islam in a more challenging, more interactive, and more fun environment. Furthermore, they have positive attitudes towards learning Islam and their English communicative skills also can be enhanced at the same time. Therefore, integrating English in the classroom approach is worth to be promoted and applied in any religious education classroom.