Enhancing English Skills for International Market Access: A Case Study of Pga K’nyau Textile Entrepreneurs in Lamphun Province

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##

Dechathorn Pojchanaphong
Kerdsiri Chomphookarwin
Paipan Thanalerdsopit

บทคัดย่อ

This research aimed to improve the English language proficiency of handwoven textile entrepreneurs from the Pga K’nyau group in Lamphun Province, enabling them to access international markets. The study used the Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach as an intervention. A mixed-methods design was employed, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data. The target group comprised 30 entrepreneurs, and data were collected through interviews, questionnaires, and pre- and post-tests. The quantitative data were member checked and presented via descriptive analysis. Three tailored lesson plans were designed to enhance participants' vocabulary, sentence construction, and online business communication skills. Statistical analysis revealed a significant improvement in English proficiency, with the post-test scores showing an average increase of 5.90 points compared to the pre-test. Over 90% of participants met the minimum proficiency benchmark of 50%. Qualitative data indicated a strong need for ongoing development in listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, particularly for international trade purposes. Overall, the CLT approach was found to be effective in increasing participants' confidence and ability to use English in real-world business contexts. The findings suggest that integrating language teaching with practical business activities can help entrepreneurs expand into global markets. This study provides a model for other ethnic and rural groups to enhance their business prospects through targeted English language education. Future research should explore the applicability of this approach in other sectors and regions.

##plugins.generic.usageStats.downloads##

##plugins.generic.usageStats.noStats##

##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##

บท
บทความวิจัย

เอกสารอ้างอิง

ASEAN. (2008). The ASEAN charter. ASEAN Secretariat.

Boonchom, S. (2010). Introduction to research. Suweeriyaasan.

Bachman, L. F. (1990). Fundamental considerations in language testing. Oxford University Press.

Bachman, L. F., & Palmer, A. S. (1996). Language testing in practice: Designing and developing useful language tests. Oxford University Press.

Bayyurt, Y., Kurt, Y., Öztekin, E., Guerra, L., Cavalheiro, L., & Pereira, R. (2019). English language teachers’ awareness of English as a Lingua Franca in multilingual and multicultural contexts. Eurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 5(2), 185-202. https://ejal.info/english-language-teachers-awareness-of-english-as-a-lingua-franca-in-multilingual-and-multicultural-contexts/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.32601/ejal.599230

Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Canale, M. (1983). From communicative competence to communicative language pedagogy. In J. C. Richards & R. W. Schmidt (Eds.), Language and communication (pp. 2-27). Longman.

Canale, M., & Swain, M. (1980). Theoretical bases of communicative approaches to second language teaching and testing. Applied Linguistics, 1(1), 1-47. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/I.1.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/1.1.1

Celce-Murcia, M. (2007). Rethinking the role of communicative competence in language teaching. In M. Celce-Murcia (Ed.), Intercultural language use and language learning (pp. 41-57). Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5639-0_3

Chanapai, J. (2018). Development of listening and speaking skills in English of grade 9 students using the communicative language teaching approach (Master’s thesis, Curriculum and Instruction). Mahasarakham Rajabhat University.

Chen, W., & Wellman, B. (2004). The Global Digital Divide—Within and Between Countries. IT & Society, 1(7), 39–45. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242208935_The_Global_Digital_ Divide-Within_and_Between_Countries

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2018). Research methods in education (8th ed.). Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315456539-10

Coskun, A. (2011). Investigation of application of communicative language teaching in the English language classroom – A case study in teacher’s attitudes in Turkey. Journal of Linguistics and Language Teaching, 2(1), 1–23. https://linguisticsandlanguageteaching.blogspot.com/ search?q=Investigation+of+the+Application+of+Communicative+Language+Teaching+in+the+English+Language+Classroom+%E2%80%93+A+Case+Study+on+Teachers%E2%80%99+Attitudes+in+Turkey

Coyle, D., Hood, P., & Marsh, D. (2010). CLIL: Content and language integrated learning. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009024549

Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Crystal, D. (2003). English as a global language (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Dudley-Evans, T., & St John, M. J. (1998). Developments in English for Specific Purposes: A multi-disciplinary approach. Cambridge University Press.

