INTRODUCTION
Bahrain is a country in the Persian Gulf. Due to its historical significance and relationship with English speaking countries, Bahrain has been exposed to the English language for many years. Whether it be treaties or military involvement, the English language has proven to be a significant aspect of everyday life. Within schools, media, and tourism, Bahrain is evolving into a place where English is spoken quite regularly.
HISTORY
Historically, Bahrain was an epicenter of the lost empire of Dilmun, a civilization lasting between 3200 and 330 BC. The sheikhs of the Khalifah family took rule in 1783. In 1913, Britain and the Ottoman government signed a treaty that recognized Bahrain as a country. However, the country remained under British control throughout the entirety of the next half century. Eventually, Bahrain was able to attain its own independence in 1971 and then signed a new treaty with Britain granting peace. From there, Sheikh Isa becomes the first Emir and the Council of State became a cabinet. In addition, Bahrain and the U.S. sign an agreement which permits them to rent military facilities within the country.
English education was introduced into curriculum in 1994. English was being taught as early as the fourth grade. In 2000-2001, English was taught in grade three and in 2004, English was taught as early as first grade. Bahrain has also had influence in military operations including Operation Desert Storm and defense agreements with the U.S. |
GEOGRAPHY |
DEMOGRAPHICS |
Bahrain is located in the Middle East. It makes up an archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia. The country is know for its mild and pleasant winters that stand in contrast to its humid and hot summers. Most of the country is a low desert plain that rises gently to a low central escarpment. Natural resources such as oil, natural gas, fish, and pearls can be found here. Bahrain is also prone to periodic droughts and snow storms.
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Bahrain's population is made up of 1,410,942 (July 2017) individuals. The nationality of its people is Bahraini. Many ethnic groups make up the country including Bahraini (46%), Asian (45.5%), other Arabs (4.7%), African (1.6%), European (1%), and others(1.2%). The official language is Arabic, but English, Farsi, and Urdu are widely spoken. Bahrain is a predominantly Muslim (70.3%) country but is also home to Christian (14.3), Hindu (9.8%), Buddhist (2.5%), and Jewish (0.6%) faiths. The overall population is expected to grow at a rate of 2.26% (2017).
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POLITICS
A video of King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa
(Kulfi TV, 2017) |
Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy. The country received independence from Britain on August 15, 1971. The executive branch is composed of the chief of state, King Hamad bin Isa Al- Khalifa (since March 6, 1999), while the head of government is Prime Minister Salman Bin Hamad Al- Khalifa. The cabinet is appointed by the monarch consisting of 29 ministers. Thirteen of these ministers are members of the Khalifa family. Elections do not occur. Instead, the monarchy is hereditary and the prime minister is appointed by the monarch. The Khalifa family has been in power since 1783. In addition, political parties in Bahrain are prohibited. However, political societies are allowed since a law was passed in 2005. There is an ongoing tension between the Sunni elites and Shia regarding government policies.
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LANGUAGE AND EDUCATION
Bahrain was one of the first countries in the Gulf to make use of a public school system. Students go to school for free from ages 6 to 14 and then they are given a test in order to move onto secondary school. Many of these schools begin teaching English and other subjects at an early age. Bahrain consists of 19 public schools and universities. Due to the use of English as a lingua franca (ELF), many programs are taught in English. Arabic is the official language of instruction at all levels in state schools, but English education can be seen as early as the first grade. In addition, organizations such as the International TEFL Academy and Teach Away offer programs to teach English in schools in Bahrain.
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(Go Bahrain, 2018)
By: Dylan Martin
Fall 2018
By: Dylan Martin
Fall 2018