English as a Medium of Instruction on the Arabian Peninsula

Abstract

This chapter commences by providing a snapshot of the current linguistic landscape in the Arab Gulf states. It then offers a historical view of the role of English on the Arabian Peninsula during the 19th century, and then it charts the spread of English on the Arabian Peninsula through the 20th and into the 21st centuries. Tensions in the implementation of English as a medium of instruction in the 21st century are then considered, before the chapter focuses on the contemporary view of English as a medium of instruction that informs various contributing authors’ work. This view holds that balance needs to be sought in the nexus of Arabic and English, with educational policies in place to safeguard Arabic while efforts are made to ensure that English as a medium of instruction works effectively for students. From this perspective, students’ language use is likely to be fluid and creative, incorporating translanguaging practices and Arabizi, as multilingual, multicultural speakers take ownership of different language varieties to combine in their own ways. The contents of the volume are then introduced and volume themes are highlighted.