Speaking skills, being an essential part of effective communication, are significant for English as a foreign language (EFL) student in today's globalized world, and collaborative learning, being heterogeneous, assists them with more possibilities for enhancing and practicing the skills through a supportive environment, constructive feedback, and…

There is a growing need for standardized oral assessment rubrics in learning institutions. This is linked to the growing number of ESL learners not only in Saudi Arabia but other parts of the world. To assess the need to use standardized oral assessment rubrics, this particular study explores various peer reviewed articles that support the use of…

The collaborative learning environment promotes socialization and learning among the students. Therefore, the present study has focused on stimulating oral interaction among students through group and collaborative learning. A qualitative survey study was conducted by selecting ten tenth-grade male students with ages ranging between 14 and 15…

Assessing learners' oral skills are considered as a crucial process in most EFL teaching and learning programs. However, it can be challenging for teachers to make a valid, reliable, and fair assessment. This study aimed to investigate Saudi college students' and teachers' point of views toward the effectiveness of oral assessment techniques used…

Low English proficiency among EFL learners refers to two main factors and these are internal and external factors. Internal factors such as not confident when using English, negative attitudes and anxiety, while the external factors like the lack of opportunities to use English language whether in or outside the classroom. The current study…

Because English language is the medium of instruction in the engineering colleges of all Saudi universities, the aim of this study is to identify the perceived communication needs of undergraduate engineering students using English for specific purposes (ESP) at one such institution, where English is considered a foreign language. Several needs…

Despite the complex nature of language learners' needs, researchers on language use in tertiary education tend to look at these needs through textual analyses associated with written discourse more than any other aspect of language use. Because learners' needs, however, extend to include recognizing the challenges and situated nature of language…

This research study analyzes the target needs of EFL female Saudi students to choose EFL as their specialization. The population of the research is the female students enrolled in Bachelors in English program, at the Department of English Language and Translation, Qassim University Saudi Arabia. Adapting the Hutchinson and Waters model of Needs…

According to a recent research carried out by Aruba Networks (2014) in the US, the UK, France, Spain, Germany, Sweden, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and UAE, 86% of all respondents have two or more devices that can connect to the internet, and nearly two thirds (64%) already own three or more mobile devices with this feature; another 39% own four or…

The importance of developing the communicative needs of English language majors has been found a fundamental concern of Buraydah Community college in Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study has been to identify English language speaking skill needs of English language majors and investigate the impact of using Open Discussion…

As English is one of the most spoken languages in the globally interconnected world of today, many Saudi universities are enrolling their EFL students in summer intensive English programs at US universities. The main purpose is to enhance their EFL students' oral competencies. This new policy is, in fact, the result of the failure of CLT practices…

The main purpose of learning a foreign language is to use it for meaningful and effective communication both inside and outside the classroom. This paper is devoted to identifying the main communication difficulties faced by EFL students at King Khalid University (KKU) and exploring the reasons that lie behind these difficulties. The paper…

Two groups of EFL freshman students participated in the study. Pre-test scores showed no significant differences in their oral proficiency level. Both groups were then exposed to the same in-class instruction that depended on the textbook. They covered the same lessons, skills, exercises and tests. Since freshman students have no opportunities to…

14,000 Saudi students are currently studying in the UK. Before they start their coursework in their major, most take English language courses for at least a year and should pass the IELTS test. Interviews with a sample of Saudi students studying in the UK showed that focus in the English courses that students take is mainly on grammar and written…

This study aims at finding out the effectiveness of two computer-mediated techniques - cooperative and collective learning--designed for teaching and learning oral skills, listening and speaking. It also aims to investigate students' attitude towards using a CALL approach and techniques for teaching oral skills. Four small groups are involved. One…