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Praise be to Allah and Peace be upon His Messenger, Mohammed

Education is key for personal development, and it provides a wealth of opportunities in life. The
commitment and efforts we put into education are some of the most fundamental investments
we can make towards securing the future wellbeing of Oman and its citizens.

Our education system has been the bedrock of our development. It has provided this generation
and those before it with the skills and knowledge that have driven the country’s growth and,
with it, our prosperity. But to meet our high aspirations as expressed in Oman’s Vision 2040
amidst an increasingly competitive global environment, we cannot stand still.

To compete with the best in the world, our education system must develop young Omanis
who are knowledgeable, think critically and creatively, have leadership skills and are able
to communicate effectively in English with the rest of the world. Just as importantly, our
students must be instilled with values, ethics and a sense of citizenship that will empower
them to make the right choices for themselves, their families and the country.

Given Oman’s historical and geographical profile, mastering English as a second language is
an absolute necessity for all our students. It is the language of international communication
and is also the main language for studying other subjects all over the world. Therefore,
the Ministry took the decision to adopt and customise an international series called ‘Team
Together’ that is benchmarked to the Global Scale of English (GSE) and the Common European
Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), both of which are internationally recognised
standards for describing language ability.

This series is based on the most cutting-edge research on teaching and learning. It will embed
and develop Future Skills such as critical and creative thinking, as well as encourage holistic,
well-rounded personal growth. This series will prepare our children to meet the challenges of
a pluralistic society that welcomes diversity, a knowledge-based job market that is constantly
evolving, and economic globalisation.

Finally, I hope that you find this book useful and enjoyable, and use it in your everyday lives,
as this will enable us all to contribute to the success of our beloved country – the Sultanate of
Oman – as led by the inspiration and wisdom of His Majesty, Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you every success in life.

Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al-Shaibani
Minister of Education
Sultanate of Oman