Teaching and learning in the Arab world

In the Arab States, globalization and economic development have had a significant effect on education. Serious concerns have been expressed over the state of education in the Arab world. Even in the oil-rich Gulf States, with over 200 higher education institutions, education is problematic with a notable lack of emphasis on specialized science and innovative learning. The Gulf States are in a race to become 'knowledge economies' and, as a result, they are promoting educational reforms such as the application of bilingual education models and curricula adopted from the West. This book provides a collection of studies on the state of education in Arab countries with a special focus on the Arabian Gulf, where currently there is increased activity and investment in education. The book is composed of three major sections. The first section is a collection of nine papers on current practices and challenges in education in the Arab world. The second major section is devoted to the educational reforms that are being implemented in the Arabian Gulf. The third and final section is a collection of papers describing new approaches to teaching and learning in the Arab world.

Table of Contents; Preface XIII; Part I: Current Practices and Challenges in Teaching andLearning in the Arab World; Chapter 1 Attitudes toward Learning English: A Case Study of University Students in Saudi Arabia 3; Chapter 2 Learner Motivation and Strategy Use among University Students in the United Arab Emirates 29; Chapter 3 Factors Affecting Persistence in Post-Secondary Education: A Case Study of Emirati Males 49; Chapter 4 Teaching Critical Thinking Skills to Arab University Students 71.

Chapter 5 Emergent Leadership Development through Undergraduate Research in UAE Classrooms 93Chapter 6 Casting Arabic Culture as the 'Other': Cultural Issues in the English Curriculum 119; Chapter 7 Arab Student Attitudes towards Varieties of English 139; Chapter 8 Teachers' Attitudes and Practices toward Providing Feedback on Arab EFL Students' Writing 161; Chapter 9 An Investigation of Occupational Stressors and Coping Strategies Among EFL Teachers in the United Arab Emirates 181; Part II: Educational Reforms in the Arabian Gulf.

Chapter 10 Teacher Leadership in the Arab Gulf: Expatriates and Arab Educators Mentor Each Other 205Chapter 11 The Rush to Educate: A Discussion of the Elephan…