COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES USED BY VRU STUDENTS ENROLLED IN LISTENING AND SPEAKING STRATEGIES FOR LEARNERS OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Abstract

               This study aimed 1) to investigate the English communication strategies used by the students enrolled in Listening and Speaking Strategies for Learners of English as a Foreign Language course and 2) to compare the English communication strategies used between males and females. The data were collected from 122 students enrolled in Listening and Speaking Strategies for Learners of English as a Foreign Language course (VLE210) at Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Royal Patronage, Pathumtani, in the 1st semester of the academic year 2019. The quantitative data was collected from the Oral Communication Strategy Inventory (reliability = 0.89) and the qualitative data was collected from the interview and the classroom participation observation. The quantitative data was analyzed by descriptive statistics: frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation including inferential statistics - independent t-test. The qualitative data was analyzed by the content analysis technique.
          According to the research findings, it was found that the students were able to employ the English communication strategies at the moderate to high level. When comparing genders, it revealed that there were significant differences between male and female students (p < 0.05). The male students used Strategies for Coping with Listening Problems at the high level (mean = 3.62) and Strategies for Coping with Speaking Problems at the moderate level (mean =3.39); they employed Negotiation for Meaning While Listening at the highest level (mean = 3.98) and Attempt to Think in English Strategies at the lowest level (mean = 2.89). In addition, the female students used Strategies for Coping with Listening Problems at the high level (mean = 3.54) and Strategies for Coping with Speaking Problems at the moderate level (mean = 3.44); they employed Social Affective Strategies at the highest level (mean = 3.97) and Attempt to Think in English Strategies at the lowest level (mean = 2.95). The results of this study help create a beneficial contribution to VLE210 course relating to the students’ needs and interests to develop their listening and speaking skills. Furthermore, the communication strategies should be included in the English instruction design and course curriculums in order that the students are able to efficiently apply the English knowledge and skills into their conversational contexts as well as real-life settings
.