Where there is a will there is a way!

THIS means that if you are determined enough you can find a way to achieve what you want, even if it is very difficult. One of the biggest problem usually faced by Gulf countries is mastering the English language. This is a very difficult problem to overcome, but it is not impossible. Good jobs worldwide always go to people who are fluent in this language. Having a desire to learn and understand this language from a very young age makes mastering this language easy. “Ikra” or reading to understand and developing your knowledge in all areas will lead to all round development of students. Nowadays, there are many free online books, good English TV channels (Saudi English Channel, BBC News, etc.) which can be utilized by students. The library is a place that all students should visit regularly. Reading English newspapers helps students to keep track of things that are going on in their city as well as internationally. Parents can start a small home library for their children. Reading good Islamic online stories also develops good values in children. Parents should attend regular parent teacher meetings. This will enable them to keep track of the strengths and weaknesses of their children. Teachers can also encourage their students by recognizing  good and talented students publicly. This can be in the form of praise either in the form of a public announcement or individually. Principals can also award certificates, small cash awards or mementos to students for the effort shown by them. Books can also be given as a reward to meritorious students. This will help in motivating students to put greater efforts into their studies. Starting a reading circle club in the school or university will also help in the sharing of ideas and the development of more knowledge. Storytelling or debate competitions also encourage students to express themselves and to get rid of their fear of public speaking. Students can also join a Toastmasters club to communicate ideas and experiences with each other. Becoming a member of an exclusive club of like-minded people is also good for sharing ideas and learning, for example, a  civil engineers society. Students must realize that time is precious and hence it should not be wasted. A part of the summer holidays must be used for learning and gathering information. One of my students informed me that he plans to take summer classes for the next four years. He feels that this will help him complete his degree a semester earlier as well as get a better overall GPA. One step that can be considered by schools is to start teaching English from the very first class. Universities can also consider having English for Special Purposes (ESP) throughout the university years, for example, English for Medicine, English for Engineering, English for Marketing, etc. This need not disturb the regular teaching schedule as a fewer number of classes can be scheduled for students. The home is also be a good place to share information with seniors as well as juniors. The dual language system (Arabic  and English) must be used in all homes to encourage youngsters to be fluent in two languages. This dual language system is very successful in countries, such as India. Islam encourages the sharing of knowledge and teaching. “Each one, teach one” was a famous campaign launched in India. Students can teach their younger brothers or sisters the English language simply by speaking to them at home. Games such as Scrabble also help in developing vocabulary. Occasional visits to universities or companies by students also help them to develop ideas. Inter-school competitions in academics and the public recognition of winners by newspapers, TV and  websites is also good. For example, the inter-school quiz, Mathematics Olympiad, scholarship exam for exceptionally talented students, etc, should be encouraged at a national level. Students can also get into the habit of learning the Arabic meaning of an English word daily. The Oxford and Cambridge English-Arabic dictionaries can be very useful. These are also available online. The school or university can also send one English word with the English and Arabic meaning directly to the mobiles or emails of students. “Knowledge is power” is a famous saying. A few other sayings that I like are as follows, “There is no substitute for hard work” and “The wind and the waves always favor the ablest navigators”. I would like all students to first decide what they are interested in doing in their lives. Suggestions can be taken from everybody, but the final decision and responsibility of that decision lies with the student. I would like all students to make their own mark in the sands of time and not to walk in the footprint of other achievers. A famous saying of Thomas Edison is that, “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to try just one more time.” Once a student has decided then that goal should become the priority for that student. “Aim the arrow to the skies and you will reach the mountains”. Keeping a daily diary is also a good habit to develop. Every problem has a solution. The only condition is that you must think hard about it and then work toward solving it. “Self-help is the best help”, i.e. the solution to the problem is already with you. Always be a part of the solution and not the problem. Irfan Ahmed, Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah