Proceedings of The International Conference on Research in Humanities
Year: 2019
DOI:
The Writing Challenge for Saudi Arabian Students in Western Universities
Brandy Hudson
ABSTRACT:
My research examines some of the issues that teachers in intensive English programs in Western society face when teaching academic writing at the university level to students from Saudi Arabia. When first entering this unfamiliar academic context, these students experience many obstacles related to developing writing skills in English that are appropriate at university level. For example, there is a difference in the cultural view on writing in each culture. The United States places a high emphasis on Academic Writing, while Saudi Arabia stresses concepts of the beauty of writing itself and as a reproduction of ideas from authority figures. Creative writing that reflects individual student ideas is more highly valued in Western academic culture.The beauty of calligraphy and its high value in Saudi society reflects the importance of the written word. The Koran is always an exemplary model. This is evident in a Saudi student’s transition to a Western culture that places a high emphasis on writing as opposed to their home culture in Saudi Arabia, which places little emphasis on academic writing skills.
Keywords: academic; ESL; language; TESOL; writers.