English Language in Kuwait's Educational System

Autor/inn/en	Alsafran, Eithar; Al Ajmi, Farah; Al Azmi, Danah
Titel	English Language in Kuwait's Educational System
Quelle	In: Language Teaching Research Quarterly, 18 (2020), S.53-69 (17 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	2651-3110
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; English (Second Language); Language of Instruction; Institutional Characteristics; Bilingual Education; Semitic Languages; Private Schools; Costs; Educational Quality; Language Skills; Parent Attitudes; School Choice; Language Proficiency; Public Schools; Study Abroad; Bilingualism; Elementary Secondary Education; Kuwait + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Teaching language; Unterrichtssprache; Bilingual teaching; Bilingualer Unterricht; Arabisch; Hebräisch; Private school; Privatschule; Cost; Kosten; Quality of education; Bildungsqualität; Language skill; Sprachkompetenz; Elternverhalten; Choice of school; Schulwahl; Language skills; Public school; Öffentliche Schule; Studies abroad; Auslandsstudium; Bilingualismus
Abstract	The present study investigates the role of the English language in the educational system of Kuwait. Specifically, it explores the views of parents regarding the choice of their children's education by focusing on the differences between school types, including Arabic-language public schools, Arabic-English bilingual schools, and private English-medium schools. It discusses such characteristics as affordability, quality of education, linguistic development, and the general requirements for education in a second language. The data collection includes a survey of Kuwaiti parents (N=77) and semi-structured interviews (N=6). Following the Bernstein model, the study examines the parental motivation behind school selection. The results show that English language proficiency is regarded as an important educational outcome regardless of the school type. Public schools are typically chosen for convenience, while bilingual and English-medium schools are associated with quality education, better English skills, and opportunities for study abroad. The results reveal that parents would change the type of education for their children if they could find a more suitable one. The study concludes by recommending a balanced-bilingual approach where Arabic continues to develop alongside English to strengthen the Arabic heritage while giving young Kuwaitis English skills valued in a global economy. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	European Knowledge Development (EUROKD). e-mail: editorial@eurokd.com; Web site: https://www.eurokd.com/journal/jd/1
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01