The Role of Art-Integrated Input: Implementing Arts to Maximise English Proficiency among Saudi English-Major Undergraduates

Factors that affect foreign/second language (L2) acquisition include internal factors related to the learners such as motivation and personality-related style preferences as well as external factors related to the learning process such as the amount and quality of input and more interestingly how the latter factors can enhance the former. This paper examines the role of input quality (in-structional) during the course of L2 development by integrating arts to facilitate L2 development and boost the learners’ motivation by engaging them with masterpieces from classical art as a stimulus. A total number of 30 Arabic learners of English as a foreign language took part in this quasi-experimental study. The experimental group (n = 20) was enrolled in a teaching setting rich with input full of triggers by integrating arts including dramatization and art expedition (e.g. painting, photographing, and sculpting), whereas, the control group (n = 10) was enrolled in a traditional teaching setting. Three instru-ments were final examinations administered at the end of each semester. In-dependent-samples t-test was run to identify whether any significant difference existed in L2 proficiency of the control and experimental groups. The findings suggest that L2 learners who were exposed to the instructional settings highly enriched with robust and art-integrated input significantly performed better in L2 proficiency. This suggests that art-integrated input significantly enhanced proficiency of Saudi EFL learners.


Introduction
Saudi learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) have been reported as having poor proficiency (Alrahaili, 2013;Alrashidi & Phan, 2015;among others).
This low proficiency can be attributed to a wide range of factors, including input. The role of input in improving language proficiency has been widely acknowledged. According to different approaches, learners need to have access to quality and quantity input to successfully master the target language. Ellis (2014: p. 38) claims that "If learners do not receive exposure to the target language, they cannot acquire it." This paper sheds light on the role of input quality in enhancing EFL achievement in the Saudi context.

Statement of the Problem
This study is an attempt to address the question that arises as to what extent interlanguage grammar of the L2 learners can be refined with providing fine-grained linguistic experience (i.e. exposure to sufficient and enriched input such as art-integration). Much evidence suggests that L2 development is triggered by subtle input that L2 learners are exposed to. Language development can be examined from all sorts of perspectives. In this study, the issue is approached from generative perspectives to L2 development. The present study endeavors to de-termine what is the effect of input quality on L2 development in EFL context of Arabic speaking country. And, more interestingly, the study attempts to identify which form of instructional "usage-based" input (traditional vs. art-integrated) is more effective in L2 development. This study examines the effects of L2 input within the instructional L2 learning settings. One needs to consider the actual role of the amount and quality of the instructional L2 input that the L2 learners are exposed to. The difference between the types of instructional input found in the L2 development contexts; i.e. the traditional where learners are exposed to limited unplanned usually poor input vs. the art-integrated where learners are exposed to highly robust ample input. This experiment contributes to identify the kind of L2 knowledge that L2 learners might build based on the forms of input offered in each context. Are the L2 learners in an instructional-input-oriented environment offered very rich L2 input? Put differently, this paper sheds lights on the role of input in constructing conceptual representations, as observed by the learners' internal mechanisms during the course of L2 development, eventually resulting in a "change in an individual's internal mental state" as Doughty and Long (2003: p. 4) have stated.

