Journal of Liberal Arts Prince of Songkla University

Using Khmer Ancient Folktales to Guide Local Development in Northeastern Thailand: A Case Study of Nakhon Ratchasima and Buriram

Duangden Boonpok, Sathit Songsup, Pathima Pojanasunthorn, Kritsada Thanakun — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The purpose of this research is to study the folktales of Khmer stone temples in Nakhon Ratchasima and Buriram provinces in order to analyze them and develop guidelines for community development based on local cultural heritage. The research methodology involved field data collection, using snowball sampling and purposive selection methods to identify and connect with key individuals. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and participation in local ceremonies and festivals. The findings indicate that the story of “Pachit Orapim” is very popular and widely known in these areas. It conveys a modern love story in which the protagonist falls in love with Orapim and emphasizes the roles of talented women. Another folktale—about women and men competing to build Khmer stone temples—presents the power of women who stand up to fight for changes in culture and tradition, as well as showing women’s empowerment. The story of the god Narayana at Prasat Phanom Rung reveals the villagers’ beliefs and understanding regarding the god Narayana and the hermit Narayana. Regarding the tale of Lawo village, a female statue excavated by the villagers—named “Nang Lawo”—was later believed to represent the female Bodhisattva Prajnaparamita. This reflects the villagers’ reverence for Nang Lawo as a guardian spirit who protected their community. The findings, based on the small group discussion, revealed that the communities should also consider environmental factors and facility development for the benefit of people's daily life. Additionally, promoting cultural tourism through various activities is essential. Communities must build local brands for marketing, advertising and public relations.

A Metacognitive Information Literacy Model for Enhancing Critical Thinking in EFL Learners: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Chanida Phongnapharuk, Piansin Pinchai — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Metacognitive Information Literacy (MIL) model for enhancing learners’ critical thinking skills. Furthermore, the study assessed learners’ satisfaction with the model as it was incorporated into the learning experience. To this end, a one-group pretest–posttest design using purposive sampling was employed. Data was collected from 83 English-major undergraduates enrolled in the Digital Media Literacy course. Critical thinking assessments were conducted before and after the implementation of the MIL model. The test scores were calculated for mean, standard deviation, and p-value. Additionally, the satisfaction survey collected feedback about teaching instruction, student engagement, and collaborative activities through the ratings on a five-point scale. The findings indicate that the MIL model significantly enhances critical thinking as evidenced by the comparison of pre-test (M = 40.41, SD = 10.9) and the post-test (M = 52.77, SD = 8.73) scores statistically significant (p<.00). The survey results also reveal high levels of satisfaction with the model’s strategies for fostering a cooperative learning environment (M = 4.25), promoting metacognition (M = 4.41), and developing critical thinking abilities (M = 4.33). The result of this study suggests that the MIL model can be valuable, particularly for supporting learners as they develop their capacity to evaluate online sources, a necessary competency for university education and lifelong learning.

An Exploration of Hostility towards Covid-19 Patients from Cluster Infection in Thailand on a Facebook News Page

Natthakieat Noknoi, Pattama Patpong — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The imposition of quarantine during the Covid-19 pandemic led to increased social media use to stay updated on infection levels. It was reported that the virus had spread through cluster infections resulting from quarantine violations. Consequently, social media users expressed their feelings towards the infected group in these clusters through evaluative language. This study aims to investigate the expression of hostility towards Covid-19-infected individuals from cluster infections in Thailand. The data comprised 44 clauses extracted from comments on 11 posts about cluster infections in Thailand on the official Facebook page of the Thai news TV program Rueang Lao Chao Ni during 2020-2021. The ATTITUDE system in Martin and White’s (2005) Appraisal Theory was employed to analyze the data. The findings showed a co-occurrence of hostility and satisfaction in comments directed at infected people who violated the quarantine guidelines. Hostility was expressed by Facebook users in the extremity of violence. Satisfaction was invoked based on the belief that these infected people should be removed by violent methods so that infection levels in the country would decline. The findings of this study contribute to designing better communication content in the digital era for future pandemic crises to prevent stigmatization and hate speech towards patients.