A need or a luxury? Parents’ attitudes towards international schools from a linguistic perspective

English is the language of instruction at international schools in Saudi Arabia, which have traditionally been attended by the children of expatriate professionals living in the country. In recent years, Saudi parents have begun to enrol their children in international schools, which is a novel phenomenon in the Saudi context. This study assessed parents’ attitudes towards international schools from a linguistic perspective as well as their attitudes towards the potential impact on their childre