This study investigated the effect of culture learning in Arabic foreign language, Arabic literature, and Arabic culture classrooms upon college students' attitudes and perceptions of Arabs and the Arab world and Americans and the United States in relation to change in attitudes, gains in cultural knowledge, motivation, and success in foreign language or culture study using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Arabic culture students experienced the largest change in cultural knowledge, the most positive change in attitudes toward Arabs, and positive change in perception of self. Arabic literature students experienced the lowest gains in cultural knowledge, negative change in attitudes toward Arabs, positive change in attitudes toward Americans, and negative change in self-perception. Arabic language students experienced the least amount of change in cultural knowledge, the most negative change in attitudes toward both Arabs and Americans, even though their knowledge of culture and attitudes were highest initially, and positive and negative change in perception of self. Different types of academic orientations and strength of either an instrumental motivational orientation (for Arabic language students) or integrative motivational orientation (for Arabic literature and culture students) best predicted the response variables. Students who attended each respective class to complete a minor or major in Arabic studies had positive gains in cultural knowledge or positive change in attitudes toward Arabs. Students who enrolled in these classes to fulfill a General Education Curriculum requirement did not perform as well and did not persist in Arabic studies after this requirement was met.
Finally, other factors such as age, gender, nationality, ethnicity, number of years of previous foreign language study, and previous education or introduction to Arabs and the Arab world influenced the response variables. The major implication of the study suggests that only highly- structured, culturally- oriented foreign language classrooms that integrate the teaching of Arabic language, literature, and culture into a single course will arrest the negative effect of language study upon student attitudes and promote persistence in foreign language and culture study for beginning-level Arabic Studies students.