English as a Foreign Language in the Saudi Schools Essay

English as a Foreign Language in the Saudi Schools - Essay Example With reference to its effect on student first language oral communication, the study concludes that this is an important issue worth investigation. In 2004, driven by its aims to improve education and cope with achievements in science and technology, the Saudi government decided to initiate a program to begin teaching English as a foreign language to students in the in sixth grade. It was an initial step toward its ultimate goal to teach English in all elementary grades. The resolution was possibly based on the belief that English is the language of the globalized world economies, and that young people would not only benefit from speaking the language but could learn it more easily at a younger age. The general consensus among experts is that younger minds absorb other languages easier than do adults. In the light of this, the paper attempts to measure attitudes of Saudi students in Brighton towards EFL. The paper also formulates recommendations on EFL in the Saudi elementary state schools and invites further discussion of and research into this issue. The following historical background frames the discussion. Since the country has never been colonized by a foreign power, the exact date of or the situational emergence of English in Saudi Arabia is unknown. However, some researchers claim that when oil was found in the 1930s, English emerged with the arrival of American oil companies and their employees. Later, the Saudi government took the initiative and officially introduced and approved the use of English in the country.