<![CDATA[The preliminary assessment indicated that students’ maharah istima’ (Arabic listening skills) at SMP IP Darul Arqam required improvement, with a mean score of 61.91 and only 40.00% of students achieving learning mastery. This study aimed to improve eighth-grade students’ maharah istima’ through Arabic cartoon-based animation videos from Sukardi Hasanudin’s YouTube channel. The study employed Classroom Action Research involving 55 students from classes VIII Ummu Kaltsum and VIII Umar over two cycles, each consisting of planning, action, observation, and reflection. Data were collected through classroom observations, interviews, documentation, and learning assessments. Learning outcomes were analyzed descriptively using mean scores and the percentage of students achieving the predetermined mastery criterion ([insert the actual mastery threshold]), while student participation was analyzed using observation percentages. The mean score increased from 61.91 in the pre-cycle to 72.55 in Cycle I and 83.82 in Cycle II. Learning mastery increased from 40.00% to 67.27% and 90.91%, respectively. Student activity also increased from 74.17% in Cycle I to 87.83% in Cycle II. These findings indicate that the implementation of Arabic cartoon-based animation, accompanied by instructional adjustments across cycles, was associated with improved listening learning outcomes and student participation. The findings should be interpreted within the context of this classroom action research.]]>
