TheReasonsBehindtheEnglishMajorStudentsWeaknesses.docVIP

The Reasons Behind the English Major Students Weaknesses in Philadelphia UniversityDr. Khalil Nofal Head / Department of English Philadelphia University – Jordan Nofalk48@ knofal@P.jo Abstract This paper is intended to investigate and scrutinize the reasons behind the weaknesses of English major students in Philadelphia University. One thing I would like to make clear before hand is that my observations and conclusions are based on my personal experience gained during my work as General Education Specialist ( English) UNRWA – UNESCO through classroom visits to some community colleges and Education Science Faculties in the five fields of UNRWA operations, namely, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza on the one hand, and as a teacher of English in both Philadelphia University and the University of Jordan on the other hand. I have discovered that the reasons behind our students weaknesses may refer to the learner, the curriculum or the study plan with its three major components, namely, language, linguistics and literature, and methods and teaching strategies../Nofalk48@ knofal@.jo.//:,.. Introduction: The thrust of this paper is to throw light on the most discrete problems which relate to the teaching of English to Arab students at the university level. Continuing dissatisfaction with the overall performance of Arab students in English courses suggests a lack of fundamental standards of curriculum design, testing oral communication skills, developing productive skills teaching / strategies at the university level. The departments of English in Arab universities exist to serve our needs of the English Language and literature. Now we need English not because it is the language of the British or the Americans and the rest of the English-speaking world ( political reasons), but because it has become a lingua franca indispensable in conducting diplomacy, business and other practical transactions with the whole world. Although many educational