Mohammed Alshoaiby Saudi Gazette RIYADH — By 2020, Saudi Arabia plans to fulfill an ambitious goal in diversifying its economy, paving the way for a competitive Saudized market. And while Saudization has been a very successful economic system by and large — it has helped mitigate unemployment and boost the local economy — the key factors tied to the success of such an economic plan depend heavily on a reformed and restructured education system. Earlier this year, Saudi Gazette published in its Education Supplement an article on the advancement of English language teaching (ELT) in primary, middle, and secondary school levels. SG found that some schools have started an immerse, English-only school curriculum beginning with children of six and seven years. Last week, Al Yamamah University in Riyadh held the 3rd International ELT Symposium in collaboration with their ELT partner, Saudi Interlink Language Centers (SILC), to a great turn out of speakers and attendees. The symposium was a big success, tackling issues deeply embedded in ELT methodology, research, and culture. Professor Hussein Alfreihi, Al Yamamah's University President, said at the opening ceremony on November 12 that their ties with SILC, and their advancements and practices in ELT research and methodology “distinguishes [their] students in the job market and increases their chances of employment.” Throughout the symposium, the ultimate goal seemed of the speakers seemed to be to find the most effective communication methods between teachers and students, in hopes to prepare the latter for a skill-based market, where English language proficiency is paramount. With a high-profile list of speakers, the thought-provoking lectures by ELT titans — such as Prof. William Grabe and Prof. Fredicka Stoller of Northern Arizona University — covered topics as varied as effective corrective feedback, collaborative learning, technology-assisted learning and cultural teaching through literature and drama. Dr. Ahmed Al-Eisa, PhD, spoke about the importance of establishing a prep-year program across all universities in the Kingdom, an education reform objective touched on by the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Ahmed Al-Saif. Al-Eisa's talk went through the history of the prep-year program, which was first introduced at KFUPM in the Eastern Province as a proponent of studying advanced sciences, such as engineering. The KFUPM prep-year program helped prepare entire batches of Saudis for the global job market, and helped advance industries in the Kingdom midst global corporate superpowers such as SABIC and ARAMCO. Al-Eisa discussed plans and proposals for a nationwide prep-year program, with a focus on maximizing benefits and minimizing setbacks, with the ears of decision-makers fixed on the student's perspective and future goals. One interesting presentation by Dr. Yasmine Salah El-Din, assistant professor at Cairo University and The American University in Cairo, took on the interesting debate of core values and beliefs among the students' approach to teaching, versus the perspective of the teachers. She addressed the general convictions of tediousness regarding marking and grading on the teachers' perspective, and the lack of a gauging system to merit the teachers' input and its effectiveness on the students' progress. Salah El-Din's research — a study involving 40 students in intensive English programs — compared students and teachers beliefs regarding feedback, and how best to develop communication between the two parties. After a rigorous research process, Salah El-Din measured the level of agreement between the teachers' perspective. All in all, the 3rd International ELT Symposium was a successful step forward at tackling the goals of the knowledge economy and developing the culture and mindsets of future decision-makers in the Kingdom. SILC and Al Yamamah's initiative to advance ELT teaching methods are a testament to the growing demand of English language proficiency in the Kingdom. As many Saudis enter the market more capable with every batch, the 3rd ELT Symposium stands as a reminder that learning this bridge language is quickly growing from a benefit to a sheer and clear-cut necessity.
