Causal Factors Affecting to the Chinese Language for Communication Competency of the 1st Year University Students in Northern Thailand

Abstract

This research is aimed (1) to investigate the factors that affect the Chinese language for communication competency of the 1^st year university students in upper-northern Thailand, (2) to study strengths and weaknesses that affect language coThis research is aimed to (1) investigate the factors that affect the Chinese language competency for communication, (2) to study strengths and weaknesses that affect the language competency and (3) to seek for the ways and suggestions to enhance communication. Students selected for this study were first-year university students majoring in Chinese in a second semester, academic year 2018 in 4 universities in 3 provinces in theupper-northern. The study employed purposive sampling and the Yamane formula, Krejcie and Morgan formula to determine the sample number,
resulting in the number of 228 samples. According to the t-table calculation, it was found the main factor affecting the language competency was priorknowledge of Chinese before entering university which resulted 2.359 in the T value, higher than 1.895 at 0.05 of the level of significance. Moreover, the weaknesses of studying Chinese prior to entering university were different textbooks used by different schools, inconsistent communication skill
practice, incapability of communicating in various situations, and plagiarizinginformation in new media. Racial factor which was found 1.875 of thet-value, lower than 1.895, with the level of significance of 0.05, does not correlate with the Chinese competency for communication. Therefore, to provide continuing language learning for students, school should carefully design the curriculum or Chinese language course aligning with the basic education core curriculum A.D. 2008 as well as equip students withanalytical skills for New Media in tertiary education level.mpetency and (3) to seek for the ways and suggestions to enhance communication.  Students selected for this study were the group of 1^st year university students majoring in Chinese in the second semester academic year 2018 in 4 universities in the 3 provinces in the upper-northern Thailand. The purposive sampling was used in the selection of case studies, and the Yamane formula to determine the case study group. that resulted in the group of 228 cases. According to the t-table calculation, it was found the main factor that affect the language competency is prior knowledge of Chinese before entering university which resulted 2.359 in the T value, which is higher than 1.895 at 0.05 of the level of significance. Also. However, prior high school knowledge from different backgrounds created an inconsistent learning ability in university. New medias can also lead students to deviant learning behavior such as mismanagement of time and plagiarism. Racial factor which was found 1.875 of the t-value, which is lower than 1.895, with the level of significance of 0.05, does not affect the language competency at all. In order to improve Chinese language teaching, curriculum must be revisited and revised. New media is powerful, but it needs improvement to assist language learning.