Saudi English As A Foreign Language Students Research Articles

Using artificial intelligence for English language learning: Saudi EFL learners' opinions, attitudes and challenges

The study investigates EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners' opinions, attitudes and the challenges of incorporating AI-powered teaching and learning. It also examines how their ideas and attitudes are affected by demographic variables. 258 students were selected using a random sampling method from a population comprising students studying in different levels of programs at the College of Science and College of Business Administration, Prince Sattam bin Abdul-Aziz University, KSA. A questionnaire was self-developed using some modified items from prior studies as the study looks at how certain independent variables (e.g., study level, residential background and parents' educational level) affect the dependent variable (e.g., learners' opinions, attitudes and challenges for AI-powered learning and teaching). The quantitative approach (descriptive quantitative design) revealed that Saudi EFL students held a high level of positive opinions and attitudes towards AI-powered learning. However, the analysis found that many students thought implementing AI-powered learning was challenging. A one-way ANOVA showed no significant difference based on respondents' residential background and parental education. However, respondents differed significantly based on their level or year of study. The study findings will assist administrators and course teachers in using AI-powered technologies to overcome challenges and prepare students for achievement in the English language.

Computer-Based Feedback (CBF) in Writing Classes as Perceived by Saudi EFL Students

This study examines how Saudi EFL students feel about using CBF in their writing classes and what they think it can offer them as a learning tool. The research method is descriptive-analytic, and a questionnaire is used to collect responses. Sixty-five Saudi English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students from the fourth year of the English language program at King Saud University in Riyadh make up the study population. The entire research population constitutes the sample for this study. The findings indicate that Saudi EFL students positively perceive CBF in their writing classes. They perceive CBF as beneficial for improving their revision process, reducing the workload associated with error correction, and providing insightful comments. The students also believe that CBF saves time and effort while offering sufficient explanations for errors. In addition, the results show that Saudi EFL students view CBF favorably and choose to implement it in their writing classes. However, the study emphasizes enhancing students’ awareness of CBF and training them on its optimal use. The study suggests that integrating CBF tools into writing classes can provide positive learning experiences, but instructors should ensure that students receive proper training to utilize CBF effectively.

Instrumental Analysis of English Vowels Produced by Male and Female Zilfaawi Arabic Speakers

Arab and non-Arab English as a foreign language (EFL) students continue to have difficulty pronouncing English vowels accurately. To examine this, our study analyzes how male and female Saudi EFL students pronounce English monophthongs when compared to native speakers assessed in previous research. Gender-related variations between male and female Arab English speakers are also explored. Formant frequencies (F1 and F2) are employed to evaluate vowel quality, with vowel duration measured to investigate vowel length. Learners’ pronunciations of English words containing vowels of interest are used to collect data. Five male and five female EFL learners produced English monophthongs in the /hVd/ context. We then compare the results with previous data on native English speakers and conduct acoustic analysis. Regarding duration, male non-native English speakers’ data are compared with previous results for male native speakers, revealing that the vowels of Saudi learners are shorter than those of native English speakers, and those of non-native men are longer than those of non-native women. Moreover, the low vowels produced by Saudi and native men are longer than their non-low vowels. Regarding vowel quality, men produce lower vowels than native speakers. Women, however, produce lower and more front vowels than native women. Statistically, this study reveals significant differences between male and female Saudi EFL learners in producing English vowels. Saudi men’s vowel space is more centralized than Saudi women’s space. Both men and women overlap low vowels. Saudi learners’ mispronunciations of English vowels indicate that L1 interference is not the only cause of mispronunciations.

Teaching and learning the four English skills before and during the COVID-19 era: perceptions of EFL faculty and students in Saudi higher education

At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, synchronous online learning replaced physical classes worldwide. However, sustaining the quality of education during this transition was a challenge. Specifically, teaching and learning the four English skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) among English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) learners in contexts such as Saudi Arabia required greater adjustments to meet learners’ demands during the pandemic. Within this context, this study explored how online teaching and learning helped develop the four English skills among Saudi EFL students. A survey was conducted among EFL faculty and learners in a Saudi Arabian higher-learning institution regarding the diverse aspects of language skills development before and during the pandemic. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that e-learning was most beneficial for writing and least beneficial for speaking and that writing was most nurtured and adopted in almost all schoolwork, while speaking was neglected during online courses. Indeed, instructors must be prepared for an effective online learning experience in the future. This study aims to strengthen the field of EFL teaching and learning in Saudi Arabia and related contexts by describing learners’ perceptions of their experiences before and during the pandemic.

