Modern Methods for Acquiring the English Language and Their Relation to Learning Development in the Kingdom
The International Academy Institute for Training, in partnership with the Social Development Center in Medina, presented a course titled "Modern Methods for Acquiring the English Language and Their Relation to Education Development in the Kingdom" This will be on Friday, the 4th of Ramadan, 1442 AH, at 11 PM, and the course was given by Dr. and Professor: Hashem Hamza Nour, the General Supervisor of Elso Academy for Teaching English, Vice President of the Association of English Language and Translation Professors in Arab Universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a certified trainer for English language teachers, and the course was presented by the media figure Ms. Hattaf Tarabishi via Zoom (zoom).
The professor began the course by quoting the Almighty: (AND OF HIS SIGNS IS THE CREATION OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND THE DIFFERENCE OF YOUR LANGUAGES AND YOUR COLORS. INDEED, IN THAT ARE SIGN FOR THOSE OF KNOWLEDGE.) The verse calls for reflection and contemplation; just as God created humans differently, He created for them different languages because language is the framework in which the experiences, cultures, and everything related to each nation is recorded independently. The professor then presented the difference between acquiring the English language and learning, where acquisition is possession, and it transforms the acquired information into stable skills for the learner, while learning is an intentional process in which the learner seeks to increase their scientific knowledge of the language.
The professor addressed the steps of acquiring the mother tongue, which occur through listening, then analyzing sounds, then forming hypotheses about the language, and then understanding the language, and finally the stage of speaking the language. He also mentioned that children acquire and master language faster than adults because they have the linguistic competence to recognize sound patterns, ways of pronouncing words, and understanding grammatical functions, and they remember language materials. The professor indicated that there are psychological limits, as some people are closed off to the language, while others have no limits or have selective limits, and there are people with health limits. He pointed to the environment, stating that the healthier the environment is in terms of interaction and understanding, the better it is for rapid acquisition.
The professor raised the question of what we need to do to acquire the English language correctly? He clarified that we must eliminate the psychological barriers that hinder building a strong relationship with the English language, and he pointed to the role of the English language teacher in helping to acquire the language correctly. The professor had several messages aimed at students, parents, and friends, a message to teachers, to the school or institute, as well as a message to the Ministry of Education regarding the need to change the method of teaching the language.
Finally, the professor clarified several conditions for a sound educational environment, which lie in the integration of traditional education and electronic education, a suitable physical environment, an appropriate educational body, and a conscious administration that provides support and direct supervision to enhance the educational process.
The electronic newspaper Oyun Al-Madina met with Dr. Professor Hashem Hamza Nour, who indicated that language acquisition should be achieved by fostering a love for the language and coexisting with it. He added by saying: When we love the language and interact with it as a living being and form a relationship or friendship with it, we then coexist with this language and consider it a part of us, and the subconscious mind accepts it, and the person becomes keen to use the language correctly. Language is a skill that needs to be acquired; it is not enough to just learn it.
The professor also mentioned in his talk: When the learner or student of this language realizes it, interacts with it, appreciates it, respects it, exchanges feelings with it, and begins to form a friendship and a strong relationship with this language, acquisition will occur correctly and well. Moreover, the process of acquisition does not happen overnight; it requires patience, perseverance, and endurance to acquire it correctly.