Improving Communication Skills in Chinese Through a Short-term Training Course: A Case Study of First-Year-Students at Thepsatri Rajabhat University

Abstract

               The objectives of this research are as follows: 1. To develop a short-term training course to enhance Chinese language communication skills for students of the various faculties of the Thepsatri Rajabhat University. 2. To evaluate the pre and post-training test results to improve Chinese language communication skills using the short-term course. 3. To study the satisfaction level of the target group towards the use of the Chinese language communication skill training course. The target group for this research are first-year students of the 2022 academic year from all six faculties of Thepsatri Rajabhat University, totaling approximately 1,341 people, selected through targeted sampling. The framework for developing the course is based on the ideas of Task-Based Language Teaching and Active Learning. The research tools used include: 1. Draft of the short-term training course to improve Chinese language communication skills, 2. Pre and post-training tests, 3. Post-learning unit practice exercises, and 4. Evaluation forms for feedback and satisfaction towards the training program. All research tools have been quality-checked by experts. The research findings reveal that 1. The drafted short-term training course is highly suitable for this training program (μ = 4.40, S.D. = 0.23), 2. The post-training test scores are higher than the pre-training test scores, with an improvement of 11.25 points, and 3. The satisfaction level of the target group towards the Chinese language communication skill training course is at a high level. (μ = 4.55, S.D. = 0.66) It shows that the developed course improves the Chinese communication skills of the target group of students.

The objectives of this research were (1) to develop a short-term training course for enhancing Chinese language communication skills of students in the various faculties of the Thepsatri Rajabhat University, (2) to evaluate them in pre- and post-training tests, (3) to study the satisfaction level of the target group towards using the Chinese language communication skills training course. The target group for this research were first-year students of the 2022 academic year from all six faculties at Thepsatri Rajabhat University, totaling approximately 1,341 persons, using purposive sampling. The research tools included: (1) a draft of the short-term training course for improving Chinese language communication skills; (2) pre- and post-training tests; (3) post-learning unit practice exercises; and (4) evaluation forms for feedback and satisfaction with the training program. All research tools were quality checked by experts. The research revealed that 1) the drafted short-term training course is highly suitable for this training program (=4.40, S.D.=0.23), 2) the post-training test scores are higher than the pre-training test scores, with an improvement by 11.25 points, and 3) the satisfaction level of the target group towards the Chinese language communication skills training course is at a high level (=4.55, S.D.=0.66). This shows that the developed course improves the Chinese language communication skills of the target group of students.