Literature Review
There are several factors (i.e. internal and external) which have an impact on second language (L2) development. It is widely accepted that for L2 development to occur, there must be two necessary conditions: 1) L2 input that the learners are exposed to and 2) a set of internal mechanism to explain how L2 samples are processed (Ellis, 1995). In language development, input is defined as R. Albaqami DOI: 10.4236/ojml.2020.104015 262 Open Journal of Modern Linguistics the data which the learners are exposed to. It is now widely acknowledged that input offered to the L2 learners during the learning process plays a very essential role in language development, and the amount and quality of the input affect the L2 development directly. The role of input amount and quality has been a highly debatable matter in the realm of L2 development.
The internal factors comprise the conceptual disposition of learners and the capacity to tackle communication. The external factors include the circumstances to which the learners are exposed and they might embrace the frequency of the exposure accessible for the L2 learners (i.e. amount of the samples of the L2, namely the input) and the quality of those samples.
Having said that the input plays an important role in L2 development, it has recently received substantial consideration by the researcher in the field. In generative approached to L2 development, there is a call for further advanced systematic study of input in L2 development (Carroll, 2001;Gregg, 2001). There is a large volume of published studies which have focused on the role of positive or negative input in mastering L2 (Zhang, 2009). Inagaki (2001) proposes that L2 evidence should be accessible and robust (i.e. recurrent and unambiguous) for better L2 development. Krashen and Terrell (1983) argue that if input is delivered naturally over wide-ranging themes for interaction purposes, the input would typically comprise the necessary linguistic data. Hence, acquisition is considered as an unconscious natural process that occurs owing to meaningful exposure that takes place naturally and is used for meaningful interaction purposes. This natural and unconscious process of acquisition is different from the conscious process of language learning, which takes place when instructional input is offered consistently. Ellis (1994Ellis ( , 2008aEllis ( , 2008b points out that various theories of L2 development differently assign importance to the role of input in language development but they all acknowledge the prerequisite for input in general. In several approaches to L2 development, input is regarded as a crucial factor whereas in others it has been assigned a minor role. That is, those theories differently conceptualize how input is treated by learners bearing in mind the quality of input, i.e. natural or instructional (Doughty & Long, 2003).
Therefore, input is essential and there is no approach to L2 development that does not acknowledge its importance. According to Schwartz (1993), the input supports an innate system to support its development. However, input alone cannot assist L2 development. It will not efficiently function in L2 development till it gets engaged in interaction. Different theories of L2 development have highlighted the importance of the quality of the input that the learners are exposed to. Experimental evidence is provided by Hassanzade and Narafshan (2016), who conducted a study to examine the impact of input quality (i.e. natural vs. instructional). They conclude that both natural and instructional input promoted L2 knowledge. However, they support the superiority of instructional input over the natural input in promoting L2 development.

