EER 8520: Qual 2
Assignment A: Research Design Template
Title (less than 12 words)
The Effectiveness of English Language Learning and the Use of the Blended Learning in Saudi Arabia
Abstract (150–300 words)
This study examines the effects of the blended learning approach on speaking skill enhancement from foreign language learners' perspectives in Saudi Arabia. English has been included as a foreign language in the Saudi Arabia’s curriculum for years. However, Saudi students still face difficulties in mastering English language skills, especially speaking.
Saudi students spend more than six years studying English as a foreign language (Sabti, & Chaichan, 2014). Saudi students are failing to acquire English speaking skills, even after years of English instruction. There were a variety of reasons found for this including lack of; motivation, teacher support, proper teaching methods updated curriculum and equipment (Sabti, & Chaichan, 2014).
Per MacDonald blended learning "is commonly associated with incorporating online media into a curriculum or program while at the same time acknowledging the importance of preserving face-to-face interaction with other traditional approaches to helping learners” (2008, p. 2). This study will examine the utilization of the blended learning approach in the acquisition of English speaking skills in Saudi Arabia.
Keywords (5–7)
Blended learning. speaking skill, foreign language, English language, teaching methods
The Topic under Investigation
The topic under investigation is the effectiveness of the current English curriculum and teaching methods on K-12 Saudi students. There are numerous factors that show that the current curriculum and teaching methods demonstrate a lack of; motivation, teacher support, proper teaching methods, updated curriculum, and updated equipment (Sabti, & Chaichan, 2014). Due to these issues, a blended learning approach will be introduced to Saudi students. The Saudi students will be asked about their perceptions concerning the new blended learning approach and their acquisition of English speaking skills.
Significance, Value, or Worth
Saudi Arabia has been a nation that is developing quickly. The Ministry of Education is responsible for the developing Saudi students that can contribute to a global community. Teaching foreign languages, like English, plays a large part in this development (Gaffas, 2019).
The Saudi government has been focused on Saudi students gaining English language proficiency for economic reasons, and not for academic reasons (Al-Nasser, 2015). Unfortunately, this leads to problems for Saudi students that seek to continue their academic studies beyond K-12 in foreign countries (Al-Nasser, 2015). Saudi students studying abroad are not proficient or fluent in English. This is even after 6 or more years studying English during their K-12 education in Saudi Arabia (Al-Nasser, 2015). Therefore, Saudi students studying abroad after K-12 are required to enroll in E ...
EER 8520 Qual 2Assignment A Research Design TemplateTi
1. EER 8520: Qual 2
Assignment A: Research Design Template
Title (less than 12 words)
The Effectiveness of English Language Learning and the Use of
the Blended Learning in Saudi Arabia
Abstract (150–300 words)
This study examines the effects of the blended learning
approach on speaking skill enhancement from foreign language
learners' perspectives in Saudi Arabia. English has been
included as a foreign language in the Saudi Arabia’s curriculum
for years. However, Saudi students still face difficulties in
mastering English language skills, especially speaking.
Saudi students spend more than six years studying English as a
foreign language (Sabti, & Chaichan, 2014). Saudi students are
failing to acquire English speaking skills, even after years of
English instruction. There were a variety of reasons found for
this including lack of; motivation, teacher support, proper
teaching methods updated curriculum and equipment (Sabti, &
Chaichan, 2014).
Per MacDonald blended learning "is commonly associated with
incorporating online media into a curriculum or program while
at the same time acknowledging the importance of preserving
face-to-face interaction with other traditional approaches to
helping learners” (2008, p. 2). This study will examine the
utilization of the blended learning approach in the acquisition of
English speaking skills in Saudi Arabia.
Keywords (5–7)
Blended learning. speaking skill, foreign language, English
2. language, teaching methods
The Topic under Investigation
The topic under investigation is the effectiveness of the current
English curriculum and teaching methods on K-12 Saudi
students. There are numerous factors that show that the current
curriculum and teaching methods demonstrate a lack of;
motivation, teacher support, proper teaching methods, updated
curriculum, and updated equipment (Sabti, & Chaichan, 2014).
Due to these issues, a blended learning approach will be
introduced to Saudi students. The Saudi students will be asked
about their perceptions concerning the new blended learning
approach and their acquisition of English speaking skills.
Significance, Value, or Worth
Saudi Arabia has been a nation that is developing quickly. The
Ministry of Education is responsible for the developing Saudi
students that can contribute to a global community. Teaching
foreign languages, like English, plays a large part in this
development (Gaffas, 2019).
The Saudi government has been focused on Saudi students
gaining English language proficiency for economic reasons, and
not for academic reasons (Al-Nasser, 2015). Unfortunately, this
leads to problems for Saudi students that seek to continue their
academic studies beyond K-12 in foreign countries (Al-Nasser,
2015). Saudi students studying abroad are not proficient or
fluent in English. This is even after 6 or more years studying
English during their K-12 education in Saudi Arabia (Al-Nasser,
2015). Therefore, Saudi students studying abroad after K-12 are
required to enroll in English language institutes to learn English
proficiently. This indicates a deficiency in the English language
learning occurring during Saudi students’ K-12 years of
education.
