Assessing Saudi Learners’ Beliefs about English Language Learning

Abstract

Learners’ beliefs about foreign language learning have been stressed in educational research because they are regarded as fundamental to learners’ progress. This paper deals with the results of a research project conducted among first-year English language majors studying the Intensive English Language Program at Qassim University. A total of 250 students volunteered to participate in this study. The instrument employed in the study is a modified Arabic version of Horwitz’s (1987) BALLI (Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory). Students' beliefs were investigated in order to collect background information needed for exploring the overall beliefs of Saudi university students about learning English as a foreign language Results reveal that Saudi university students have positive and realistic beliefs about foreign language as regard the nature of language learning, communication strategies, and motivation and expectations about learning English as a foreign language. The study recommends an identification of Saudi EFL teachers and learners' beliefs on a wider scale, so as to provide guidelines to EFL teachers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to tailor their teaching methods to meet learners' beliefs.