Problems of learning English in Saudi Arabia and ways to overcome them

Language is the means that helps organize ideas, information and feelings by using different sounds and meanings. Therefore, learning English is one of the best means of communication between many countries and getting to know their different cultures, which helps in exchanging ideas and knowledge and gaining diverse experiences.

Because of this great importance, the problems of learning English in Saudi Arabia must be solved because the world has become a small village, and with technological progress, we must keep up with the times and understand modern technologies based on the English language. Therefore, there are many important discussions in the Saudi Ministry of Education that revolve around the importance of learning English and the issue of teaching it in the primary stage, and whether this will lead to better results or not, especially since education at a young age helps in good memorization and consolidating information in the mind.

Problems of learning English in Saudi Arabia

The subject of learning English in Saudi schools faces some obstacles, including psychological, administrative, technical, and educational methods. The most important of these problems are:

• Misconceptions about the English language and lack of appreciation for its importance in the current era.
• Incomplete and ineffective plans for learning English.
• The presence of unqualified and untrained teachers to teach English properly.
• One of the problems of learning English in Saudi Arabia is the great lack of curricula and aspects related to the language and the differences between it and the learner’s mother tongue.
• Lack of clarity of objectives among learners and parents.
• Academic burdens and extracurricular activities that burden the teacher and reduce his role in achieving the intended objectives.
• One of the biggest problems of learning English in Saudi Arabia is the traditional teaching methods that are not compatible with modern education, which increases students’ aversion to learning English.
• The teacher's teaching load is high, which is a burden on him.
• The teachers' poor proficiency in English and lack of experience results in students who are incompetent and unable to pronounce correctly.
• The lack of a role for technology in learning English in Saudi Arabia, despite its tremendous development.
• One of the most influential problems of learning English in Saudi Arabia on students is that teachers focus on the theoretical aspect of learning the language and avoid the practical and applied aspect, which is the basis for learning any language.
• The crowded classes make the teacher's focus on each student much less than it should be.

What a teacher should do to overcome the problems of learning English in Saudi Arabia

The English language teacher has an important, effective and influential role in solving the problems of learning the English language in Saudi Arabia and overcoming learning difficulties as follows:

• Spread smiles and cheerful spirit among students.
• Be patient with students because learning languages ​​requires patience and perseverance.
• The teacher employs multiple positive human skills.
• Exploiting the role of technology in learning English in Saudi Arabia in all possible ways, and engaging students’ senses with it.
• Encouraging the learner to love the English language by practicing the language in reality.
• Providing an atmosphere and activities that help students learn English, instill confidence in them, and make students aware of the importance of learning English and its role in opening up job opportunities later on for everyone who masters it.

The role of the student in solving the problems of learning English in Saudi Arabia

Just as the teacher has a role in solving the problems of learning the English language in Saudi Arabia , the student also has an important and vital role that is indispensable in learning and mastering the English language. This role is summarized as follows:

• Overcoming the psychological barrier of fear of the English language, even if gradually.
• The teacher and parents should be frank about the difficulties the student faces in learning English, no matter how simple these difficulties are.
• Self-reliance in learning the English language. In addition to the role of the teacher in school, the student must also have a role, as the language cannot be learned from one source.
• Exploit study time in a positive and useful way to learn English correctly and not waste time on useless things.
• The student must be mentally and practically prepared in advance to study and learn the English language .
• Don't be afraid of making mistakes, because learning only comes through correcting mistakes and knowing what is right.
• Learning by imitating the skill and not relying on listening and repeating what is said only.
• Trying to generate sentences and ideas, which helps to strengthen the language significantly and increase the student’s linguistic stock.
• Practice listening to English on YouTube channels and reading short stories out loud.
• One of the best ways to learn English that also helps students is to record the reading and compare it to the basic audio, identify the failure points, and repeat several times until the desired goal is reached.

Best Ways to Learn English in Saudi Arabia

Among the solutions to the problems of learning the English language in Saudi Arabia are several methods that compete with the traditional methods of learning the English language, which are as follows:

• Acquire a large number of words and vocabulary because they play a very important role in learning the language.
• Following modern learning theories, which are theories that focus on the importance of the student and making him the focus of the educational process and not just a passive listener with no other role, because focusing on the student learner and knowing his strengths and failures are the most important reasons for the student’s success and excellence.
• Encourage students to purchase language dictionaries appropriate for each age group and train students to use them correctly.
• Students take advantage of any school activities such as radio, wall magazines and bulletins that schools in Saudi Arabia do to practice the English language.
• Not being afraid to use English spontaneously and automatically and trying to use it in multiple contexts in life.
• Exploiting the role of technology in learning English in Saudi Arabia, such as accessing websites and language exchange sites with foreigners and speaking with native speakers to learn the language correctly.

The role of distance education in learning English

Among the research conducted on English language teachers, it was proven that the rapid shift to using modern technology in teaching the English language, especially through distance learning programs, had a major role in solving the problems of learning the English language in Saudi Arabia. Its role was as follows:

• Many students and teachers were forced to use distance learning applications and programs, although they were not widely known before, but it turned out that they have a major role in the educational process. We find that they enjoy independence, especially in presenting the learner with all the challenges and difficulties he goes through.
• Distance learning has allowed students and teachers alike to attend virtual classes anywhere and anytime they want.
• Distance education is multi-faceted, as students can use various devices and applications to obtain the same service.
• Distance learning has increased the confidence of English learners, especially introverted students.
• Distance learning English has strengthened students' relationships with each other.
• Easy access to online educational materials.
• Students are exposed to modern technology and the tremendous development makes them deal with an (informal) English language which is the language used mainly among native English speakers.
• Ease of students attending all educational courses by just connecting to the Internet while sitting in their room.

School.com English Language Learning Courses

Almadrasah.com is the first virtual school that offers morning, evening and all-day online courses to help solve the problems of learning English in Saudi Arabia and many other educational materials.

The Madrasa.com platform offers several courses for learning the English language, including:

v English for beginners online course

v Business English course

v English conversation course online

v Online English for travelling course

The Madrasa.com platform also greatly helps in solving the problems of learning the English language in Saudi Arabia , so it also offers courses that help students pass the TOEFL, IELTS and TOEIC tests with complete ease.

We find that the Madrasa.com platform also works to provide:

• Individual online courses for students to train them in all departments with the presence of a specialist to guide and direct them.
• Providing a private trainer for each student, following up with him periodically, and evaluating his level.
• Providing the educational resources that students need, in various skills.
• Practice previous tests to break the fear barrier when entering to take any test.
• Focus on the four basic skills: reading, listening, writing and speaking, at the same level and not favoring one skill over the other.
• Providing a balanced and effective environment for communication between students and teachers, so that the student does not feel stressed and is able to interact with the teacher and inquire about everything he needs to know.
• Continuously evaluate the student's performance and make him aware of the main points that need focus.
• Using multiple methods and modern techniques to consolidate information among students.

Methods of solving problems of learning English in Saudi Arabia have helped to advance education and try to catch up with the tremendous technological development, because learning English has become a necessity of life and not a means of entertainment as some believe, and in order to be able to strengthen your English language, follow the advice that you must do whether you are a student or a teacher, as the matter is simple, but it requires determination and will to open new horizons for yourself and increase your culture yourself and be able to travel around the world and communicate with others.