DEVELOPING A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK TO FOSTER CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE AMONG VOCATIONAL EDUCATION STUDENTS TO ALIGN WITH THE GROWTH OF CHINESE INVESTMENTS IN THAILAND

Abstract

The research study, developing a Conceptual Framework to Foster Chinese Language and Culture among Vocational Education Students to Align with the Growth of Chinese Investments in Thailand, aims (1) to examine the concepts and (2) to design a conceptual framework to foster Chinese language and culture for students under the Office of the Vocational Education Commission to align with the growth of Chinese investments in Thailand. The research methodology consists of 2 stages. In the first stage, concepts related to the promotion of Chinese language and culture were examined by interviews with 30 Chinese language teachers and educators from basic education, vocational education, and higher education levels, selected through purposive sampling. In the second stage, a conceptual framework of Chinese language and cultural promotion was developed by Delphi technique with insights from Chinese language experts. The findings revealed that (1) the concepts related to promoting Chinese language and culture consist of the current situation of Chinese language teaching, the importance of Chinese language and culture, strategies for enhancing teaching and learning, directions for curriculum development, policy formulation to promote Chinese language and cultural teaching, similarities and differences between vocational education and basic education, key strengths and unique features in Chinese language and culture teaching, critical organizations or agencies, supplementary skill-building activities, and essential competencies. (2) The conceptual framework to foster Chinese language and culture consists of the following dimensions: policies to foster Chinese language and culture instructions, factors to support Chinese language and culture instructions, and the enhancements of Chinese language and culture instructions.