ERIC Number: EJ1459694
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0143-4632
EISSN: EISSN-1747-7557
Available Date: N/A
Desiring Chinese as a Foreign Language Policy in Saudi Arabia
Mustafa Hersi; Ayman Alzahrani; Mohammed Alharbi; Ahmed Qadi
Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, v46 n1 p10-25 2025
Studies that examine the rise of CFL policy in Saudi HE institutions are still rare. Through the "language comprehensive competitiveness framework" (LCCF) for the Chinese language? Consisting of policy, economic, cultural, and population competitiveness (Xu, J. 2007. [Chinese characters omitted]. [Language planning and language education]. Xuelin Press), we investigate (i) various forms of discourses and materials resources the Saudi government deployed to index the values of CFL, (ii) the conception and enactment of CFL education by teachers, students, and investor(s), and (iii) suggestions that policy actors have for their institutions. The study consisted of primary and secondary data. The secondary data includes analysis of government policy documents, media outlets, and the website of the Saudi Ministry of Education, the primary data involves analysis of individual interviews and group interviews with three teachers, five students, and one investor. It was found that the leading global position of China as an economic powerhouse has led the Saudi government, with royal decree, to invest heavily in CFL policy within higher education. The LCCF shows not all its components were equally appealing to policy actors. While teachers felt all components were important for deciding to teach the Chinese language, students reported that economic and cultural competitiveness are the primary reasons for learning Chinese.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Chinese, Second Language Instruction, Educational Policy, Government Role, Teacher Attitudes, Student Attitudes, Economic Factors, Cultural Influences, Motivation, Competition, Language of Instruction, English (Second Language)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Saudi Arabia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A