The Situation of English Language in Yemen [Archives:2007/1059/Community]
By: Abdulghani Al-Shaebi
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In Yemen, English language is taught as a foreign language in all institutions. It is a compulsory subject in schools as well as universities. English is introduced to Yemeni learners quite late. In other words, students exposed to the language from grade 7; usually at the age of 12-13 year-old. In this respect, Shaker (2004) reports that he interviewed some of Arab learners of English with regard to the starting point and status of the English curricula in their respective countries. He found that the starting point of learning English in Yemen is in level 7. As a result, students have been labeled as weak and unsuccessful learners. They have no ability to communicate properly and successfully with speakers of English or native speakers. Yet, English is deemed a language of great respect in Yemen; as it is the language of the educated people.
English language has been rendered to the students as one of the essential subjects. considers English language in Yemen as a second language in the sense that it is dominantly used in official communications and daily life such as in schools, academic institutions, trade, etc. He further adds that English is getting high position in Yemeni education especially at tertiary levels, which makes one step ahead for the country to promote cultural relations and friendships with other nations.
In fact, knowing and mastering English language enable Arab learners in general and their Yemeni peers in particular to have great opportunities in getting better jobs especially in the private sectors. It also becomes a prerequisite of entrance to the university particularly scientific sections i.e. medicine, engineering, dentistry, etc.
Teaching English underwent several changes. For instance, the English syllabus was first designed and introduced to the students by Egyptian and Yemeni chancellors. It is called The Nile Course of English, which is considered the first syllabus used in Yemen. Then, the Gulf course which is called The Progress Living English for the Arab World came to replace the Egyptian one. Consequently, a series of syllabi, called English for Yemen, came out to replace the Gulf syllabus. In 1996, a new design appeared as a developed textbook, designed by a group of British and Yemeni experts. It is called Crescent English Course for Yemen.
Before concluding this article, it would be expedient to mention some of the factors that affect the situation of English language in Yemen. Curriculum is deemed to be among the factors that affect EFL Yemeni learners. The clear relevance of the English courses to learners' needs would improve the learner's motivations and thereby make learning better and faster'. curriculum plays a crucial and decisive role to usher in the desired changes in the academic scenario of any country.
English curricula in Yemen have many deficiencies. the level of Yemen FL learner competence in English, resulting from some interactions with a cross-section of students at Mahweet and Sanaa, has been particularly disconcerting. A vast majority of learners across grade levels have demonstrated, during in-class and out-of-class interactions, a shaky and perfunctory command of English and those, who seem to possess some competence in the language, make frequent violations of the acceptable grammatical norms, rendering most of their utterances minimally acceptable. In so far as most of their utterances are phonologically flawed, they are, to a considerable extent, unintelligible as well.
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