EFL Learners’ Perspectives of E-Learning during the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Study on Saudi College Students

The learning process during Covid-19 pandemic has witnessed significant changes in the modes of instruction, with E-learning emerging as an absolute path in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning. The current study seeks to investigate the perspectives of Saudi EFL students with regard to e-learning during the pandemic and the challenges encountered. The significance of this study stems from the importance of integrating e-learning into language learning in a methodological way with the proper planning of activities, technologies, and tutors and students’ skills. The participants of this study consisted of Saudi EFL learners in two Saudi universities, namely King Saud University and King Khalid University, who study in the department of English language. The sample consisted of (53) students who study in their fourth year and who were selected randomly from the department of English language. The research results demonstrated that the perceptions of the students of e-learning during the Covid-19 pandemic were positive because they see that e-learning makes learning easier, especially in the student-instructor interaction, as well as using various teaching styles and assessment methods and they participated in making the students prefer e-learning in their future education. However, the students reported that they do not have all the technical skills needed for e-learning and that they face technical problems and a lack of social relations during online learning. Based on these results, the researcher recommended training the students on e-learning skills and platforms and providing them with the required technologies for the effective adoption of e-learning.

Grammatical awareness and language performance: examining gendered differences among Saudi EFL (English as a foreign language) learners

Background: Despite the many studies that have been conducted on the learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) regarding grammar ability in various contexts, some gaps are still unbridged and need researching. Therefore, this study addresses the research gap in the Saudi context concerning the grammatical competence of Saudi EFL (English as foreign language) learners. Methods: This study described the Saudi EFL learners’ level of awareness in developing grammatical forms. It also assessed Saudi EFL students' level of performance in grammar learning. Finally, it quantitatively explored what, if any, gendered differences exist in the grammar acquisition of Saudi EFL learners. The study employed descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze the data. The study sample comprised 50 Saudi EFL students out of the population of 120 students enrolled in EFL programs at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia with sample size being determined using online sampling calculator Raosoft. Results: The results of the present study show that the Saudi EFL learners manifest a favorable level of awareness in developing grammatical forms while they still not having attained mastery of English grammar. Results also indicate that grammatical competence and level of awareness are more advanced among the Saudi EFL female learners compared to their male counterparts. Conclusions: The outcomes of this research imply that Saudi EFL learners have sufficient performance in grammar learning but need further nurturance. Implications of this study will serve as a basis for English language learning development interventions in the benefit of the students.

EFL Students’ Perceptions of Google Docs as an Interactive Tool for Learning Writing

The present study aimed to explore the perceptions of Saudi tertiary-level students toward using Google Docs as a learning tool in English as a foreign language (EFL) writing classes. Adopting a quantitative approach, 164 Saudi EFL students studying writing at three different academic levels completed a questionnaire about their perceptions of utilizing Google Docs as an alternative learning platform to learn writing and interact with teachers and peers. The findings showed that the participants perceived Google Docs useful and interesting. They also indicated that Google Docs could establish a collaborative learning environment. Their use enhanced student-teacher and student-student interactions, improved students’ overall writing skills, and encouraged constructive peer-to-peer discussions. The study suggests that Google Docs plays a significant role in promoting learners’ motivation and involvement in learning second language writing. It concludes with some limitations and provides recommendations for future research.

Tracking Saudi EFL Students’ Reflections of Online Learning During Coronavirus: Different Rounds

The sudden shift into online learning due to COVID-19 has produced many challenges and new educational approaches across all educational systems. Language learning systems were enforced to utilize fully remote education solutions. Responding to COVID-19 is a crucial investigation to find out the challenges, barriers, suggestions, concerns, and deficiencies of teaching English in Saudi Arabia. It also assists in developing the Saudi English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context in the future and support its students, teachers, and policymakers. This study tracks the influence of this shift on the EFL students in a Saudi high school. Data collection depends on reflective questions sent to the students through the survey and WhatsApp Group three times during the pandemic: April 2020, October 2020, and April 2021. The results show that students faced several threats, ambiguities, and deficiencies that are classified into: (a) students’ emotions, (b) learning environment, (c) student characteristics, and (d) deficiencies and needs. The students gradually acquired experience to deal with those issues and cope with their frustration. Then, they performed in either positive or negative ways depending on their acceptance of the online learning context. The study ends with some implications to efficiently use different virtual tools in the EFL context.