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Some suggest that formal instruction supports L2 development, whereas others claim that informal conditions have a greater impact. To have a better understanding to this issue, Krashen (1985) proposes the Input Hypothesis in which he claims that language classes are more effective when they allow for more primary basis of comprehensible input. The Input Hypothesis hence is the heart to all of acquisition, i.e. L2 development relays on comprehensible input. In instructional contexts, learners must receive comprehensible input by offering them with highly sophisticated linguistic materials. Nevertheless, his hypothesis has been challenged by evidence found in several studies demonstrating that comprehensible input alone is inadequate for L2 development (e.g. Harley & Swain, 1984). According to several scholars (e.g. Sharwood Smith, 1986;Crookes, 1991), processing comprehension is unlike processing production and the aptitude to comprehend meaning expressed by structures varies from the aptitude to use linguistic system to deliver meanings. Learners generate output in interaction once input is negotiated. They absorb parts of comprehensible input and select target-like forms to deliver meanings. This process allows the learners to linguistically internalize what they have experienced.
This brings the question of whether or not input involves an equal amount of intake (Zhang, 2009). Corder (1967 distinguishes between input and intake. He describes input as what the learner has access to, while intake denotes what the learner truly internalizes. This distinction is explained by good deal of evidence in L2 learning practices. It is claimed that L2 development will not take place even if with input at the target amount and quality but without being processed by the learners.
Numerous theories have attempted to account for the issue of input including: innatist, behaviorist and interactionist. Each one holds a different perspective in accounting for L2 development. First, the innatists highlight the importance of the learner's internal mechanism. They argue that the human brain is principally prepared to master language and all that is required is minor exposure to input in order to activate the relevant development (Ellis, 1997). On the contrary, the behaviourists view language development as environmentally established and externally governed by the kind of stimuli the learners have access to and the reinforcement they obtain afterwards. On the other hand, the interactionists recognize the importance of equally both external factors and internal language processing, highlighting the mutual involvement of environment as well as the learners' internal mechanism in settings where interaction can take place.
Within the generative framework to language development, Chomsky (1981) proposes the theory of Principles and Parameters. The generative approach to language development assumes a biological device dedicated in language development, explicitly Universal Grammar (UG). The biological and innate device that is in charge of language development does not eliminate the role of the environment. The language organ counts on the input available in the environment in the same manner that children need to be nurtured in order to physi- process is activated by the constructions exist in the L1 input, that the child is exposed to in the environment. Marcelino (2018: p. 78) claims that "the input in L1 is disorganized, unplanned, fragmented and based on positive evidence".
From an acquisitional standpoint, children at certain age (approximately at the age of four) will attain the grammar of their L1, due to their innate language constructing capacity. This must be achieved in the existence of robust input of their L1. Similarly, rich exposure to robust ample L2 input should, in theory, generate similar outcomes, even if it is not consistently.
Put differently, according to Chomsky (1981Chomsky ( , 1986, during the process of L1 development, it is anticipated that children develop their L1 grammar by being offered with robust input, hence the input plays an essential role. This input comprises the Primary Linguistic Data (PLD) from which the child can have access to the essential information to develop his/her L1 grammar. That is, input in L1 development seems to be rationally guaranteed and inclusive, thus that it will comprise all the essential data for the child to obtain all the evidence that will direct building his/her L1. The child only has to rely on his/her natural innate aptitude to master the L1. Logically speaking, this postulation brings the question to what extent the same fact is accurate in relation to L2 development.
In the generative perspective of L2 development, a large and growing body of literature has investigated the enquiry of whether the UG innate device has a role in L2 development and does it bear any comparison to L1 development. A large volume of published studies lends support to the argument that UG remains fully accessible for L2 development (e.g. Dekydtspotter et al., 2001;Slabakova, 2008;Schwartz & Sprouse, 1996White, 1985White, , 1989White, , 1990White, , 2003. Several studies state that L2 development is commonly inspired by L1 development studies in relation to the role of UG mechanisms. Though, some kind of parameter resitting is needed with respect to L2 development. As far as L2 development is concerned, the process of L2 development is triggered by the representations in the L2 input which is available for the L2 environment. The input in L2 seems more organized, planned, integrated and can be based on both negative and positive evidence. Positive evidence is the input in is Bearing in mind that several factors may have an impact on the amount and quality of the explicit L2 input, influencing the L2 development is a major one in this regard. Extensive research has shown that L2 learners are able to master a language by being exposed to robust input. Nevertheless, one should consider that in Arabic-English context, the input that the L2 learners are exposed to might not be robust enough because of several factors including (1) amount of L2 exposure (approximately 2 hours or 4 hours per day); 2) the nature of interaction (what is the aim of mastering the L2? reading plays or for communication purposes) and 3) lack of the crucial PLD that L2 learners must have to construct the L2 properties. It is a common belief that by simply using an L2 in any context will offer the L2 learners with the essential linguistic data. Nevertheless, this is unlikely to be adequate to assure that they can use their linguistic aptitudes to the best effect. However, this drawback can be avoided by creating a solid program for L2 development that embraces advanced pedagogical blueprint. This program should comprise input that is ample, robust, frequent, diverse, wide ranging, relevant and meaningful, and unambiguous. That is, it must comprise sufficient information, for example, that will support the learner to develop the relevant linguistic property. However, unlike the L1 input, the L2 input is unlikely to be available in the L2 environment at all times.
So far, one might ask why L2 instructional input is important. Initially, "there is a general consensus in the literature that instruction may speed up the acquisition of some surface aspects of language." as Smith and Vanpatten (2014: p. 143) claim. Secondly, Marcelino (2018: p. 86) accounts for the importance of input and claims that "Independently of how the language is presented, it is perceived by the human mind and its internal mechanisms as data to be assigned mental representations. The overrated role of the progressively organized L2 input in this perspective is reduced to a minimum. All of the organized, modified, progressive, and rule-based L2 instructional approaches to language teaching are treated as input by the brain. The rest remains as problem-solving tasks".
The L2 learners attend the target language in instructional settings, but there is no planned emphasis on language development or the sort of input that L2 learners are exposed to. Input, hence, takes the form of unplanned practice of language made available in instructional settings. This approach relies on the invalid assumption that in the Arabic-English context, targeting whatever L2 avoidably, what is called interlanguage, which definitely would need further remedial effort. The term "interlanguage grammar" was coined by different linguists (cf., Adjemian, 1976;Corder, 1967;Selinker, 1972). In the Arabic-English context, one cannot merely rely on the normal adjusted L2 instructional input to advance L2 development. They need to do more work. In Saudi Arabia, classes largely vary in the amount of L2 instruction and L2 input that learners are structurally exposed to. This structured exposure is based on the L2 parameters (i.e. developing input with the needed parameter-trigging linguistic configurations).
Proponents of the UG approach acknowledge that some properties of language are "too abstract, subtle, and complex to be acquired in the absence of innate and specifically linguistic constraints on grammar" (White, 2003: p. 20). Put differently, input alone is not sufficient. Nonetheless, learners master those complex properties of language, as mirrored by their spontaneous judgments and target like production. Hence, learners' linguistic proficiency ultimately exceeds the samples accessible in the input; alternatively stated, the input under-determines the language properties. This fact, is known as the logical problem of language development or Poverty of the Stimulus (POS) (Chomsky, 1965). From the nativist-based viewpoint, the POS refers to two different conditions: 1) conditions in which the input appears to be vague, possibly resulting in the learners to overgeneralize inappropriately, and 2) conditions in which the input is deficient found in unplanned poor linguistic settings, namely, it merely does not deliver sufficient evidence of a precise property.
Sophisticated exposure to L2 can occur by, for instance, implementing visual arts which can be used to teach not only language but also culture as well. This method is called "two for one" or Content Based Instruction (CBI) which supports learners to treat the language as a mean, rather than a goal (Shier, 1990;Lightbown & Spada, 2006). From a usage-based perspective, several studies suggest that teaching forms as well as contents at the same time enlarges authenticity of the language by offering natural settings where learners practice the language as native speakers and have more chances to practice their linguistic skills (Rodgers, 2011;Cross, 2012). Nevertheless, Hoare and Kong (2008) claim that this beneficial method is not commonly used in classrooms due to the fact that instructors typically pay more attention to linguistic skills at the cost of content. Long (2000) suggests alternative justification for why instructors are unwilling to make use of the CBI approach as it requires more systematic and methodological preparation for teaching plans that are not typically incorporated in the module materials. Therefore, instructors stick to the same pre-designed arrangement of grammatical representations and unconnected cultural themes which make the A considerable amount of literature has been published on the role of art-integration in language teaching and learning (e.g. Moore et al., 1994;Ghandbari, 2015). Evidence from these studies suggests that art-integration significantly ad-

