The Development of English Skills of English Major Students to Communicate with Tourists about Buddhism and Culture at Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Chiang Mai Campus

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to study the problems of the English major students communicating in English with foreign tourists, the ways they solved the problems and the guidelines to develop their English competency; and how they developed the English competency about Buddhism and Culture of selected English major students. The experimental instruments were questionnaires; five learning activity plans (Fish bone diagram; PRA; Study-trips at Suandok temple, Phrasingh temple, and Chiang Man temple; Attendance of Monk Chat activity; and focus group discussion) and tests about Buddhism and Culture. The results showed that; 1) English major students had problems using English with foreign tourists in all four skills: listening, speaking, writing and reading at the medium level (X  = 3.13) as relatively follows: listening (3.19), speaking (3.16), writing (3.10), and reading (3.09); when students had problems in English communication, they seek other people with competency in English for help, and most English major students would like to develop their English competency by attending the training courses provided by the university.; 2) The result of English learning activity about Buddhism and Culture of English major students was higher than before participating in the activities with statistic significance at 0.01. The average scores of English major students before participating in the activities were at 23.70 and at 41.75 after participating in the activities, so their English competency about Buddhism and Culture increased to 18.05. All of the students were satisfied with the teaching plans provided by their researcher at the highest level (X = 4.30). In conclusion, the organizing of the participatory learning process could develop English competency about Buddhism and Culture of the selected English major students, especially their listening and speaking skills.