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Researching the uses of the english language in the law job market in the sultanate of oman: implications for policy-practice improvement

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Abstract

The Sultanate of Oman is a developing country that has accepted the English language as a significant tool for modernization. This was best interpreted in the opening of Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in 1986, which has delivered its different academic programmes totally or partially through the English language. One of the colleges of SQU has been the College of Law. It was opened in 1997 to help contribute to effective implementation of nationalisation and national development in the Sultanate of Oman, which English language proficiency is a part and parcel of. However, graduates exiting the College so far have been unable to fulfil this strategic aim due to policy-practice drawbacks. Evident weaknesses in their English language and legal knowledge have provoked repeated complaints from the employers in both sectors. Accordingly, a decision was made to introduce a bilingual programme through which approximately 30 % of the subjects at the College of Law would be taught in English. This study, therefore, researches the uses of English language in the Law job market in the Sultanate of Oman and its implications for policy-practice improvement. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to 182 graduates of the College of Law, SQU. Findings have shown that while the new programme has the potential to serve national development and Omanisation, the College faculties have a pivotal role to play in influencing a positive implementation of the plan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Law, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 3058, Ruwi, 112, Sultanate of Oman

    Ali S. M. Al-Issa

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  1. Ali S. M. Al-Issa
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Correspondence to Ali S. M. Al-Issa.

Appendix: Uses of English at workplace

Appendix: Uses of English at workplace

No.

Statement

Never (%)

Rarely (%)

Sometimes (%)

Always (%)

1

I read legal cases in English

36.7

27.1

32.5

3.6

2

I read legal correspondences in English

32.5

25.9

27.7

13.9

3

I read legal references in English

42.2

31.3

20.5

6

4

I read legal books in English

48.8

29.5

18.1

3.6

5

I read legal research in English

56.6

27.7

11.4

4.2

6

I write pleadings in English

72.9

13.9

12

1.2

7

I write legal memoirs in English

69.1

14.5

12.7

2.6

8

I write legal consultations in English

64.8

13.3

15.8

6.1

9

I write responses to legal correspondences in English

56

18.1

15.1

10.8

10

I write responses to general/non-legal correspondences in English

48.2

16.9

21.7

13.3

11

I write in English to my colleagues at work

50

21.1

22

7.9

12

I speak in English to my colleagues at work

35.4

23.8

28.7

12.2

13

I speak in English to the non-Arabic speaking clients

27.1

25.3

35.5

12

14

I respond orally in English to legal consultations

44.2

26.1

22.4

7.3

15

English is the medium of communication at meetings

47

24.7

21.1

7.2

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Al-Issa, A.S.M. Researching the uses of the english language in the law job market in the sultanate of oman: implications for policy-practice improvement. Educ Res Policy Prac 13, 25–44 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10671-013-9146-4

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