Research Objectives
This study aims to identify the following research objectives: 1) The role of art-integrated input in enhancing English language proficiency of Saudi EFL learners.
2) The difference in the level of English language proficiency of Saudi EFL learners exposed to art-integrated as compared to Saudi EFL learners exposed to traditional input.
3) Is there any statistically significant difference in English language proficiency of Saudi EFL learners exposed to art-integrated input as compared to Saudi EFL learners exposed to traditional input?

Research Questions
This study attempts to answer the following questions: Q1: What is the role of art-integrated input in enhancing English language proficiency of Saudi EFL learners?
Q2: Do Saudi EFL learners exposed to art-integrated input outperform Saudi EFL learners exposed to traditional input in their English language proficiency? Q3: Is there any statistically significant difference in English language proficiency of Saudi EFL learners exposed to art-integrated input as compared to Saudi EFL learners exposed to traditional input?

Null Hypothesis
The study in hand aims to test the following null hypothesis: H 0 : There is no any statistically significant difference in English language proficiency of Saudi EFL learners exposed to art-integrated input as compared to Saudi EFL learners exposed to traditional input.

Alternative Hypothesis
The study has the following alternative hypothesis: H: There exists statistically significant difference in English language profi-R. Albaqami DOI: 10.4236/ojml.2020.104015 268 Open Journal of Modern Linguistics ciency of Saudi EFL learners exposed to art-integrated input as compared to Saudi EFL learners exposed to traditional input.

