Problems and Proposed Strategies for the Enhancement of Speaking Skill for Undergraduate Chinese Students Studying   in the Hospitality Industry Program at North Bangkok University

Nittayanan Natee; Kris  Lietz; Araya  Ariya

Authors

Nittayanan Natee North Bangkok University, Bangkok, Thailand
Kris Lietz North Bangkok University, Bangkok, Thailand
Araya Ariya Lampang Rajabhat University, Thailand

Abstract

The objectives of this study were: 1) to investigate the speaking skill problems of undergraduate Chinese students studying in the Hospitality Industry Program, and 2) to construct proposed strategies for enhancement. This study employed a mixed-methods approach and was conducted at North Bangkok University. The participants included 1) 27 undergraduate Chinese students, 2) 15 English teachers of the Faculty of Liberal Arts, and 3) 5 teachers and administrators of the Hospitality Industry Program. The data collection was carried out through questionnaires and focus group discussion meetings. Statistical analysis was used for the quantitative data, while the content analysis was applied to the qualitative findings. The results revealed that Chinese students faced speaking problems at a high level, with the mean scores ranging from 4.21 to 4.65. The constructed enhancement strategies were categorized into five aspects: 1) strategies for learners, 2) strategies for instructors, 3) strategies for classroom management, 4) strategies for teaching-learning materials, and 5) strategies for evaluation. These findings should be applied for practical solutions for improving students’ English speaking competence in the hospitality program.

References

Antara, I. M. A. R., & Anggreni, N. P. Y. (2022). Problems faced by management business hospitality students in speaking English and their strategies to improve them. Journal Manajemen Pelayanan Hotel Akademi Komunitas Manajemen Perhotelan Indonesia, 6(1), 39–43.

Asmilawati, S. (2020). An analysis of students’ problem in reading comprehension through questioning technique [Unpublished undergraduate thesis, Raden Intan State Islamic University].

Baidya, T. K. (n.d.). Developing English speaking skills of the students of BRAC University: Problems and solutions. ENH Community Journal, 1(1).

Chamnan, V. (2017). An analytical study of English speaking skills of Cambodian students of Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University, Battambang Branch [Master’s thesis, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University].

Chiablaem, P. (2020). A needs analysis of Thai massage employees’ English communication skills in Pattaya, Chonburi. Kasetsart University Journal of Social Sciences, 27(2), 45–56.

Eamjoy, A. (2015). A study of needs and barriers in English communication skills of Thai secretaries at the Women Secretaries and Administrative Professionals Association of Thailand (WSAT) [Master’s thesis, Thammasat University].

Ella, R. B., & Dapudong, R. C. (2014). Oral communication achievement of Bachelor of Arts students majoring in English at Rajamangala University of Technology.

Higgins, J. (2022). Needs analysis of English skills for Thai resort workers in Koh Samet, Thailand [Master’s independent study, Thammasat University].

Khamklin, N. (2007). Needs analysis of English usage for OTOP officers at Thailand Export Mart in Bangkok [Master’s thesis, Christian University of Thailand].

Khasawneh, M. A. S. (2021). The degree of practicing effective communication skills among teachers of learning disabilities in English language. Journal Educational Verkenning, 2(2), 1–9.

Lebnark, S. (2018). A study of attitudes toward English speaking ability of students in the hotel industry sector [Master’s independent study, Thammasat University].

Nanthaboot, P. (2012). Using communicative activities to develop English speaking ability of Matthayomsuksa 3 students [Master’s thesis, Srinakharinwirot University].

Oradee, T. (2012). Developing speaking skills using three communicative activities (discussion, problem solving, and role-playing). International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, 2(6), 533–535.

Parnroch, T. (2018). English speaking skills of graduate students in a public university in Thailand: Problems and solutions [Master’s independent study, Thammasat University].

Phannukit, P. (2022). Needs analysis on English communication for hotel food and beverage staff [Master’s independent study, Thammasat University].

Phisutthangkoon, K. (2012). The use of communicative activities to develop English speaking ability of first-year diploma vocational students [Master’s thesis, Srinakharinwirot University].

Phonsomboon, W. (2020). English oral communication needs analysis of Thai vendors on Khaosan Road [Master’s independent study, Thammasat University].

Poshana, T. (2021). The effects of cooperative learning techniques on Thai secondary school students’ reading comprehension [Unpublished master’s thesis, Mahasarakham University].

Promrak, W., Wimolkasem, N., & Kongsom, T. (2015). Orientation training course for tourism and hotel student internship on English listening and speaking skills. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Language, Literature, Culture and Education.

Rahayu, N., Suprina, R., Amrullah, & Pitchayadejanant, K. (2021). English competency of hospitality workers and tourist satisfaction: Policy recommendations. Journal of Hunan University (Natural Sciences), 48(8), 23–34.

Sae-Jeng, S. (2018). Problems and needs of occupational English language skills for Thai tourist police officers at an international airport [Master’s independent study, Thammasat University].

Sittitoon, N. (2018). Needs analysis in English skills for hotel settings: A case study of business English student trainees [Master’s independent study, Thammasat University].

Wiriyakulchai, P. (2015). Analysis of self-assessment in English-speaking need by proficiency among Thai pharmacists [Master’s independent study, Thammasat University].

Wattanawong, S. (2020). Attitudes towards English speaking skills among Thai pre-engineering students [Master’s independent study, Thammasat University].