Issues in English Education in the Arab World

Rahma Al-Mahrooqi · Christopher Denman

Nov 2014 · Cambridge Scholars Publishing

About this ebook

Though diverse, the Arab world boasts a unique culture and native language, both of which are unlike those found in English-speaking countries. Perhaps due to the nature of these differences, Arab-Western relations have been described as existing on one of the world’s great cultural fault-lines. Debate about the potential effects, both positive and negative, of English-medium education and the learning of English in the region’s schools and universities is one expression of this. Even as debate continues, issues of politics, culture, social mobility, and identity are played out in the English language classrooms of the Arab world on a daily basis.

The current volume explores some of the concerns related to the place of English and English-medium education in the Arab world. It examines issues of the relationship between English, Arabic, cultural identity and power in the region within a historical and contemporary framework; the experiences of learners from Arabic-medium secondary schools adjusting to English-medium colleges; and the challenges and potential rewards of promoting student-centered classrooms and technology in traditionally teacher-centered environments. These issues are explored from the perspectives of teachers, students, researchers and other stakeholders in Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Sudan.

About the author

Dr Rahma Al-Mahrooqi is the Director of Sultan Qaboos University’s Humanities Research Center. She is also an Associate Professor of English at the same institution, where she has worked for 21 years. She has taught a variety of courses in language, communication, research, and sociolinguistics, always seeking to inspire and transform her students by example. She has coordinated tertiary English courses and an ESP program for SQU’s College of Science and served as SQU’s Language Center Director for almost four years (2006–January 2010). Dr Al-Mahrooqi has published widely on English language teaching and learning in Oman, with major focus areas in teaching reading, literature, and English communication skills. She is currently engaged in funded nationwide research in various areas of language instruction. In addition, under the Humanities Research Center, she is undertaking research on identity, cognition and emotion and their relationship with language learning.

Dr Christopher Denman currently teaches in the foundation program in Sultan Qaboos University’s Language Centre, the Sultanate of Oman. He has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology in addition to MEd and EdD degrees focusing on Arab Muslim identity and English language learning and teaching. He has previously taught at primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in South Korea, Japan, and Australia. His research interests include language and identity and education policy.