Journal Article

Language policy in higher education in the United Arab Emirates: proficiency, choices and the future of Arabic

Al-Bataineh, Afaf

2021

Overview

This article explores the linguistic tension resulting from the English-medium instruction policy at a state university in the UAE. The article is informed by a critical theoretical approach that views language policy from the vantage point of both Arabic and English. It argues that, contrary to the stated national and institutional goals, the current language policy and its implementation are depleting the linguistic capital of the nation. Data drawn from multiple sources show that English-medium instruction is incompatible with the students’ low levels of proficiency in English; that the implementation of the institution’s bilingual policy is geared towards the development of English only; and that a monolingual conceptualisation underpins institutional practices, thus contributing to Arabic language loss in the education domain. The article proposes that higher education in the country be linguistically diversified in order to achieve the goals of higher education and to protect the linguistic rights of local citizens.

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Academic achievement / Applied Linguistics / Arabic language / Arabs / Bilingual Education / Bilingualism / Civil Rights / College Admission / Competence / Education policy / Educational Change / Educational Policy / Educational Quality / English (Second Language) / English as a second language / English for academic purposes / English language / English proficiency / Foreign Countries / Futures (of Society) / High School Graduates / Higher Education / Language Education / Language of Instruction / Language Planning / Language policy / Language Proficiency / Language rights / Language Role / Language Skill Attrition / Language Tests / Language Usage / Linguistics / Literature Reviews / Measurement Techniques / Monolingualism / Original Paper / Political Science / Postsecondary Education / Public Schools / Research Methodology / Resource Allocation / School Policy / Scientific Research / Second Language Learning / Semitic Languages / Social Sciences / Sociolinguistics / State Universities / Teaching