LEARNING ENGLISH IN SAUDI ARABIA: A SOCIO-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE (original) (raw)

The Significance of Learning English in Saudi Arabia

English as an international language is the main means of communication worldwide. Many people strive to learn English language greatly, and this has contributed to the customization of international special curricula in English language. In Saudi Arabia, learning English is becoming highly important; as it has been introduced into the Saudi Secondary School classroom and curriculum from grade seven. This paper aims to outline the significance of developing English language learning for Saudi Arabia's students and government.

FACTORS SUPPORTING THE LEARNING OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AMONG SAUDI ARABIAN TERTIARY LEVEL STUDENTS

In this article the author focuses on the factors supporting Saudi Arabian tertiary level students in learning the English language. The article discusses government initiatives, parental support, classroom atmosphere, and teachers' encouragement at elementary and tertiary levels of English language learning. A questionnaire with close-ended questions on a four-point Likert scale was administered to collect data. The findings showed that, English should be taught from grade one at the elementary level, and qualified English teachers are required there. In terms of supporting factors, family awareness and support is essential. The findings also shows that parents should care about the language proficiency of their children rather than grades in examinations.

Learning English as a Foreign Language: Perspective of Secondary School Students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

International Proceedings of Economics Development and Research, 2014

The aim of this study is to make the process of learning English as a foreign language in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in line with the students' own preferences and to make teachers recognize their students' preferences in this regard. In order to look at the teaching process from students' perspective, a survey was conducted using a set of two questionnaires across various secondary schools in the southern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Through the first questionnaire, 288 students from different levels of the secondary schools were asked to express their preferences for learning English, and through the second one, 28 teachers responsible for teaching English to the same selection of students were asked to state their opinion about the interest of their students in the learning process. The data, thus acquired, pin point a number of areas in which there is a need for further agreement among the students and teachers. It also gives teachers the opportunity to reorganize their teaching strategies and reshape the classroom activities in accordance with the students' preferences.

Attitudes of Saudi Non-English Major Students Towards Learning English

Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 2021

The present study aims at investigating the attitudes of Saudi non-English major students towards learning English at the University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia. In addition, the study attempts to identify how the students view the culture of English, English native speakers, and the importance of English in the present time. The data were collected from 80 Saudi non-English major students at the University of Bisha through a three-point Likert scale questionnaire with 13 closed-ended items. The data obtained from the questionnaire were analyzed quantitatively using SPSS. The results of this study show that the students have overall positive attitudes towards learning English. Apart from this, it was found that the students are aware of the importance of English in the present time. Interestingly, the students reflected positive attitudes towards the culture of English and English native speakers. Finally, some implications for teachers and recommendations for future research are ...

Problems of English Language Acquisition in Saudi Arabia: An Exploratory-cum-remedial Study

—'An international language belongs to its users, not to the countries whose national languages have become internationalized' (Edge 1992). With an ever increasing number of L2 users it is time we rewrote the description of the place of English among world languages. All types of interactions, more particularly between nations, are through English, for a reason no other than the fact that it is the only language in which non native users can possibly communicate. It is the language of science, technology and business apart from being significant in political or diplomatic dialogues. English Language has come to be owned by all people in the world of work. Saudi Arabia is no exception. Almost a hundred years on Saudi schools, colleges and universities teach English with primary and genuine concern. Still, just like non-native learners in other non-English speaking countries, Saudi learners also confront many problems in their English Language acquisition. This study is a humble effort to bring out the major barriers and problems that Saudi students face while learning English; it proposes remedial measures for the said barriers and problems. In this study, the researcher has tried to focus on the teaching methodologies and learning atmosphere prevalent in Saudi English classrooms.