Saudi EFL Instructors’ and Students’ Perspectives Towards Virtual Learning During COVID-19 Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic and the sudden transition from face-to-face to virtual learning have given rise to various challenges and obstacles in teaching contexts all over the world. This paper explores the impact of this unexpected transition in the teaching and learning process based on English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers’ and learners’ experiences at a Saudi university. This research employed a mixed methods approach. Four male and female EFL teachers were involved in addition to thirty-six students from a preparatory year program. The key findings of the study revealed that there were three major challenges encountered in the use of virtual classroom applications during the pandemic, including crucially a lack of technology and Internet connection, having large numbers of students in a virtual learning classroom, and lack of student and teacher interaction when using virtual learning classes. Although Saudi EFL students and teachers viewed the virtual learning classes in a positive light during the pandemic period, they reported that in the post-pandemic period and over the long term, they would prefer traditional face-to-face teaching.

Attitudes of Saudi EFL Female Students Towards Current Teacher Feedback Practices

This study aimed to investigate the attitudes of female Saudi English as a foreign language (EFL) learners towards the current practices and the challenges of teacher feedback. Utilizing a quantitative approach, 87 female Saudi EFL students completed a questionnaire about their experience with teacher feedback and the problems they encountered with this during the semester. The study aimed to explore two main aspects, including the students’ attitudes towards the current practices of teacher feedback and the challenges encountered, and the students’ suggestions for improving teacher feedback practices. The study outcomes revealed that the students receive direct and positive feedback. Additionally, the students perceived the teachers’ feedback to be useful and of good quality. The findings also indicated that students expect and prefer detailed feedback on their written tasks. However, the participants reported some concerns regarding the punctuality of teacher feedback and provided suggestions to improve such practices. The study also presents the limitations and recommendations for future research.

Saudi EFL Students’ Use and Perceptions of Blackboard before and during Online Learning Amid COVID-19

Online learning becomes the means of education during COVID-19. Blackboard is one of the learning management systems that has been widely used before and during the pandemic. This study focuses on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ use and perceptions of Blackboard. It explores and compares EFL students’ use and perceptions of Blackboard considering three phases: before COVID-19 in 2019, during online learning in 2020, and during online learning in 2021. A questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. A total of 381 Saudi EFL students participated in the study. The results show that there are statistically significant differences in EFL students’ use of Blackboard between the three phases. EFL students’ use of Blackboard increased during online learning in 2020 compared to 2019, especially concerning the frequency of visiting Blackboard and the time students spent using it. Further, EFL students’ use of Blackboard increased significantly during online learning in 2021 compared to 2019 with regard to visit frequencies, time spent, and Blackboard tools used. Considering perceptions, the results indicate that there are statistically significant differences in students’ perceptions of Blackboard in terms of easiness and usefulness between the three phases. Interestingly, students had more positive perceptions of Blackboard before COVID-19 in 2019 and during online learning in 2021. The technical problems that students faced while using Blackboard during 2020 might have affected their perceptions. The study results of students’ use and perceptions of Blackboard are discussed in light of institutional policies and support.

Characteristics of Saudi EFL Learners’ Learning Styles

One of the most important factors among those that play key roles in second language acquisition is language learning styles and strategies. This article identifies the unique and multifarious learning-style preferences that characterize Saudi English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ learning, and explores how multidimensional causal factors and experiences shape their preferred modes of learning. The analysis first tackles Saudi EFL learning-style preferences, followed by a discussion of Saudi EFL language learning strategies. The discussion addresses the learning-style approaches and learning behaviors of Saudi EFL leaners and the impact they have on them and highlights the factors and consequences of each. It concludes by pinpointing the importance of identifying language learning styles and strategies Saudi EFL students use and offering measures that will help Saudi EFL teachers facilitate their students’ effective learning-style approaches.
  

