Evaluating the Language Proficiency for Scholarship Grants in Terms of German Language Education: A Case Study of German Majors at Khon Kaen University in Thailand

การประเมินความสามารถทางภาษาเพื่อเข้าร่วมการชิงทุนการศึกษา ในมุมมองทางด้านการเรียนการสอนภาษาเยอรมัน: กรณีศึกษา นักศึกษาวิชาเอกภาษาเยอรมัน ณ มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น

Abstract

This article aims to 1) investigate the language proficiency for German language education in Thailand, 2) to study the test results of students majoring in German at Khon Kaen University in Thailand in the academic year 2024, and 3) to provide some suggestions for language instructors in relation to the language testing and teaching Based on the purposive sampling, nine highly proficient students from Khon Kaen University in Thailand (academic year 2024) participated in this study. As a screening test, the C-Test, specifically the onSET in this study, consisting of eight short reading texts, was used as a study tool. The test takers had to fill in twenty gaps for each reading text based on the Exact Word Scoring. Thus, there were a total of 160 scores. The data were collected and analyzed by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Thailand and the results were examined in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). It was found that two test-takers (22.22%) in this study achieved the language competency criteria of the B1 Level as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, causing them to be eligible for the scholarship application. In other words, candidates for this scholarship must be proficient in the German language at the B1 Level or higher. Among the other selected test takers, four students (44.44%) achieved the language competency at the A2 Level. Conversely, the statistical analysis also showed the number of the test participants (n = 3) who were categorized in the weakest category. These three students achieved the level of under A2 (33.33%). Based on the results of this study, the German department at Khon Kaen University in Thailand should improve the level of language competence of students to a greater extent.