Language learning and Identity barriers: The story of Saudi Students in the UK educational settings.

Alghezzi, Sumayyah Soliman Alghezzi; Asprey, Esther

doi:10.21608/buhuth.2021.128973

Language learning and Identity barriers: The story of Saudi Students in the UK educational settings.

Document Type : Academic research papers

Authors

¹ Master of English and Linguistics, Birmingham University Lecturer at the department of English literature, College of Education for Girls, Zulfi, Majmaah University

² Assistant professor English and Linguistics, Birmingham University

10.21608/buhuth.2021.128973

Abstract

This qualitative paper examines the identities of Saudi students who come to study for higher education qualification in the UK. It aims to shed light on how Saudi learners encounter a new culture and engage within the community and how this interaction affects their complex identities for the purpose of learning. The aim of this research is to obtain an understanding of Saudi learner's' sense of self and how culture affects them; thereby enabling the development of strategies to encourage the investment in the target culture through the process of learning the language. This study was conducted by using semi-structured interviews and questionnaires with female and male Saudi students. The results highlighted the importance of the target culture for language learning, as well as how the conflict between two cultures has resulted in a rejection of investment in language learning. Nonetheless, it is clear that many other variables affect an individual’s adaptability to the new culture; this aspect is not unique to Saudi learners.

Keywords

Main Subjects

educational sciences (fundamentals of education - curricula and teaching methods - educational psychology - educational technology - child education)

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