| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2018 11:47 pm Post subject: Perceptions about Prep Year Programs |
 |
|
The purpose of preparation year programs is twofold in bridging the knowledge gap for high school grads. The PYP is intended to 1) prepare them for university studies, and 2) boost their language skills in order to study and communicate in English.
For those interested in how students feel about English PYPs, see The Value and Attributes of an Effective Preparatory English Program: Perceptions of Saudi University Students:
(Excerpt)
| Quote: |
Over 85% of Saudi university students who participated in the survey responded that they believe preparatory year English programs are necessary. Likewise, 67-77% of the participants responded favorably to Q17, indicating that they were satisfied with their English language program.
For Q2, whether or not most high school graduates in KSA need one full year of an English preparatory year program, responses varied significantly in Riyadh at University B and in the northwest of Saudi Arabia at University A. In the northwest of the kingdom, 84% of the female students indicated they believed a full year of English was necessary whereas only 64% of their male counterparts agreed—a very statistically significant difference. In Riyadh, it was almost the opposite, with only 48% of the female students indicating they thought a full year was needed and 76% of the male students demonstrating their belief that a full year is needed. However, since there were only 17 female respondents in Riyadh compared to 103 male respondents, results from the female campus in Riyadh tend to be inconclusive. Looking to University C in Jeddah, we see that the results are much more similar to University A with 84% of the female students indicating their belief that a full year is needed and 78% of the male students in Jeddah concurring. |
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Makkah
Joined: 08 Oct 2014
Posts: 113
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 8:39 am Post subject: |
|
|
I think they cheated in the survey  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
In the heat of the moment
Joined: 22 May 2015
Posts: 393
Location: Italy
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 10:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| ".. the results of this large-scale study were nonetheless conclusive...." |
Really? REALLY?? One survey, repeated zero times throughout the year, for only one year's intake is hardly conclusive! I'd expect the students to have to complete the questionnaire at least once per semester, and for this process to be repeated for at least two years' intake. The survey was probably conducted at the beginning of the year, when few of the respondents actually knew anything about their PYP program or university. 
| Quote: |
| "Saudi students were given three questions asking them whether (Q3) the book, (Q4) the teacher, or (Q5) the student is the most important factor in good language learning. Students responded almost unanimously across the kingdom, indicating their belief that the teacher is the most important key to their success as language learners." |
This is not a surprise, since many students seem to be under the impression that if the teacher is good enough they don't have to put in any work.
'Learning By Osmosis - The Saudi Way.'
The conclusion, that Saudi high school students receive a lackluster (at best) education, is noble but completely unrelated to most of the the research.
D- Must try harder. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
revilo
Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Posts: 181
Location: Mos Eisley
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 3:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I agree, I think most students cheated on the survey. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 10:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I reflect on the fact that my students in Saudi Arabia had some success in learning and using a complex and difficult foreign language. I see little evidence of this among students in the Anglosphere.
Last edited by scot47 on Wed Mar 14, 2018 5:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
psychedelicacy
Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Posts: 180
Location: Beijing
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 12:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Saudi PYPs are principally a form of welfare (of direct wealth redistribution). State education is usually only an indirect form of wealth redistribution because students aren't directly given money, but Saudi pre-freshmen at PYPs are paid - and they can simply do as they please with this money. PYPs are at best a half-hearted effort by the Saudi government to make their young people more employable. However, wealth redistribution is the principle purpose of a PYP, and generally the purpose of wealth redistribution is to encourage support for the prevailing regime. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 5:44 am Post subject: |
|
|
| In the heat of the moment wrote: |
| Quote: |
| "Saudi students were given three questions asking them whether (Q3) the book, (Q4) the teacher, or (Q5) the student is the most important factor in good language learning. Students responded almost unanimously across the kingdom, indicating their belief that the teacher is the most important key to their success as language learners." |
This is not a surprise, since many students seem to be under the impression that if the teacher is good enough they don't have to put in any work. |
Which study did you pull that conclusion out of?
| scot47 wrote: |
| I reflect on the fact that my students in Saudi Arabia had some success in learning and using a complex and difficult foreign language. |
That reflects my PYP students as well. Plus, they were taking science, math, and statistics classes in English concurrently with their EFL classes. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
In the heat of the moment
Joined: 22 May 2015
Posts: 393
Location: Italy
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 9:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
| nomad soul wrote: |
| In the heat of the moment wrote: |
| Quote: |
| "Saudi students were given three questions asking them whether (Q3) the book, (Q4) the teacher, or (Q5) the student is the most important factor in good language learning. Students responded almost unanimously across the kingdom, indicating their belief that the teacher is the most important key to their success as language learners." |
This is not a surprise, since many students seem to be under the impression that if the teacher is good enough they don't have to put in any work. |
Which study did you pull that conclusion out of? |
You make it sound as though I claimed that as being the product of research, even though I used language which, surely to almost anyone, would understand it as being a personal observation.
| nomad soul wrote: |
| scot47 wrote: |
| I reflect on the fact that my students in Saudi Arabia had some success in learning and using a complex and difficult foreign language. |
That reflects my PYP students as well. Plus, they were taking science, math, and statistics classes in English concurrently with their EFL classes. |
Students studying more than one subject at once is hardly unusual or impressive. Damning with faint praise? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 4:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
In my teaching career I was around a bit
i can honestly say that KFUPM was where I found some of the best students I ever encountered, anywhere. And I am talking about the PYP.
Last edited by scot47 on Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:45 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
leggeymountbatten
Joined: 11 Mar 2016
Posts: 74
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 7:31 pm Post subject: |
|
|
In my experience, students at Kfupm are not particularly impressive.
There is a lot of dross.
I have worked at other (technical) colleges in the Kingdom, and found the same or better. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
In the heat of the moment
Joined: 22 May 2015
Posts: 393
Location: Italy
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 5:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
A joke I heard from a Saudi student;
"How can you tell whether someone is studying at KFUPM? Don't bother, they'll tell you."
Apparently the students aren't too popular with those of other universities, because of their feelings/illusions of superiority. Overall KFUPM ranks #173 worldwide, although it ranks very high compared to other Arab universities it isn't as high as the universities many Saudis study in abroad. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 7:46 am Post subject: |
|
|
Lots of people with delusions in KSA Not all are Saudis
Last edited by scot47 on Thu Mar 15, 2018 10:11 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
leggeymountbatten
Joined: 11 Mar 2016
Posts: 74
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 9:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
Kfupm describes itself as "the top university in the Middle East."
Self delusion is a wonderful thing.
Students tend to dine out on it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
leggeymountbatten
Joined: 11 Mar 2016
Posts: 74
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 11:20 am Post subject: |
|
|
"Lots of people with delusions in KSA Not all are Saudis."
The drink helps! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 12:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| Overall KFUPM ranks #173 worldwide, although it ranks very high compared to other Arab universities it isn't as high as the universities many Saudis study in abroad. |
Which has zip to do with male and female students' perceptions about university PYPs. Plus, these programs aren't included as criteria in academic rankings. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
