Female Saudi Students’ Attitudes Towards Speaking English with Native Speakers vs Non-Native Speakers of English

Abstract

Second-language learners of English try to master and improve their English-speaking skills. This study investigated female Saudi university students’ attitudes towards the following: a) speaking English in general; and b) speaking English with native speakers vs. non-native speakers. It can be vital to understand students’ attitudes to help them improve their ability to communicate effectively and express their thoughts clearly and easily. Data was collected from 112 female Saudi students at Taif University, using a closed-ended questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. The participants were asked about (a) their attitudes towards English speaking skills in general; (b) their attitudes to speaking English with native speakers; (c) their attitudes to speaking English with non-native speakers; and (d) how they felt about improving their English-speaking skills. Data collected by the questionnaire indicated that they were optimistic about the importance of English-speaking skills; b) had positive attitudes towards speaking with native speakers, which was not the case when they considered speaking with non-native speakers; c) felt nervous towards speaking with non-native speakers, who tended to be critical of their language skills; and d) preferred English activities to be with native rather than non-native speakers.