Investigating the Low English Proficiency of Saudi EFL Learners

Autor/in	Alshammari, Hammad Ali
Titel	Investigating the Low English Proficiency of Saudi EFL Learners
Quelle	In: Arab World English Journal, 13 (2022) 1, S.129-144 (16 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Alshammari, Hammad Ali)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	2229-9327
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; English (Second Language); Second Language Learning; Low Achievement; Graduate Students; College Faculty; High School Teachers; Consultants; High School Students; Language Proficiency; Theory Practice Relationship; Language Skills; Attitudes; Barriers; Teacher Role; Curriculum; Saudi Arabia + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Unterdurchschnittliche Leistung; Graduate Study; Student; Students; Aufbaustudium; Graduiertenstudium; Hauptstudium; Studentin; Fakultät; High school; High schools; Teacher; Teachers; Oberschule; Lehrer; Lehrerin; Lehrende; Consultant; Berater; Schüler; Schülerin; Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz; Theorie-Praxis-Beziehung; Attitude; Einstellung; Verhalten; Lehrerrolle; Curricula; Lehrplan; Rahmenplan; Saudi-Arabien
Abstract	Saudi students studying English as a foreign language often do poorly in their English courses, and despite a growing number of studies on this issue the root causes have remained a mystery. To gain a more comprehensive perspective, this study investigated the underlying reasons for Saudi EFL learners performing poorly in English by including all major stakeholders. This study attempts to find out the potential underlying reasons for the low performance of Saudi EFL learners. The researcher conducted qualitative interviews with two educational consultants, six university teachers, six graduate students, and six high school teachers. In addition, quantitative data came from high school students via a questionnaire addressed to 100 participants. The data revealed a shared chain of factors related to objectives, learners, teachers, curricula, assessment, and practicality. The findings suggested a gap between the theories consultants used to set class objectives and actual practice. This gap stemmed from consultants not consulting with or directly evaluating people in the field, such as educators, students, or university staff. The study recommends researchers get an overview of Saudi English learners at the macro level rather than focusing solely on their performance in one language skill. That should produce more valid, reliable, and practical suggestions to improve Saudi EFL learners' performance. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Arab World English Journal. 10602 Davlee Lane, Richmond, Texas, 77407. e-mail: editor@awej.org; e-mail: info@ASELS.org; Web site: https://awej.org/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01