However, there are others who claim that this would hinder children from learning their mother tongue, and weaken their understanding of Arab culture and Islam.

In Saudi government schools, English is taught from the sixth grade of the elementary level. Even though the Ministry of Education has approved the teaching of English from the first grade, the decision has still not been implemented. Nevertheless, some private Saudi schools have started teaching English from the first grade.

According to Ibrahim Al-Saleem, a professor of educational psychology, many Saudis have poor skills in speaking, reading and writing English — even after they graduate from secondary school or university — because of inadequate exposure to the language as children.

“A child aged between five and 14 is better able to learn a new language. The idea that learning a second language will adversely affect the learning of one’s mother tongue is wrong,” he told Al-Riyadh newspaper in a recent interview.

Al-Saleem said most European countries teach young children second languages and that some even teach third languages. “I have firm conviction that elementary school pupils are in an excellent position to learn a second language. There is little fear that they will not learn their mother tongues, as that would be their medium of conversation while at home and in wider society,” he added.

Al-Saleem is also of the view that there is a need to carefully select a suitable and effective method to teach English at the elementary level. “Children should be provided with different learning experiences, different to the traditional methodology of teaching languages,” he said, adding that innovative methods of teaching should be given priority over traditional methods of learning that focus on memorizing and pronunciation.

“Proficiency in English and adequate computer skills are necessary to secure jobs in the Kingdom’s private sector,” he added.

Salman Al-Maliki, an English language supervisor at the Education Department in Taif, said some parents are wrong to assume that learning English as a second language at the elementary level will adversely affect their Arabic.

“On the contrary, several studies show that learning a foreign language usually strengthens a child’s capabilities in his or her mother tongue. Learning the structure of a foreign language helps them indirectly learn various aspects of their native language,” he said, while drawing attention to the successes experienced at a number of private and international schools across the Kingdom, particularly at the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu.

“Teaching English from the first grade will not result in any negative impact on the learning of Arabic. This has also been seen in countries such as Malaysia and Egypt,” he added.

One of the major advantages of teaching English in the first grade, said Al-Maliki, is the opportunity to learn a second language at a young age. “The best time to learn a new language is before adolescence. After this period, one’s acquisition power will start diminishing and reach a stage when it is not easy to learn a new language,” he said, adding that studies, such as the one carried out in Scotland, have shown that young children are easily able to learn foreign languages because they are very keen, curious and able to imitate voices.

“If children start learning English at a young age, they will get a much longer time to gain proficiency in the language,” he told Al-Riyadh.

Al-Maliki said the teaching of English in the first two grades of elementary school should focus on speaking and listening. “The learning tools should be similar to that of Arabic and include things such as songs, short stories and playing educational games,” he said.

“There’s also a need for teachers to teach in an attractive, interesting and scientific fashion. There should be training courses for teachers with a focus on television programs on various aspects of teaching as well as on new methodologies,” he said, suggesting there should be at least two periods (90 minutes) for English language a week.

However, some academics are of the view that teaching English will have a negative effect on children learning Arabic, and ultimately affect how well they learn Saudi culture and Islam.

“English should not be allowed to occupy the position of Arabic as the main medium of instruction in the Kingdom. English should be taught at a later phase and should be treated as a language for communication, not as a medium of instruction,” said one academic.