EFL curriculum reform in Thailandby Alan S. Mackenzie (Obirin University) |
[ p. 59 ]
I love to learn English, P.E. and Math. I like to learn about conversation more than grammar but in my school (most schools in Thailand except international schools), they only teach us grammar. Not many schools in Thailand teach students how to speak. If you want to learn conversation, you have to pay a lot of money to learn at a language school. (Daoruang, 2000)
". . . the main factor motivating educational reform is economics." |
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Dealing with teacher quality issues[ p. 63 ]
At the heart of the education reform are: decentralisation of education management; change of learning processes with emphasis on replacement of rote learning; and reform of teaching practices which include the licensing of the teaching profession and the standardisation of the quality of teachers. What really matters most is the quality of education, which is badly in need of improvement if this country is to be able to meet future global challenges, to maintain a competitive edge and to prosper. (The Bangkok Post, 2001)
[ p. 64 ]
. . . because of the amount of time it takes to teach and run the program: teach classes (language teachers have a higher teaching load than other teachers), correct students' work, develop tests and standardize them, coordinate the materials and distribute them, only 5% of our job is research. In CMU, our immediate concern is to deal with daily situations. This year, we ran two general English courses: one for arts majors and one for science majors. In the 2001 academic year, we had one general English course for the first two years, but after that, we need to have ESP courses in September 2002 for all the faculties that want students to develop their academic English ability further and we do not know yet, in March 2002, who wants them!
We have potentially to develop seventeen different ESP courses by fall and find teachers who can teach these specialised courses. This is as well as running the program in its current form. It is a losing battle in way.- Personal communication, Chiang Mai University, April 21st, 2002
[ p. 65 ]
". . .the ultimate aim of the education ministry is that all university classes in all subjects be conducted in English . . ." |
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