The Play as an Educational Tool for Developing Body Language in Conversation: A Statistical Analysis of the Play "Her Majesty"

Body language is considered a fundamental component of linguistic skills, occupying a prominent position in teaching Arabic to non-native speakers. It enhances effective communication and enriches cultural and linguistic interaction. However, enabling learners to correctly employ body language remains a challenge that necessitates innovative educational strategies. In this context, drama emerges as an effective educational tool, offering dynamic and realistic contexts that enable learners to simulate communicative situations rich in body language. This study aims to investigate the impact of using plays, specifically Tawfiq Al-Hakim's play "Her Majesty," in developing learners' proficiency in using body language during conversation. The research employed a quasi-experimental approach based on a proposed educational program utilizing the play to teach body language, in addition to a descriptive analytical methodology to examine relevant statistical indicators. The program was applied to a sample of fifth-year undergraduate students at the University of Tehran during the academic year 2020–2021. To analyze the results, the SPSS program was used along with various statistical techniques, including inferential statistics (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Levene's test, and ANOVA) and descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation). The results demonstrated that employing drama as an educational tool significantly improved learners' skills in using body language during conversation, underlining the importance of integrating plays into Arabic language teaching programs for non-native speakers. The study also provided practical recommendations for developing curricula based on drama to enhance the physical and communicative aspects of language learning.