A Survey of English Fluency in Saudi Arabia Schools

Running Head: A SURVEY OF ENGLISH FLUENCY IN SAUDI ARABIA SCHOOLS
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Survey of Academic and General English Fluency in Saudi Arabia
Schools
Student’s Name:
University Affiliation:

Running Head: A SURVEY OF ENGLISH FLUENCY IN SAUDI ARABIA SCHOOLS
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The aim of this survey is to analyze students’ English needs in the
technical and vocational training corporation (TVTC) in Saudi Arabia. By
comparing between two majors: cosmetology and fashion design.
Cosmetology and fashion design courses share the same curriculum to study
English. There are three levels through which TVTC teaches business English,
that is through a class text titled Business Goals by Knight & O'Neil &
Hayden, published in 2004. As an expert and professional in TVTC’s English
curriculum, the mentioned textbook has the following drawbacks:
1. Inadequate English skills for vocational purposes and major related
topics that students require in future’s work environment.
2. The cultural gap of the curriculum in the presented activities in a
Saudi context. In which most of the activities are presented in an
environment that is very different than what students will encounter
in their expected work setting.
3. There are four English language skills: reading, writing, listening
and communication, are not given enough attention. According to
scholars Alrashidi and Phan, poor mastery of the basic English skills
in the Kingdom is not as a result of inadequate textbook content,
but for other reasons related to course design: like the time limit, a
large number of students, and the teachers do not have sufficient
training in classroom’s setting (Alrashidi & Phan, 2015).

Running Head: A SURVEY OF ENGLISH FLUENCY IN SAUDI ARABIA SCHOOLS
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Therefore, students' English skills are lower than the expected learning
outcomes. This gap suggests the need for analysis of students' needs in
regards to three factors: culture, content and work-setting. This survey will
be sent in Arabic to the student from both cosmetology and fashion design.
The target students are either still studying at one of the three English levels
offered in TVTC or have already graduated. The last part of this report
explains the need for two open questions 15 and 16.
The survey was piloted using two participants, one is a Saudi TESOL
student at Monash (English audio-comments) and the second is a TVCT
fashion design graduate (responded to an Arabic translation of the survey,
the survey was translated under her requested as she doesn't understand
English).
Follow this link to the Survey:
Take the Survey
Or copy and paste the URL below into your internet browser:
Q1
What is your major?
o Cosmetology
o Fashion design
Q2

Running Head: A SURVEY OF ENGLISH FLUENCY IN SAUDI ARABIA SCHOOLS
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What level of English are you studying at TVTC?
o First
o Second
o Third
o None of the above. I have already graduated.
Q3
Where do you expect to work after graduating?
o Beauty salons
o Freelance design
o Academic career: teaching at TVTC' colleges
o Other, please specify
Q4
What is your English proficiency level?
o Advanced: I speak, read, write and understand English fluently.
o Upper Intermediate: I can communicate without much difficulty
but still make lots of mistakes and misunderstand sometimes.
o Intermediate: I can speak and understand reasonably well and
can use basic tenses but have problems with more complex
grammar and vocabularies.