Saudi Students' And Teachers' Strategies And Beliefs In Learning And Teaching English In Saudi Arabia

Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 2020

This preliminary study investigates the Saudi public high school student deficiencies in speaking English and seeks ways to improve the curriculum opportunities for students in English-speaking classrooms. Saudi public schools aim to educate students to use English in real-life communication. However, the majority of Saudi high school students graduate with low levels of understanding and competence in communicating in English. This pilot study examines the strategies that Saudi high school teachers and students have followed to teach and learn English in public schools and investigates their beliefs about effective teaching and learning strategies. The study is based on a questionnaire. Ninety female students of years seven, eight, and nine and their six teachers were drawn from two public schools in Riyadh. The findings of this study reflect the importance of collaborative work between stakeholders including supervisors, teachers, parents, and students. In addition, they emphasize that besides the teachers' beliefs, learners' needs and expectations should be taken into account, to increase the likelihood of a more productive and successful learning environment. The consensus was that the best results are achieved when interesting activities and interactive teaching strategies are used to support the mandatory course-book.

Language-Learner Motivation in Saudi Arabia

2015

This literature review examines language-learner motivation in Saudi Arabia. There has been a great deal of investment by the Saudi government in English as a Foreign Language education, but unfortunately the results have not matched expectations. Saudi students are generally considered to be lacking in motivation, which has surely played a part in those disappointing results. As a basis for further discussion, student motivation theory is discussed, starting from Gardner and Lambert and finishing with Dornyei. The situation in Saudi Arabia is looked at with regard to the condition of Saudi students and the Saudi system. Then, as I believe cultural factors play an important part in shaping the mindset of Saudi students, I have looked at this in terms of Hofstede’s analysis of Saudi Arabia, ‘Integrativeness’ and English as a lingua franca. Finally, my own experiences in Saudi Arabia are related to the literature review in the light of 3 perspectives of ‘integrativeness.’

Factors Affecting the Language Learning Process among Saudi Students

news.usindh.edu.pk

Arab government has a strong realization and a mounting sense of awareness that in spite of the fact that Arabic language has the most prestigious status among the languages but they still need to learn English as a second language for certain reasons. The concept of globalization, the world of business and the social situation around is demanding for a warm welcome to learning of English. The Saudi government is, therefore, allocating a generous amount of funds to promote the students for the English language learning process and to facilitate them. They are hiring qualified, competent and committed foreign faculty members to teach English to the Arab students. They are offering attractive packages along with all the fringe benefits to the employees to get the maximum output from them. At the same time they are offering foreign scholarships to their graduates and sending them abroad to lessen the dependence on the hired faculty in future. Moreover, they are convincing and financially supporting their youth (male/female) who had discontinued their education years ago to recontinue it.

Saudis’ Attitude Towards English:Trend and Rationale

Professional Communication and Translation Studies

This paper investigates the trend of Saudis’ attitude towards English and the reasons behind it. To discern the trend of the attitudinal change, the paper analyses the findings of some relevant studies conducted in 1990s and 2000s. Moreover, to find out the raison d'être behind the change, the paper looks into the reasons underlying the introduction and expansion of English language teaching in Saudi Arabia as English language teaching and the positive attitude towards it are supposed to grow concomitantly. The paper focuses on two major contributing factors—Saudi Economy (SE) and Saudi English Language Education Policies (SELEP)—in the expansion of English language teaching in Saudi Arabia. The paper concludes that if the economic trend remains and if SELEP continue to exert their influence on Saudi citizens and the English language teaching, the increasingly positive attitude towards English will prevail in Saudi Arabia.

Present Status and the Problems of Teaching English in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL) A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal Impact Factor 6.8992 (ICI) http://www.rjelal.com; Email:editorrjelal@gmail.com ISSN:2395-2636 (P); 2321-3108(O), 2017

An international language belongs to its users, not to the countries whose national languages have become internationalized’ (Edge 1992). There is no doubt in the fact that English is the only language which can be used by non native speakers to communicate with each other. It is called as the language of science, technology and business and Saudi Arabia is no exception. English is being taught in the kingdom for almost a hundred years but still like other non native learners, Saudi learners also face many problems in language acquisition. This article discusses the history of how English language was introduced in the education system of the Kingdom, it’s present position in the Kingdom as well as the problems faced in teaching this language to the Saudi students and how they could be dealt with. Keywords: ELT, Saudi Arabia, Education System, Pedagogy.