Research Design
The study in hand is a quasi-experimental which aims to identify the role of art-integrated input in enhancing English language proficiency as determined by final examination tests. A total of 30 female students from the Foreign Languages Department at Taif University took apart in the experiment. The experimental group consisted of 20 students whereas the control group was 10. The experimental group in the L2 context was offered optimal art-integrated input with the aim to enhance their English language proficiency. They were continuously exposed to art-integrated input inside and outside classroom context. The experimental group was offered plenty of time for practising English. They were adequately exposed to a wide range of art-integrated input in L2 in spoken and written forms on a daily basis. The control group, on the other hand, received the regular amount of input available in the L2 traditional context. The study was carried out through three semesters. Each semester was of three months duration. All participants were randomly assigned into two classes (traditional vs. art-integrated) in the beginning of the academic year. Both classes were taught by the same instructor.

The Participants
The researcher has selected the English-major students studying at foreign languages department of Taif university, Saudi Arabia because the researcher has long interaction with them as their teacher and they were most appropriate to conduct this quasi-experiment as they lack English language proficiency to carry out their studies with ease as reported by Javid et al. (2012) who have investigated English-major undergraduates of same university. Generally speaking, the students at the department usually find it difficult to accomplish their tasks when it comes to the literary texts in L2. Therefore, it seems important to increase their motivation through the exact same challenging area of literature to enhance their English language proficiency so that they may be able to handle their literary courses efficiently. It is noticed that there are three major areas of difficulty faced by the students: 1) the barrier of language itself (i.e. the L2), 2) the intercultural varieties, and 3) the matters of the individual literary taste (i.e. value appreciation) of each student. The research used the strategies of involving the students more in determining their own levels of appreciation of their tasks through role play including dramatization of the literary texts as well as an art exhibition project.

Dramatization
The study examined the participants of this study on three literature related  Shaw (1999Shaw ( , 2006. The participants regularly worked with the instructor in class preparing for the final performance once a week for 8 weeks. This preparation required spending extra hours at home where the participants continuously searched, read, listened and practiced for the final performance.

Art Exhibition
The next step was an art exhibition project for the participants of this experimental study. Art exhibition was put together initially to stimulate the participants' creativity, critical thinking and innovation through taking an inside classroom experience into an outside one to achieve real performance through direct and authentic situations. The participants were allowed to connect the targeted language immediately to its natural culture through the exploitation of art: painting, photography, and sculpting. Their journey to explore English literature through art, aided by the various characteristics and versatile features of different literary centuries (i.e. the targeted centuries were 16 th , 17 th , and 18 th respectively). The participants selected a work of art from 16 th to 18 th century and a literary piece that complemented the selected work. Then, each one delivered assimilation painting, photographing, or sculpting and a description of the work along with an explanation for the complementary literary piece she had chosen.
Art exhibition was an idea to reflect a glimpse of English literature which is con-  Afterwards, the performance of the participants across the three courses was examined (i.e. their scores on the final exams). The first test was a pre-test prior to any refined input the experimental group was exposed to. Whereas, the second test was a post-test followed the first amount of the refined input "implementing arts" (i.e. dramatization). The third test was a post-test followed the second amount of the refined input "implementing arts" (i.e. art exhibition).
Next, the instructor and the participants were interviewed to account for any progress noticed.

