Bangkok--13 Mar--Communications & More
Despite Thai students receiving English lessons for at least 12 years from when they are young, the question always pops up in our mind - why they can't bravely face foreigners to speak out with their English?
Every time the question "Do you speak English?" comes, they are always silent, not knowing what to do next.
We definitely can't deny that after the official launch of the Asean Economic Community, English now becomes one of the most crucial things for communication in Thai citizen's daily life.
The 37th Annual International Conference entitled "ELT Pathways to Professional Excellence" hosted by Organisation of English Teachers in Thailand under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Galayani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra and TESOL International, recently held at the Ambassador Hotel Bangkok, is to be the centre for both Thai and international English teachers to exchange their experiences and to collaborate with each other to leverage English teaching skills and guidelines, while enhancing English capability for Thai students.
Associate Professor Sharon Harvey, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Society of Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is one of the distinguished speakers from New Zealand.
Associate Prof Harvey said New Zealand, generally known for one of the top-ranked education systems in the world, saw a lack of inspiration as the major hurdle for Thai students in learning English. Finding the right stimulation, including how to encourage them in the perfect way is the challenge.
She believes the Thai government should encourage more English skills to Thai students by continually fulfilling the gap of English usage in the classrooms to make it as much a part of daily life as Thai language.
"Introducing English through instructional and multi-platform media will increase their interest in learning English," said Associate Prof Harvey.
"However, it has a slight difference when comparing English fundamental skills of Thai students to other students in Asean region such as Vietnam and Indonesia. It's normal that the students who have higher chance of using English skills in their daily life will be a plus but somehow it's not that important because everyone can't use English as perfect as native speakers," said Associate Prof Harvey.
The English usage stimulation and encouragement should start with four points as follows.
Firstly, bringing English to be a part of daily life as much as we can, such as conversation training between foreigners or using English within the family.
Secondly, the government should realise the true importance of using English and launch better supporting measures for using English language as seriously as students in European countries that have always been given the support from their government and inspiration to communicate with other people in the world by using English and various languages.
Thirdly, cultivating the importance of English usage among the younger generation of Thai students and setting English to be the second language after Thai mother tongue.
Lastly, English teachers should bear in mind that they are capable to teach in the right way and always be open-minded for development.
Jaruwan Pongjaruwat, Programme Manager, Education New Zealand, said that the New Zealand education system always supports students to experience real life and focuses on enhancing capability in working while integrating all of their knowledge.
Moreover, there are other potential educational programmes in many sectors such as information technology, media and entertainment, tourism and hospitality, agriculture, food manufacturing process, public health, marketing, administration, social sciences and culture.
Ms. Jaruwan also added that the warm welcome from teachers and classmates in New Zealand is always the main factor that can drive the English skills.