Awareness and Attitude of Saudi Students Towards World Englishes
On May 1, 2017, King Khalid University witnessed an engaging academic seminar organized by the Language Research Center of the Faculty of Languages and Translation. The star of the event was Abdullah Omar, a diligent Master's student, who held a captivating presentation titled "Awareness and Attitude of Saudi Students towards World Englishes." This presentation was a pivotal component of his ongoing MA research proposal.
The study Mr. Omar embarked upon had a distinct goal: to gauge the level of awareness and the prevailing attitudes among male undergraduate students at King Khalid University regarding the concept of World Englishes.
Mr. Omar initiated his discussion with a historical perspective on World Englishes, attributing the concept's emergence to the rapid global proliferation of English. He referenced a range of scholars who have made significant contributions to the research in this field.
He then brought the global issue to a local context. Despite Saudi Arabia being a melting pot of people from diverse regions of the world, each bringing their unique English dialect, Mr. Omar pointed out a surprising disconnect. He noted that a majority of higher-level students remain largely unaware of this linguistic phenomenon, thereby shedding light on a crucial area for improvement.
The seminar was characterized by an atmosphere of active engagement, with Mr. Omar's dynamic presentation style contributing to a truly enriching and enjoyable experience for all attendees.