Results and Findings
The study intended to investigate the impact of art-integrated input on Enhancing suggest that the type of input bear statistically significant effect on the participants' performance. Specifically, the results suggest that when L2 learners are exposed to art-integrated input that is ample and sophisticated, their performance significantly increase as Table 1 shows.
The most outstanding result to emerge from the data is that there is a correlation between the input quality and L2 proficiency. The findings suggest the superiority of the highly refined art-integrated input over traditional input in supporting L2 proficiency. As shown in Figure 2, the experimental group which was exposed to art-integrated input outperformed the control group being exposed to the traditional input. That is, art-integrated input was found to be significantly more effective than traditional input. As expected, the performance of the  The results suggest that ample and art-integrated input results in enhanced English as s foreign language proficiency among Saudi English-major undergraduates. The experimental group performed better at different levels. There exists statistically significant difference in English language proficiency of Saudi EFL learners exposed to art-integrated input as compared to Saudi EFL learners exposed to traditional input. Hence, the null hypothesis was rejected. This is evident by the fact that the L2 learners were more engaged and linguistically productive as compared to those at the traditional settings. Put differently, the input that experimental group was exposed to significantly boosts L2 development. This was achieved when learners faced a gap in their L2 knowledge. By noticing this gap, owing to the different and countless triggers available in the refined input, the learners were activated to adjust their interlanguage. This adjustment typically boosts mastering new facets of the L2 that have not been mastered yet. That is, the triggering input result in the restructuring of plenty properties of the interlanguage which in turn results in overcoming the POS at different linguistic levels. The more exposure to the triggering input, the more adjustments the learners are likely to attain, consequently the higher accuracy they are likely to achieve. Apparently, the findings suggest that the experimental group has overcome the POS problem and the impact of their L1 prior knowledge and successfully accommodated the L2 properties. Whereas, the traditional group has struggled due to the naturally-occurring input they have been exposed to which seems to lack the crucial triggers needed for the target adjustments to take place.
The instructor pointed out that the learners started to participate further and up with a free joyful learning environment. She added that all the courses involved with drama became an aspect for interaction and negotiation among the students and instructor and among the students themselves and accordingly, they became more interested, motivated and active which helped to reform the individual literary preferences specially with the relative increased academic levels. Furthermore, the learners managed to overcome the obstacles of the inter-cultural barriers. The amount and quality of the input, the learners were exposed to, assisted their cognitive development and boosted L2 development.
The amount of the efficient and effective input, that was full of triggers, worked as facilitator for L2 development. Finally, in the follow-up phase of the study, the participants were also asked about their experience. They reported that art-integration enabled them to deliver their thoughts efficaciously equally in both speaking and writing. It stimulated them to achieve higher accuracy and better fluency.
Generally speaking, by analysing the learners' writing samples, one can see that their writing skills have improved; their vocabulary selections have enlarged and their spelling and grammatical errors have lessened. That is, their L2 knowledge notably has been expanded. Not only in writings, the learners performed much better in speaking and interactions. This was evident during their performance on the theatre and in the art expedition as well. Interestingly, the learners' cognitive abilities, level of motivation and personal attitude towards the target language, and self-confidence have been remarkably boosted. This shows how robust is the fact that external factors (i.e. input) can effectively impact internal factors (e.g. motivation) and consequently result in better outcomes in L2 development.

Conclusion and Implications
As it has been stated, the L2 development is influenced by internal as well as external factors. Nevertheless, it is important to bear in mind that both factors must work in harmony as even a sufficient exposure to the L2 might not confirm L2 development if the learner is not willing. Offering suitable conditions that aim to facilitate the L2 development must be the purpose of language instruction. The present paper addresses the role of art-integrated input in L2 development exploiting the internal mechanisms that learners have from a generative perspective.
In terms of L2 development, evidence from this study shows that learners who are exposed to ample and highly sophisticated instructional input (i.e. art-integrated) are better L2 acquirers than the ones being exposed to traditional instructional input. The findings suggest that art-integrated input significantly promotes the More interestingly, the findings suggest that the establishment of the explicit input pointed to L2 learners appears fruitful, bearing in mind that it will be unconsciously allocated mental representations by the learners' mind, resulting in their interlanguage. This interlanguage corresponds to the precisely designed, gradually systematized explicit L2 input conveyed in highly instructed settings.
Taken together, these results provide important insights into language pedagogy. Robust and rich input should be offered in the L2 instructed learning settings to facilitate the conditions where the L2 learners put their best linguistic capacities to enhance their target language proficiency. To conclude, it is suggested that learners must be offered best possible fine-grained materials from which they can better shape and advance their L2 knowledge. Therefore, it seems extremely important for faculty members teaching Saudi English-major university undergraduates to incorporate art-integrated input in their teaching practices especially while teaching literary courses to enhance their motivation level and English language proficiency to cope up with their studies effectively.