The Effect of Lexical Inference Strategy Instruction on Saudi EFL learners’ Reading Comprehension

Lexical inference strategy plays an important role in increasing the level of reading comprehension of second or foreign language learners. Lexical inferencing as an efficient strategy to deal with unfamiliar words has attracted much attention in the comprehension literature. However, few studies on lexical inferencing have been conducted in an English as a foreign language (EFL) setting. To fill in the existing gap, the current study aimed at investigating the effect of lexical inferencing strategy instruction on Saudi EFL students’ reading comprehension. Additionally, it sought to identify the lexical inferencing strategies used by Saudi EFL learners while they were inferring unknown words in a text. Last, the current study attempted to find the relationship between lexical inference strategies and reading comprehension among Saudi EFL learners. Sixty students from the English department were selected based on their scores on the Oxford Placement Test, indicating that they were at intermediate levels of English proficiency. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: control and experimental (each consisting of 30 students). The participants in the control group received regular instruction, while the participants in the experimental group were treated using lexical inference strategies. The instruments used for collecting data were Oxford Placement Test, reading comprehension test, and think-aloud protocol. A pre-test and post-test were administered for control and experimental groups. The results of the independent samples t-test revealed that teaching inference skills had a significant effect on reading comprehension performance among EFL learners. The results of the paired t-tests showed that lexical inferencing instruction had a statistically significant effect on EFL learners’ reading comprehension development. The results of the Spearman correlation coefficient indicated that there was a significant relationship between lexical inferencing strategies and reading comprehension. The findings revealed the profound impact of lexical inferencing strategy instruction on the experimental group's performance in understanding reading text. Hence, it was concluded that lexical inferencing strategies were recommended to teach to improve the students’ reading comprehension performance.

Investigating Saudi EFL Students’ Knowledge and Beliefs Related to English Reading Comprehension

Reading is an essential strategic and a life-long skill required for success in learning. The current study explores the knowledge and beliefs of Saudi students of English as a foreign language (EFL) about English reading comprehension strategies. It also intends to determine if there is a significant correlation between the students’ foundational knowledge of English reading comprehension strategies and their beliefs about reading comprehension strategies. The study employed a quantitative method. The data were collected using a forty-item survey questionnaire. The respondents were 203 Saudi EFL students enrolled in Preparatory Year Program at Northern Border University in Saudi Arabia. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics to determine frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and a test of non-parametric correlation (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient) was run to determine the relationship between the variables. The overall findings of the study revealed that the students have a good foundational knowledge of pre-reading, while-reading, and post-reading reading strategies. The correlational analysis showed a medium correlation between students’ foundational knowledge of reading strategies and their beliefs about reading strategies. In conclusion, the study suggests some implications for teaching English reading to EFL students.

Problems and Challenges Faced by EFL Students of Saudi Arabia during COVID-19 Pandemic

The teaching of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) is very interesting but at the same time is considered difficult particularly for those students who have read most of the subjects of their courses in their mother tongue. The four skills viz, Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing are necessary for learning a foreign language and an imbalance in any skill can hamper the whole process. All the skills are important but during present pandemic situation listening skill is considered as a problematic skill particularly in a foreign language context where practice opportunities are limited because of the world pandemic COVID-19 that hampered all our teaching and learning process. This study aimed to explore the problems and challenges faced by EFL students because of the limited resources. An online survey method was followed to collect data from a group of Saudi EFL students (n = 100) using the Listening Comprehension Processing Problems Questionnaire. The results indicated that these students experienced moderate to high levels of difficulty in all the skills particularly in ‘Listening’ because of limited resources. The findings are expected to have useful implications for teachers who intend to address these problems of EFL learners. Analysis of the findings revealed that most of the students encountered problems in listening most of the times during online classes sometimes because of physical and sometimes other barriers. Discussion and implications of these findings are presented.

Students' Motivation in English Language Learning (ELL): An Exploratory Study of Motivation-al Factors for EFL and ESL Adult Learners

This study analyzed adult learners’ motivation in learning English from two diametrically different paradigms viz., the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) from Saudi Arabia and the ESL (English as a Second Language) from Pakistan. The quantitative tool of the 20-items questionnaire administered at 100 EFL learners and 100 ESL learners helped find out the factors impacting the adult learners’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation resulting in their being amotivated, unmotivated, and highly motivated English language learners. The major findings are that the learners in both the EFL and the ESL contexts were found intrinsically motivated to learn the English language. However, the Saudi EFL students, unlike ESL learners, lacked extrinsic motivation due to i) lack of an environment conducive for English language learning and ii) social disapproval of the English language learning. The extrinsic factors lacking for ESL learners in Pakistan are the provision of highly motivated and trained teachers, well-equipped classrooms, financial rewards, and a conducive learning environment in the institutions. Based on the findings, the study recommends that teachers must be trained to involve the intrinsically motivated students in challenging and encouraging activities. The teachers engaged in teaching to Saudi EFL learners need to exert more to create an excellent learning environment in their class to motivate and encourage their students towards learning of the English language, and to waive off the negative impact of social disapproval of the language outside the classroom.

