English language activities wow special needs children in Alkhobar

A government school in Alkhobar yesterday launched an English language awareness program prepared for and by special needs students.
Lauding the achievement, Alkhobar High School Principal Ibrahim Al-Shehri said special needs students are an integral part of society. “We must give them the platform to succeed and to prove their talent. They deserve more attention in order to feel that they are an important part of the community,” he said.
According to Al-Shehri, the school is always paying attention to students with special needs. “We want to make them feel good, confident, and independent,” he said.
Al-Shehri said the school organizes different programs for these children, such as taking them to Makkah for Umrah and organizing field trips and picnics. “Our teachers design special courses and activities to help them understand the nuances of the English language as well as other subjects,” he said. “We make an effort to group them with regular students to boost their confidence.”
Ali Al-Amri, deputy at the school, said: “Teachers in the school are very happy to help these students in their activities. We encourage them to be active members of our school and society.” Al-Amri said the school does not differentiate between special needs students and regular students. “During the recent program, we saw how special needs students and other students interacted in an healthy atmosphere. All these reflect our main focus on promoting equality among all students.”
Saeed Al-Asmari was the main force behind the creation of what is known as the English Language Tent activities. “I am happy to let everyone participate in the program. Through these programs, our idea is to build on our traditions and also to learn about foreign languages and cultures,” said Al-Asmari, who teaches English at the school.
“We teach our students about the pride that we have to take in our history as well as our Islamic traditions. We also inculcate in them the importance of the English language in our daily lives,” he said.
Al-Asmari called upon his fellow teachers to explain to their students the importance of the subjects they are teaching. “Students should be briefed and have a full idea about a subject that is being taught to them, so that it becomes easy for them to grasp. If students are made aware of the importance of any subject, they will study hard,” he said. Rashid Al-Juma, one of the special needs students who participated in organizing the English language activities, was very happy. “This is the first time I feel like I am one of those regular students. I thank Allah and all my teachers for what they have done and are doing for us,” he told Arab News.