19 May 2006
Dubai: Pupils at public schools do not have enough English in their courses, according to academicians.
A group of English language experts from across UAE educational institutions gathered yesterday to discuss methodologies of teaching English to foreigners at the British University in Dubai.
The aim of this event is to enhance the research into the development of English language skills, which is crucial in improving the methodologies of teaching.
The one-day discussion had spelling and word recognition in English as a second language as the main theme and participants offered new proposals on how to develop it in the UAE. The academics also presented a wide range of research and data, including material developed through direct interaction with the students.
The gathering highlighted problems facing UAE students in learning English such as reading and writing problems. Dr Mick Randall, senior lecturer in TESOL at the British University in Dubai, pointed out that while UAE students have very strong oral skills in English their writing and reading skills on the other hand are weak as there is a fundamental problem of spelling.
"For many years, teaching of English in the Middle East has focused on communication skills but there is increasing recognition of the importance of other more fundamental skills," said Dr Randall.
Pupils at public schools have 3-5 hours of English per week, something that teachers and linguistics feel is very little when compared to the growing demand of the English language in our time. "The amount of English lessons in the UAE curriculum is far too little to develop sufficient language skills which make it possible for pupils to succeed in their higher education in which English is crucial," said Dr Randall. Mohammad Azaza, a teacher at Zayed Al Khair Model School, said, "A change in the curriculum must be done and the Ministry of Education must devote more space for the English language."
Education: Call for focus on scientific research
A top academician has called on Arab governments to support technical studies and scientific research due to the low turnout of students in such fields.
"Arab governments should support and spend more on scientific research and technical studies to encourage more students into those fields," said Dr Ameen Mahmoud, the General Secretary of the Association of Private Arabic Establishments for Higher Education. Addressing higher education experts at the Dubai Press Club, Dr Mahmoud said higher education in the Arabic world "is facing a very serious problem".
- Bassam Za'za, Staff Reporter
By Wafa Issa
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
