‘More English Please’ launched for Arab learners

MUSCAT, June 1
Veteran ELT author, publisher and teacher trainer Richard Harrison has launched ‘More English Please 1’, a beginner-level English language course designed specifically for Arab learners, marking another milestone in his long-standing contribution to English language teaching in the Middle East.
The course, published by his Muscat and London-based imprint Canford Publishing, takes learners from starter to elementary level through a structured, step-by-step approach covering speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
Richard, a graduate of King’s College London and the University of Reading, has taught and trained educators across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iran and Oman, as well as working with the British Council in Russia as an ESP consultant.
Speaking about the new series, Richard said the core aim was to make English learning more accessible and culturally relevant for Arab students. “Arabic is not closely related to English, so the progression has to be carefully staged,” he noted. “The idea is constant recycling of language through review units and practical application so learners build confidence gradually.”
‘More English Please’ builds on the success of the earlier ‘English Please’ series, which was widely used across the Middle East for both adult and younger learners. The updated edition has been fully revised and modernised, with the workbook integrated into the main student book. Teacher support materials, answer keys and listening components are available online for easy access.
A key feature of the course is its strong regional grounding. Topics are designed to reflect familiar cultural and geographical contexts across the Arab world, while characters include a blend of Arab and international names. Each unit also includes focused work on pronunciation, vocabulary, punctuation and language use, followed by study summaries and structured review sections. Every two units culminate in a continuous storyline set in London, designed to reinforce learning in an engaging narrative format.
Initial feedback on Book 1 has been positive, particularly for its design, which features Moroccan tile-inspired artwork on the cover, adding a distinctive regional visual identity.
Richard, who developed much of the course while working in Oman, Bahrain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, continues to maintain a strong professional base in Oman. His publishing house, Canford Publishing, operates between Muscat and London and specialises in ELT materials for Middle Eastern and international markets.
In Oman, the latest edition is being printed by Mazoon Printing, further reinforcing the country’s role in the production and dissemination of the series. The Oman connection runs deeper still — Richard’s earlier works were shaped during his teaching years in Oman, where he first identified the need for structured writing and language development materials tailored to Arab learners.
From its early origins to its current refreshed edition, ‘More English Please’ reflects a teaching philosophy built on clarity, cultural relevance and gradual skill-building —principles that have defined Richard’s decades-long career in English language education.