Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public Schools

A Master of Arts thesis in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) by Taghreed Ibrahim Masri entitled, "Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public Schools," May 2012. Thesis advisor is Dr. Fatima Badry. Available are both hard...

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Main Author: Masri, Taghreed Ibrahim (author)
Format: doctoralThesis
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11073/4079
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author Masri, Taghreed Ibrahim
author_facet Masri, Taghreed Ibrahim
author_role author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Zalami, Fatima Badry
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Masri, Taghreed Ibrahim
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2012-09-16T10:43:04Z
2012-09-16T10:43:04Z
2012-05
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 29.232-2012.04
http://hdl.handle.net/11073/4079
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv en_US
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv language proficiency
identity
Arabic language
English language
United Arab Emirates
Study and teaching
United Arab Emirates
Study and teaching (Secondary)
Arabic speakers
English language
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public Schools
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis
description A Master of Arts thesis in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) by Taghreed Ibrahim Masri entitled, "Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public Schools," May 2012. Thesis advisor is Dr. Fatima Badry. Available are both hard and soft copies of the thesis.
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network_acronym_str aus
network_name_str aus
oai_identifier_str oai:repository.aus.edu:11073/4079
publishDate 2012
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spelling Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public SchoolsMasri, Taghreed Ibrahimlanguage proficiencyidentityArabic languageEnglish languageUnited Arab EmiratesStudy and teachingUnited Arab EmiratesStudy and teaching (Secondary)Arabic speakersEnglish languageA Master of Arts thesis in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) by Taghreed Ibrahim Masri entitled, "Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public Schools," May 2012. Thesis advisor is Dr. Fatima Badry. Available are both hard and soft copies of the thesis.Thesis embargoed until May 20, 2015.Recently, a new dimension of learning a second language has gained interest in the literature. The identity of learners has made its way as a concept that has become central in second language acquisition (SLA) and bilingual education research. More and more the notion that learners' identity is constructed and negotiated through language learning has become widely recognized. However, so far, few studies have focused on how learning a second language, particularly English impacts Arab learners' identity. Given the 'magic,' power and status associated with English as the global language, its impact may be deeper than that usually associated with foreign language learning. The purpose of this study is to explore how the level of proficiency in both Arabic and English shapes Emirati students' perception of their identity in the United Arab Emirates public schools. The study explores high school students' linguistic preferences and language practices to assess their impact on identity construction. Data collection methods include a students' survey, interviews with students, teachers and an administrator, and ethnographic observation. Results show that students' preferences are driven by their perceived proficiency in both languages. While students are aware of their poor proficiency in English, their relative fluency in Spoken Arabic leads them to believe that they are proficient in it. In fact, results indicate that students have poor proficiency in both Arabic and English which has created an identity dilemma as they are unable to identify completely with either of the two languages. However, data analysis reveals that English has to a certain extent impacted students' identity because they associate it with modernity and a brighter future, which they want for themselves, while Arabic is associated with respected traditions and values. Findings also show that although students are aware that English is flourishing at the expense of their mother tongue, they still want to learn it and appreciate its culture. Finally, results indicate that the educational policy towards both languages falls short of providing these students an effective bilingual program.College of Arts and SciencesDepartment of EnglishMaster of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MA TESOL)Zalami, Fatima Badry2012-09-16T10:43:04Z2012-09-16T10:43:04Z2012-05info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesisapplication/pdf29.232-2012.04http://hdl.handle.net/11073/4079en_USoai:repository.aus.edu:11073/40792025-06-26T12:36:53Z
spellingShingle Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public Schools
Masri, Taghreed Ibrahim
language proficiency
identity
Arabic language
English language
United Arab Emirates
Study and teaching
United Arab Emirates
Study and teaching (Secondary)
Arabic speakers
English language
status_str publishedVersion
title Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public Schools
title_full Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public Schools
title_fullStr Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public Schools
title_full_unstemmed Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public Schools
title_short Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public Schools
title_sort Level of Proficiency in Arabic and English, and Identity of Emirati Students in UAE Public Schools
topic language proficiency
identity
Arabic language
English language
United Arab Emirates
Study and teaching
United Arab Emirates
Study and teaching (Secondary)
Arabic speakers
English language
url http://hdl.handle.net/11073/4079