An Assessment of English Instruction for Elementary-Level Students in Jeddah Governorate, as Perceived by English Supervisors and Educators

This study investigated the perceptions of English educators and supervisors in Jeddah Governorate regarding the process of teaching English to elementary students. A survey was conducted using a sample size of 94 educators and 10 supervisors. The data indicate that respondents considered English instruction at the elementary level essential for expanding kids’ perspectives, improving academic performance, and promoting international involvement. The main advantages cited are the development of English language skills and the promotion of early education. Although not as easily noticeable, the disadvantages include potential negative impacts on an individual’s proficiency in Arabic and their sense of national identification. The highlighted challenges encompass insufficient teacher training, student reluctance towards English, limited resources, and school disparities. The proposed techniques focused on prioritizing English instructors’ training, ensuring the use of appropriate content, utilizing technology, and promoting awareness of students and educators. The current research found different obstacles in teaching English at elementary stages. To overcome these obstacles, it will be essential to enhance teacher competencies, develop efficient teaching methods, get the backing of stakeholders, assign adequate resources, and carry out continuous evaluations. Further research can also contribute to a better understanding of how early English learning impacts on Arabic identity and proficiency.

Alammar, S. (2008). The impact of teaching English on learners of Arabic: An experimental study on the sixth-grade elementary students in public schools in Riyadh (Master’s thesis, Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University).

Alamri, K., & Abdurrahman, A. (2009). Challenges facing students in the first three elementary grades in learning English in Jordan. King Saud University Journal, 21(1), 99-130.

Aldamigh, K. (2011). The most appropriate age to begin teaching foreign languages in government education. Journal of Damascus University, 33(2), 753-811.

Alenezi, M., & Alsaaydah, M. (2014). Evaluating the experience of private schools in teaching English to the elementary grades in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the perspective of educators (Master’s thesis, University of Jordan).

Alhaim, E., & Aldaihani, M. (2015). The impact of teaching English on the native language in the elementary stage from the viewpoint of principals and educators in Kuwait. Culture and Development Journal, 16(94), 109-164.

Alhazmi, S. (2004). The pros and cons of teaching English at the elementary level in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: An exploratory study. Abha Educators College Journal, 3, 12-52.

Almulla, B. (1994). The extent of the impact of learning foreign languages before the fourth grade of elementary school on the level of a child’s linguistic development in Arabic. College of Education Journal, 11, 56-77.

Almutairi, M. (2009). The teaching problems for the English language educators in the elementary stage in Mahd Governorate (Master’s thesis, Umm Al-Qura University).

Alsaad, N. (2002). Arabic first, English later. Arab News. Retrieved January 14, 2023 from http://www.arabnews.com/?page=13&section=0&article=17290&d=29&m=7&y

Alsaiedi, B., & Ageel, I. (2006). The extent to which female elementary school students benefit from teaching English: A quasi-experimental study in the city of Makkah (Master’s thesis, Umm Al-Qura University).

Alsemaili, Y. (2008). Developing the linguistic repertoire. Proceedings of the 15th International Conference. Lisan al-Arab Association for the Protection of the Arabic Language. Cairo.

Alshehri, F. (2017). Evaluating the performance of english language educators at the elementary stage in light of quality competencies. Arab Educators Association, 87, 453-475.

Freeman, L. (2007). An overview of dispositions in teacher education. In M. E. Diez and J. Raths (Eds.), Dispositions in teacher education (pp. 3-29). Charlotte, NC: Information Age.

Issa, M., & Almutawa’, N. (1997). The effect of introducing the English language subject on teaching Arabic to elementary school students. Proceedings of the First Educational Conference. College of Education and Islamic Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University.

Khider, A. (1986). Studying the impact of learning a foreign language at an early age on the child’s linguistic development in the native language (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Zagazig University).

Mandura, U. (1994). Learning English in the elementary stage and its relationship to the level of achievement of first-year intermediate students in the English language course (Master’s thesis, Umm Al-Qura University).

Ozek, Y. (2000). Motivation of foreign language learners in Turkey (Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Exeter University).

Salih, M. (2007). The impact of teaching foreign languages on the Arabic language at the elementary level. Arabic Journal for Speakers of Other Languages, 5, 57-80.

Wong, K. (2003). Why should your children be bilingual? Retrieved on 30 March 2023 from http://www.Fanilyture.com