Factors Affecting English Speaking Problems among Engineering Students at Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology
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Abstract
The aim of this study is to identify the factors which affect English speaking problems among engineering students at Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology (TNI). This study looked at five aspects: attitude, motivation, personality, exposure to English, and management in teaching and learning English. The study also examines the comparison of the causes of English speaking problems according to students’ gender. Selfcompiled questionnaires were distributed to 154 first-year and second-year engineering students and conducted during the first semester of the academic year of 2013 at TNI. Stratified random sampling technique was applied. Statistics used for analysing the data were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and t-test. The findings showed that the main causes of the students’ English speaking problems were management in teaching and learning English, exposure to English, and personality. These factors were identified at a moderate level. However, motivational and attitude factors were identified at a low level of problem. This present study discusses these findings and makes implications for increasing students’ opportunity to acquire a higher level of English speaking proficiency.
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