A Case Study of Problems in Learning English as a Foreign Language among University Students: Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology

บทคัดย่อ

Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology (TNI) has put an emphasis on the importance of learning English as a foreign language to students. All TNI students are required to enroll at least fifteen credits: nine credits as a required subject and six credits as an elective subject. They begin to take the English course from their first year enrollment and continue studying for every semester until completion. In Thailand studying and teaching English as a foreign language for university students has usually generated many problems and with different causes. TNI has tried to solve the problems by introducing the latest modern teaching approach, a learner centered teaching technique. All the instructors at TNI have applied this technique in their classrooms in order to give an opportunity to the students to express their abilities in English. The purpose of this study was to find out the problems of learning English as a foreign language and the samples were first year and second years TNI students who enrolled in the second semester of the year 2008. The finding showed that the problems of learning English were at low level, both in overall picture and in particular aspects of the curriculum and learning activities. However, personal problems were more of an issue. There are many useful suggestions from the students: more opportunity for self-study and for speaking English with foreigners. Furthermore, tour visits abroad should be arranged for the students.