Strengthening Assertive Communication in English among Saudi Students

Assertive communication is open and the most effective form of communication. Assertive communicators can express their needs, desires, ideas, and feelings while considering the needs of others. They aim at a win-win situation for both sides, balancing one?s rights with that of others. Being assertive involves taking into consideration one?s own and other people?s rights, wishes, wants, needs, and desires. The present study is important as it provides insights to English teachers in developing /enhancing /strengthening assertive communication in English among university students. The participants of the study constituted 34 undergraduate female students of the Department of English, Samtah University College, Jazan University. A questionnaire has been adapted to meet the requirements of the study which was designed to measure students? proficiency in two essential components of assertiveness as expressing your wants, needs, and thoughts while respecting others ?even when it is difficult. It consisted of 20 question items on a 5-point scale. The English teacher planned for modeling assertive communication in English among the students, based on the students? responses in the assertive communication questionnaire. Summing up this study, the researchers have observed that university students should enrich their communication skills, develop interaction skills, improve behavioral skills, conflict management skills, develop self-regulation, self-confidence, self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-efficacy. It also clearly indicated that English teachers should take up the responsibility to train university students in assertive communication in English to prepare them for future to meet personal, professional, communicative, and global challenges.