Ellis, R. (2003). Task-based language learning and teaching. Oxford University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.65961/AJELT-2003-1-009

Eisenring, M. A. A., & Margana, M. (2019). The importance of teacher–students interaction in communicative language teaching (Clt). Prasasti: Journal of linguistics, 4(1), 46-54. https://doi.org/10.20961/prasasti.v4i1.17052

Esmaeil, H. A. (2015). Comparative study of grammar translation method (GTM) and communicative language teaching (CLT) in language teaching methodology. International Journal of

Science and Research Methodology, 1(3), 16–25. https://doi.org/10.20961/prasasti.v4i1.17052 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20961/prasasti.v4i1.17052

Field, A. (2018). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Graddol, D. (2006). English next. British Council.

Hsieh, H.-F., & Shannon, S. E. (2005). Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 15(9), 1277-1288. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732305276687 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732305276687

Hymes, D. (1972). On communicative competence. In J. B. Pride & J. Holmes (Eds.), Sociolinguistics (pp. 269-293). Penguin.

Kemp, S. (2019). Digital 2019: Global digital overview. DataReportal. https://datareportal.com/ reports/digital-2019-global-digital-overview

Kirkpatrick, A. (2010). English as a lingua franca in ASEAN: A multilingual model. Hong Kong University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5790/hongkong/9789888028795.001.0001

Larsen-Freeman, D. (2003). Techniques and principles in language teaching (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Li, D. (1998). “It’s always more difficult than you plan and imagine”: Teachers’ perceived difficulties in

implementing communicative language teaching. TESOL Quarterly, 32(4), 677–703. https://doi.org/10.2307/3588000 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3588000

Littlewood, W. (2004). The task-based approach: Some questions and suggestions. ELT Journal, 58(4), 319–326. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/58.4.319 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/58.4.319

Meunchong, W. (2023). English for Homestay Tourism: Barriers and Needs of Entrepreneurs in Rural Community of Thailand. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 13(2), 473-478. https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1302.23 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1302.23

Nomnian, S. (2014). Thai entrepreneurs’ needs of English language for raft service business. Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASSS), 14(3), 101-128.

https://so02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/hasss/article/view/25948

Nunan, D. (2004). Task-based language teaching. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667336

Norton, B. (2013). Identity and language learning: Extending the conversation (2nd ed.). Multilingual Matters. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.18799909

Patton, M. Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Pipak, T. (2012). Organizing activities using the communicative language teaching approach to enhance listening

and speaking skills in English of grade 9 students (Master’s thesis). Buriram Rajabhat University.

Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T. S. (2001). Approaches and methods in language teaching (2nd ed.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511667305

Cambridge University Press.

Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T. S. (2014). Approaches and methods in language teaching (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009024532

Royal Project Foundation. (2012). Karen “Pga K’nyau”. Royal Project Thailand.

http://www.royalprojectthailand.com/karen

Si, J. (2019). The practicality of ELF-informed teaching: Attitudes and perceptions of Chinese business English teachers. Journal of English as a Lingua Franca, 8(2), 269-296. https://doi.org/10.1515/jelf-2019-2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jelf-2019-2024

Seidlhofer, B. (2011). Understanding English as a lingua franca. Oxford University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405198431.wbeal0243

Tenzer, H., Terjesen, S., & Harzing, A.-W. (2017). Language in International Business: A Review and Agenda for Future Research. Management International Review, 57(6), 815–854. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11575-017-0319-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11575-017-0319-x

Thamarana, S. (2015). A critical overview of communicative language teaching. SMART MOVES JOURNAL IJELLH, 3(5). https://www.ijellh.com/index.php/OJS/article/view/546