Abstract -
Teaching of English in Libya goes back to 1940s after the end of the World War II under the British administration in the northern part of Libya. On 19.02.1968, the Minister of Education made a decision to form a committee for revising the Libyan educational system. It aimed at making English the language of instruction of scientific courses in the secondary school and university. The first English language series used in Libya was Basic Way to English by KC Ogden. In the 1960's, a new English language programme and textbooks were needed to change and improve the whole process of teaching that foreign language in Libya. The series, written by Mustafa Gusbi, was entitled: English for Libya. For the secondary stage, Gusbi, in combination with another writer Roland John, had another series entitled Further English for Libya in which they adopted the English culture as a vehicle for teaching the English language. In the school year 1998/1999 a new series of English for Libya, published by Garnet Education was in use in both preparatory and secondary stages. After the air-raid against the Gaddafi regime led by the United States of America and the United Kingdom in mid of April 1986, and as a consequence, the Minister of Education made the decision No. 195/1986 to stop teaching foreign languages in Libya. The decision badly affected the future of education in Libya.
English language teaching was resumed again in the Libyan educational system in the year 1993/1994. In 2005/2006 a new English text-book was introduced to 3rd primary class. English was taught in the 3rd class for only one year. It was stopped but introduced to 5th and 6th classes in the year 2006/2007. Historically, there was some kind of training led by the universities and with the cooperation of the UNESCO. Teachers were regularly sent abroad for training. Since stopping the teaching of English in 1986, many problems are encountering the process:
- shortage of qualified teachers,
- shortage of teaching aids for the language,
- no language laboratories at schools, and
- absence of programmed language training for the teachers,
- absence of computer training that makes the teachers able to use the computer and Internet in the language laboratories.
The researcher recommends that it is necessary to establish language training centres in different cities with the cooperation of some British or American universities and the British Council. The Ministry of Education has to revise its plans for teaching foreign languages, of which English comes at the top. Practical solutions for such problem should be made in order to reform the whole process of teaching English as a foreign language in Libya.
الحسين سليم أحمد محسن | Al-Hussein S. Mohsen | 13059