According to this Arab News article, the quality of English language instruction in Saudi Arabia leaves a lot to be desired, it appears. It’s so poor that the Ministry of Higher Education is halting its scholarship program to the UK because the students it’s sending can’t manage the course work. There’s no mention of other scholarships to other Anglophone countries, which is puzzling: is it just UK-bound students who have weak skills?
I know that for many (most?) Saudi students studying in the US, a four-year BS degree generally takes five years, with the first year being spend on getting the students up to speed in English. That appears to be the case in the UK as well, as the Ministry complains about the expense of English instruction. The Ministry will require that Saudi students study English at government-approved institutes in the Kingdom, in the future.
I don’t quite understand the concern about ‘over-crowding’ in British universities. It appears to be that too many Saudis are choosing (or are being accepted at) too few British schools. This leads to Saudis grouping together, speaking Arabic, to the detriment of their English. Spreading students among more universities would solve this to some degree, but it needs to be balanced against the academic goals of the students–and the Ministry which is paying the bills.
Saudi scholarships to Britain halted
Walaa Hawari I Arab NewsRIYADH: Scholarships to the UK have been stopped due to students learning an unsatisfactory level of English, said Dr. Mohammad Al-Hizan, spokesman for the Ministry of Higher Education.
Al-Hizan said that another reason for putting a stop on scholarships to Britain is the overcrowding of students in British universities, which can affect the level and quality of education they receive.
“When a Saudi student is in a class where there are many other Saudis, the real benefit is at stake here as they will form groups and will not rely on using the language as they should,” Al-Hizan explained.
“The scholarship was only stopped in the fifth stage, as there are over 16,000 Saudi students in Britain; it will hopefully resume in the sixth stage,” said Al-Hizan.
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November:15:2009 - 13:07
Your use of the word ‘Weak’ when it comes to English is such a desi thing to do
Sorry, had to say it.
November:15:2009 - 13:26
Is there a preferred alternative? Feeble? Scant? In this context, ‘weak’ is pretty standard in American English.
November:15:2009 - 13:51
I have noticed that English programs, ah,are weak. (Sorry Faiz) in the Gulf. In general, students get passed from one level to the next because teachers fear a lotof conflict from either the student or the parents or both for that mattter. I think a sense of accountability is important, something that some of the educational institutions lack. Someone needs to be a tough admisntrator and learn how to “face the music”. It does not surprise me that they are having language difficulty at a university level. In reality, one is not just get passing mark through threats at major university. Again, it is reality.
November:15:2009 - 14:06
When I taught English here, parents would, at times really pressure me about exams/grades. They wanted the exam ahead of time so their child could “study” (memorize) it. They couldn’t understand why I would send home a study sheet, but not exactly what to memorize.
Well, my other way of doing things confused some parents who couldn’t figure out how their darlings went from perfect students of English to… um… less than perfect.
November:15:2009 - 16:17
John, being a student myself in one of the universities in UK, I totally agree on what the Saudi students do as mentioned in the report. Even though I didnt have to go thru the English course as I am not on the govt. scholarship, I happened to be at one of the English training centres here in Liverpool. Belive it or not, it was like walking into a college class in Saudi. There were lots of Saudis and other Arabs who were all conversing in Arabic with each other.
They stay together. They go to university together. They sit in class next to each other. They study(or sometimes even fail) together. There is very less exposure with other students.
Very few tries to take that extra effort to mingle with others which clearly proves the fact that they are there to spend their 3-4yrs more like a fully paid holiday, and not for the education/experience.
November:15:2009 - 17:12
I, too, once taught English as a Foreign Language, though my students were Thai. One time, I had to fail nearly an entire class. I deemed that my failure as well, but the students just didn’t have the material that they would need for university study. Passing them would not have done them well as they would have crashed and burned once they hit the campuses.
November:15:2009 - 17:17
What you describe isn’t exclusively Arab behavior, though it is very much the way most Arab students tend to behave. I think part of it is simple fear of being unable to cope with the truly foreign culture and environment. Of course, just being lazy and slipping back into one’s own comfort zone plays a part, too.
I’ve seen this in other students and other nationalities in the course of my studying languages. It takes a real effort and work to succeed in learning a foreign language well.
November:16:2009 - 01:48
Some drastic measures were taken to combat this for the latest (fifth) group of scholarships. All qualifiers have to go through an English level assessment test, then go through a mandatory intensive course in English, computer skills, and academic skills. This has caused lots of problem on the management side of things, as they have to manage a huge number of students for the first time, and from the students point of view as the courses are long and many of them are employed.
November:16:2009 - 03:21
And they still argue about whether or not English should be introduced in primary grades…..sigh….
November:16:2009 - 08:38
I think it’s very natural to stick together with your own countrymen. I think that happens everywhere. However, it’s not wise not to try and reach out to the ”natives” which is the best way to learn a language.
I do know a couple of Saudis who are very good in English, two who haven’t been outside the kingdom much.
What you learn at any school is based on the teachers, and how well they teach, but a large part is also dependent on the students. If you don’t work (and it is hard work to learn a language) you will never learn it.
And I still think English is one of the easiest languages
November:16:2009 - 10:21
I say this in no means boasting and in no way patronizing. If I threw my two daughters in a Saudi college/university now (they are now in primary/elementary school) I swear on my life they would do better than these college girls.
I want to cry, but instead I chuckle away and learn as much Arabic from them as I can. I figure if they don’t want to learn English I will learn as much Arabic as I can. I was hoping that this would somehow motivate them (scratching my head still…). Uhh not working. It is funny that Saudis are negatively affecting British education. Is that right? Or did I misread. I believe it.
I want them Saudi girls to learn English. I do I do I really do! The question is very few are motivated. Can you blame them when they are still talking about Saudi female lawyers “eventually” going to be able to practice what they have learned. I say just go home and supervise the cooking of the capsa because unless something drastic happens that’s what the majority will end up doing. In the meantime, I can care but not get upset. Let’s watch T.V.
Without getting into too many details this is a group of Saudis that I am referring to and not all…I could put them into a group. Not all are like.
November:16:2009 - 10:24
I seen many people who take courses and benefit nothing.. I seen others who improved significantly in short periods of time as well.
I view the issue with learning a foreign language, especially English to Saudis, has more to do with will power and what this person sets to accomplish. You see, a lot think that by taking a course, that means they will improve with just the effort to complete the course. In my view, the most important factors to help improve in learning a Language such as English would be immersion, the person needs to be surrounded by the language at all times with all his activities in English. It helps Especially when the person has an activity he likes, like watching movies or Video Gaming to communicate in English, I personally have a friend who went from a stutter broken English into a complete confidence in his English by playing a social video game where he enjoyed his time and also was writing in English and all his communication other players in the Video Game.
It helps also if the student is encouraged to be vocal and confident.. a lot might have aptitude to be proficient in English but are held back by lacking confidence in their English skills. I seen also some who already set mental barriers that stops them from learning the language, that resolve comes sometimes from a personal conflict with an English instructor at some point of their life.. like for example “I hate English language, I cannot stand it”
I happen to test a lot of people for English and many fail to meet the standard of the institute I work in. Sometimes the applicants approach with a question of my recommendation about a course and whatnot. Since I do not want them to blame me if they fail after taking an English course.. I explain to them instead that the course doesn’t matter if you are only taking it for the sake of the words “I want to take a course to improve my English”. A person needs to affirm that he wants to learn the language so he becomes an English speaker and not to take a course and expect it will remedy your English.