Impact of Covid-19 on English Language Learning and Teaching Strategies at Universities in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

In response to the pandemic, the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected almost all countries
with loss of lives, economic collapse, disintegration of social structure, and, above all, the education
sector since its outbreak in March 2029. Around 107 countries announced the closure of educational
institutions such as schools, colleges, and universities in the same month of distribution. Among these
countries, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was also on the list, and the disease affected its higher
education system the most. In this sense, the English language programs at KSA universities are
fundamentally flawed. Therefore, universities have faced adversity such as isolation measures,
quarantine, social distancing, travel restrictions, and campus closures. The value of the English language
learning system is due to the constant pressure of the world as a global language. In this regard, the desire
to reform and improve education in English has become a phenomenon around the world. Before the
outbreak of COVID-19, KSA universities effectively worked on their teaching system on almost all
campuses of all major universities in major cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Medina, Mecca, Dammam, and
other cities. In this study, systematic surveys and studies focused on qualitative research methods that
expanded secondary data in addition, a systematic literature review of approximately 40 published and
recognized research manuscripts, including 30 research articles, four books, four reports, and two
authoritative sites on the subject, has been included in the study. As a case study, 150 respondents were
selected to obtain secondary data in the form of questionnaires from Imam Abdurrahman Bin Faisal
University, Dammam and KSA. In addition, it sheds light on the pre- and post-English state of the English
language learning system, along with previous and possible analysis at universities on COVID-19.