Investigating Linguistic "Features" into Italian Test Performances of Arabic Speakers

Our paper aims at analysing the linguistic "features" produced by Arabic learners of Italian as a foreign language. There are published studies of common errors for Arab students of Italian (Della Puppa, 2006; Giacalone Ramat et al., 2001). However, this study introduces the standardized language assessment, namely the CILS test of Italian, as context of research. The study uses error analysis as a method to improve didactic strategies for teachers considering the detected language needs and profiles of Arabic learners. The data is a representative sample of 200 test takers of CEFR level B2, is the level that guarantees the access to the Italian universities to foreign students. First, the study investigates the test outcomes in the four language skills (listening, reading, written and oral production) and the use of language, and then focuses on the exam scripts, in order to identify different types of errors that occur repeatedly.