An Inquiry into Saudi EFL Teachers and Students’ Perceptions of EFL Virtual Classes and Its Relation to Learner Autonomy

The purpose of this research paper is to explore Saudi foundation-year teachers and students’ perceptions of the use of virtual classes for teaching or learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at the English Language Institute (ELI) in King Abdulaziz University (KAU). The data for this study was collected through questionnaires from a total of 20 teachers and 22 students. The survey was conducted during the second semester of the academic year 2019-2020, and the data was analyzed quantitatively. The overall results of the questionnaires demonstrate that the majority of teachers and students held positive attitudes towards EFL virtual classes, however, they prefer face-to-face classrooms. Additionally, some participants admitted the huge role virtual classes play in improving learners’ autonomy.

Refusal Strategies of Saudi EFL Undergraduate Students

This study aimed to explore the refusal strategies used by Saudi English as a foreign language (EFL) undergraduate students as well as to examine the relationship of these strategies to social status in the situations of request, invitation, offer, and suggestion. It provided an answer to the research question, what are the strategies used by EFL undergraduate students when performing the speech act of refusal and whether these strategies vary according to status in the situations of request, invitation, offer, and suggestion? The participants were 150 Saudi EFL students. Data were derived using a discourse completion task. It was composed of three request situations, three invitation situations, three offer situations, and three suggestion situations. Each of those situations consisted of a refusal to a person of a higher status, another one for a person of equal status, and finally one for a person of a lower status. Beebe et al. (1990) taxonomy was selected as the most comprehensive one for the analysis of refusal strategies. The results indicated that the most popular refusal strategies the participants used were the indirect ones, followed by the direct ones and then by adjuncts. The results also revealed that the participants refused differently in each of the four types of situations. On the other hand, the results showed that social status has no significant influence on their use of refusal strategies. Based on these findings, some recommendations for the integration of pragmatic teaching were suggested to foster pragmatic competence among undergraduate students.

Refusal Strategies of Saudi EFL Undergraduate Students

This study aimed to explore the refusal strategies used by Saudi English as a foreign language (EFL) undergraduate students as well as to examine the relationship of these strategies to social status in the situations of request, invitation, offer, and suggestion. It provided an answer to the research question, what are the strategies used by EFL undergraduate students when performing the speech act of refusal and whether these strategies vary according to status in the situations of request, invitation, offer, and suggestion? The participants were 150 Saudi EFL students. Data were derived using a discourse completion task. It was composed of three request situations, three invitation situations, three offer situations, and three suggestion situations. Each of those situations consisted of a refusal to a person of a higher status, another one for a person of equal status, and finally one for a person of a lower status. Beebe et al. (1990) taxonomy was selected as the most comprehensive one for the analysis of refusal strategies. The results indicated that the most popular refusal strategies the participants used were the indirect ones, followed by the direct ones and then by adjuncts. The results also revealed that the participants refused differently in each of the four types of situations. On the other hand, the results showed that social status has no significant influence on their use of refusal strategies. Based on these findings, some recommendations for the integration of pragmatic teaching were suggested to foster pragmatic competence among undergraduate students.

Engaging Saudi EFL Students in Online Peer Review in a Saudi University Context

This study focuses on a Saudi English as a foreign language (EFL) context. It employs Google Docs as an educational tool to engage Saudi EFL students in online peer review to address some challenges faced instructors when they implement peer review in class. The main goals of the study are examining what kinds of corrective feedback that Saudi EFL students provide when they edit their peers’ texts in Google Docs, how they can improve their texts based on the collaborative online peer review, and what their attitudes are toward using Google Docs as an online peer review tool. The study utilizes Google Docs, an online questionnaire, and an interview as research tools; after thematic analysis, the results show that Saudi EFL students focus on local and global writing issues and provide different types of corrective feedback that aid them to improve their writing. They have positive attitudes toward using Google Docs in peer review. This tool allows them to engage in an online social environment outside the classroom, feel as critical editors, adjust their writing, and avoid embarrassment. The results also suggest that hierarchical power in the classroom and students’ prior beliefs and experiences can impact their responses to the given feedback from teachers and peers. This study recommends instructors to integrate online peer review as a genre and move beyond low-stakes genre in EFL writing courses at the university level.