LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 21:1 January 2021
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

Celebrate India!
Unity in Diversity!!

HOME PAGE

Click Here for Back Issues of Language in India - From 2001

BOOKS FOR YOU TO READ AND DOWNLOAD FREE!

REFERENCE MATERIALS

BACK ISSUES

  • E-mail your articles and book-length reports in Microsoft Word to languageinindiaUSA@gmail.com.

  • PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES GIVEN IN HOME PAGE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LIST OF CONTENTS.

  • Your articles and book-length reports should be written following the APA, MLA, LSA, or IJDL Stylesheet.

  • The Editorial Board has the right to accept, reject, or suggest modifications to the articles submitted for publication, and to make suitable stylistic adjustments. High quality, academic integrity, ethics and morals are expected from the authors and discussants.

Copyright © 2020
M. S. Thirumalai

Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
11249 Oregon Circle
Bloomington, MN 55438
USA
Custom Search

Problems of Teaching Overcrowded EFL Classes in Saudi Arabia

Tanzin Ara Ashraf, M.A. in English Literature

Abstract

This paper is based on action research carried out in King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this study is to identify the major problems of EFL teaching in overcrowded classrooms of Saudi Arabia. Some major problems include: failure to maintain discipline in classroom, demotivation of both teacher and learner, failure to evaluate strengths and weakness of each individual, teachers’ struggle to deal with physical and mental stress, failure to achieve course learning outcomes, failure to create sound teacher student relationship and establish effective teaching environment. A total of 35 EFL teachers from King Khalid University, teachers teaching in different schools and colleges of Asir (southern) region have participated in this study. Survey questionnaires, discussions and semi-structured interviews are the main research tools for collecting data. The study proposes some remedial measures which include enrolling limited number of students in an EFL course, establishing well equipped EFL classrooms with required facilities, teaching large classes electronically, training the teachers to teach large classes effectively.

Keywords: Saudi EFL learners and teachers, problems of EFL teaching, overcrowded, classrooms.

Introduction

Saudi Arabia in recent days has proved itself to be an extraordinary leading nation almost in all aspects. Its booming economy along with the rapid advancements in education sector, in fact, is praiseworthy. The country has been paying larger attention in education sector to build a nation with knowledge based economy and its achievements cannot be denied. It acknowledges the necessity of English in modernization and in communicating with the rest of the world. (Alrashidi & Phan, 2015). Such realization has led the country to introduce English from primary level (Zuhur, 2010). Even though, the Saudi learners learn English for nine long years, they lack in all the necessary skills required for successful communication, in both oral and written forms. Despite taking several measures by the Ministry of Education to improve the process of teaching and learning English in Saudi Arabia, little progress has been ensured (Fareh, 2010; Khan, 2011). Several studies have been conducted to find out the major issues related to the poor achievement of EFL teaching in Saudi Arabia. Teachers and researchers have always highlighted the problems of overcrowded EFL classrooms as one of the major hindrances to the success of EFL teaching and learning. Sadly, the issues still exist, still largely unaddressed and no major steps have been taken till today. The government is always keen to take necessary measures to ensure the success of EFL teaching. Therefore, it is high time that the government takes the matter seriously and acts accordingly.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.


Tanzin Ara Ashraf, M.A. in English Literature
tanzen@kku.edu.sa
Department of Languages and Translation
King Khalid University, Abha
Saudi Arabia
Custom Search
  • Click Here to Go to Creative Writing Section

  • Send your articles
    as an attachment
    to your e-mail to
    languageinindiaUSA@gmail.com.
  • Please ensure that your name, academic degrees, institutional affiliation and institutional address, and your e-mail address are all given in the first page of your article. Also include a declaration that your article or work submitted for publication in LANGUAGE IN INDIA is an original work by you and that you have duly acknowledged the work or works of others you used in writing your articles, etc. Remember that by maintaining academic integrity we not only do the right thing but also help the growth, development and recognition of Indian/South Asian scholarship.