Letter to the Editor

Low ability of Thai students in English use
by Bancha Jenpiyapong
Ubon Ratchathani

I refer to recent research by the Academic Laboratory Center of Chulalongkhon University, reported in recent articles (The Ma Ti Chon Weekly, August 19-25 and The Daily News Newspaper, August 8), research by Udomsak Booncharoen, and a news article (The Chomchadleuk, August6). These highlights concern low English skills of Thai students.

I agree with these sources that Thai education systems clinging to rote learning, low standards of Thai teachers

teaching English, hardly English nativeteachers in Thai schools, and bad attitudestoward studying English can lead low English ability for Thai pupils.

In my little opinions, Ministry of Thai education should reform Thai education from the rote learning to the student centered, which is believed that can help students practice their English skills in addition to studies from grammatical books, concentrating on grammar use and vocabulary memorization. This is because the rote learning does not encourage the students to analyze, apply or create new ideas.

There should be consideration about Thai teachers' teaching standards because

many primary and secondary school teachers, not graduating from an English professional field and having insufficient English skills, may teach incorrect English to pupils.

In my further ideas, studying a second language with native speakers will be a solution to help the students learn the language correctly because of Thai teachers' English misuse.

In addition, English native teachers can help the pupils reduce their bad attitudes toward studying English. I believe that the students will become more courageous to use English to communicate and are not shy upon meeting foreigners if they have a chance to study English with native speakers.

These are just my ideas and some suggestion. I want to see big changes of Thai pupils in studying English effectively.