Literature and Theory
3. This study will utilize numerous sources from Western and non-
Western journals and books. Given the study is focused in Saudi
Arabia, journals from non-Western sources and dissertation
authored by Saudis will be employed to verify findings.
Student-centered learning theories and theories that support
such practices, like social constructivism, Piaget’s cognitive
theories, and Bloom’s taxonomy will be discussed to support
practice and findings (Bloom, Engelhart, Furst, Hill, &
Krathwohl, 1969; Piaget, 1967).
Philosophical Statement
This research will address the deficiencies within the Saudi K-
12 foreign language program. The researcher is a product of this
program and is passionate to improve it. The researcher is
interested in examining the perspectives of other Saudi K-12
students through valid qualitative research.
Ethics Statement
The researcher will comply to all ethical standards with this
research project. This includes obtaining informed consent with
all participants, not implying bias into interviews, anonymizing
all participants, and keeping all study data in locked electronic
folders. These precautions will aid in protecting the study’s
validity and all participants (Creswell, 2013).
Research Purpose Statement
The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe how Saudi
K-12 students are experiencing their English speaking skills
instruction. This study will also explore how a blended learning
English language curriculum will impact English speaking skill
acquisition for Saudi K-12 students.
Research Questions
4. There will be multiple research questions included in this study.
The first research question is: What impact does the use of the
blended learning approach in Saudi K-12 schools have on
speaking skills? The second research question is: How do Saudi
K-12 students perceive their current English curriculum? The
third research question is: How effective is the English
language curriculum on K-12 Saudi students’ speaking skills?
The fourth research question is: How do K-12 Saudi students
feel about other teaching methods utilized in-class to acquire
English speaking skills?
Genre/Design
The design of this study is a narrative qualitative study. The
study will focus on K-12 Saudi students’ experiences in their
English language classes. A narrative study recounts the
experiences of its participants, sometimes in a biographical
format (Creswell, 2013).
Methods of Data Collection
In this study, questionnaires were used to assess learners'
satisfaction with their English language classes and the
effectiveness of their classes. The questionnaires will be used to
study the teaching methods utilized by teachers and the
effectiveness of the blended method where it was implemented.
Select participant interviews will allow for more in-depth
collection of data from participants. This will help in gaging the
participants’ reactions to what they have learned in English
class.
Sampling, Participants, and Setting
The sampling that will occur will be non- probability
convenience sampling. Participants will be selected based on
5. using participant volunteers (Creswell, 2013). The participants
could potentially be any Saudi K-12 student currently learning
English in the public school system in Saudi Arabia. However,
high school student volunteers will be relegated to the study
primarily due to their more years in school. The setting will be
all Saudi K-12 public schools within any area of Saudi Arabia.
Data Analysis and Interpretation Strategies
The data will be coded per common words, experiences, and
thoughts. The data will then be categorized to allow the
researcher to see any central phenomenon and themes.
The data will be interpreted various ways. The researcher will
apply existing literature to link their findings to other studies.
Further, the researcher will connect their data to social
constructivism, as well as Piaget’s and Bloom’s theories. The
researcher plans to obtain peer feedback to allow for additional
insights to be gathered.
Evaluation
The research will be evaluated during several stages; before
beginning the study, during data collection, after data
collection, and before publication. The researcher will ask for
peer review multiple times during these stages. Moreover, the
researcher will ask their dissertation advisor and course
instructor for feedback throughout the stages of this research
project. The research will make amendments and edits based on
their suggestions.
Representation
The final data will be represented in essay format, which may
include some graphs or figures if they are found relevant. The
data will be coded for common words, experiences, and
thoughts. This will be then be translated into essay format for
6. the study reader to review once the study is published.
References (all cited in this template)
Al-Nasser, A. S. (2015). Problems of english language
acquisition in saudi arabia: An exploratory-cum-remedial
study. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 5(8), 1612-
1620.
Bloom, B. S., Engelhart, M. D., Furst, E. J., Hill, W. H., &
Krathwohl, D. R. (1969). Taxonomy of educational objectives:
The classification of educational goals. New York, NY: David
McKay Company.
Creswell, J. W. (2009, 2013). Research design: Qualitative,
quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Thousand Oaks,
California: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Gaffas, Z. M. (2019). Students’ perceptions of the impact of
EGP and ESP courses on their english language development:
Voices from Saudi Arabia. Journal of English for Academic
Purposes, 42, 100797-100806.
MacDonald, J. (2008). Blended learning and online instruct
ring: Planning ;earner support activity design. Aldershot, UK:
Gower.
Piaget, J. (1967). Six psychological studies. New York, NY:
Random House.
Sabti, A. A., & Chaichan, R. S. (2014). Saudi high school
students’ attitudes and barriers toward the use of computer
technologies in learning english. Springerplus, 3(1), 1-8.
Appendices
(not needed at this time)
Note: Unless otherwise noted, responses should be between 1–2
paragraphs in length. Please be as specific as you can at this
point in time.
