<![CDATA[The objectives of this study are: first, to identify phonetic difficulties in pronouncing hijaiyah letters and the factors influencing them among students of MTs Ma’had Salafiyah Chasanul Hidayah Tanjung Medan, Rokan Hulu. This study employs a qualitative approach with a descriptive research design. Data were collected through direct observation, semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and pronunciation tests to analyze students’ ability to articulate hijaiyah letters accurately. Then, the data were analyzed descriptively through data reduction, data presentation, conclusion drawing, and verification of interview and observation results. The findings indicate that, first, phonetic difficulties lie in the inability to distinguish similar sounds, challenges in pronouncing pharyngeal (halqiyah) letters, and differences in students’ abilities. Second, the influencing factors include weak phonological awareness, mother-tongue interference, educational background, and psychological and physiological factors. Therefore, improving pronunciation skills cannot rely solely on practice but requires a comprehensive and integrative instructional approach. This study recommends developing technology-based, integrative phonetic teaching methods, enhancing teacher training, and conducting further research to examine the effectiveness of multimodal strategies for sustainably and contextually improving students’ pronunciation accuracy. Keyword: Arabic Pronunciation, Phonetic Difficulties, Phonological Awareness]]>
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