Abu Masoud has four sons and three daughters, and he wanted them to learn English during the two months summer vacation right here in the Kingdom. This summer, two of his boys were sent to Dubai to study English in one of the language institutes because he said knowledge of the language is essential in securing their future. “The most important education for our children now is to learn English because knowledge of this language will certainly help them get jobs in the future. The best time for them to learn the language is during summer break,” Abu Masoud said. He said that Saudi and foreign schools are mostly closed during the summer break, and therefore the venue to hold English classes is readily available. As for the English teachers, parents, if not the schools, can engage the services of English teachers, who are mostly foreigners. “In my district in Dammam, we parents can gather our children, employ the services of English teachers, and put the children in the available school rooms during the summer break to learn the language,” Abu Masoud said. He said parents can contribute the cost in hiring the English teachers. He said parents can also arrange with the management of these schools – whether foreign or Saudi schools – for the use of the school facilities, including the classrooms. Abu Masoud believed that parents sending their children to study English in Dubai, India, Egypt, Malaysia, USA and UK is not the good decision to learn English. “I send two of my boys this summer to learn English in Dubai and I found out that there are more advantages if they have taken their studies right here in Dammam.” “Teaching is the same, if not better here in Saudi Arabia; it is less expensive here in Dammam, and also parents can supervise their children,” Abu Masoud reasoned. He said parents can also contract expatriate English teachers from the foreign schools to teach the language, dividing the students into classes of basic English, intermediate, or advanced. He said sending children overseas to learn the language is more problematic. “Many parents encounter the problems of securing visa, the expense, the accommodation of the children, and very importantly the difference in culture and lifestyle which the children will have to adjust.” Abu Masoud suggested that parents must have unified action to request local school authorities, or the foreign schools management, for the use of the school facilities during the two months summer vacation lull. He said parents can also ask the district officials of the Ministry of Education to help in organizing the English summer schools, securing the venue, and in appointing and selecting the English teachers. “Parents' action is required to implement this action so that our children can spend their time during summer holiday learning English right here in our selected districts and municipalities,' Abu Masoud said. __
