A gender-based investigation into the required English language policies in Saudi higher education institutions. 2022

Suliman Mohammed Nasser Alnasser
Department of English Language and Literature, College of Arts, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Arabian higher education system is yet to address specific issues concerning language planning and policy. Policies concerning English language use in Saudi academia remain ungoverned, thus leading to implicit personal policies (i.e., self-directed policies). Such freedom in language use may generate concerns among stakeholders, especially if differences emerge between men and women in the same workplace. Current literature does not offer insights into how English is used by each gender in academic settings or outside the classroom in Saudi Arabia; this study seeks to address this gap. A six-item online survey was distributed among higher education English language departments in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was completed by 210 faculty members (67 men and 143 women). Responses from men and women were compared using the Mann-Whitney test. The main findings include significant differences in language use between the two genders, suggesting different levels of commitment to English use. These findings imply that future English language policies may need to incorporate divergent views between the two genders. The recommendations include the need for micro-level policies and the involvement of both genders in designing policies to ensure their successful application.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007802 Language A verbal or nonverbal means of communicating ideas or feelings. Dialect,Dialects,Languages
D008297 Male Males
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012529 Saudi Arabia A country located in the Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen. The capital is Riyadh. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
D014495 Universities Educational institutions providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees. University
D017132 Workplace Place or physical location of work or employment. Job Site,Work Location,Work Place,Work-Site,Worksite,Job Sites,Location, Work,Work Locations,Work Places,Work Site,Work-Sites,Workplaces,Worksites
D057766 Policy A course or method of action selected to guide and determine present and future decisions. Policies

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