Challenges of Arabic Language Teachers in the Digital Era: A Case Study at Muhammadiyah 2 Senior High School
This study examines the challenges faced by Arabic language teachers in the digital era at SMA Muhammadiyah 2 Palembang. Employing a qualitative approach with a case study design, data were collected through in-depth interviews with an Arabic language teacher and analyzed using descriptive qualitative analysis. The findings reveal three primary challenges: low student motivation driven by online gaming and unregulated social media use, limited Arabic literacy particularly among students from non-pesantren backgrounds, and the demands of adaptive classroom management. In response, the teacher has implemented varied pedagogical strategies including mufrodat songs, ice-breaking activities, Canva-based visual media, interactive quizzes via Quizizz, and the Arabic Club application. The school also provides robust digital infrastructure such as Wi-Fi, Smart TVs, tablets, and the Pijar evaluation application. Notably, students' digital competencies, when strategically channeled into creative projects, can be transformed from distractions into valuable learning assets. The study concludes that technological advancement functions as a double-edged sword in Arabic language education, offering innovative opportunities while introducing new complexities that demand sustained pedagogical creativity and professional adaptation from teachers.