DEVELOPMENT OF AN ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM FOR THAI INSTRUCTORS USING ENGLISH AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Abstract
The English for Integrated Studies (EIS) program has been accepted as an innovative practice to be utilized for Thai non-English speaking teachers (NESTs) using English as a medium of instruction (EMI) in the Thai basic education curriculum to increase the accessibility of the English program (EP) of the ministry of education to all students. The purpose of this research is to explore the problems and issues of the schools using EMI, to develop an alternative system of using EMI for NESTs and finally to determine the effectiveness of the alternative system. The Phenomenology theory approach of qualitative research was used as strategic research with the purpose of selecting key informants in 266 schools who provide and teach EP and/or EIS in the secondary and vocational education levels throughout Thailand.
The results of the study show that the benefits and advantages from providing EIS program strongly supports solving the permanent problems in providing EP, such as reliance on outsourcing and frequent changes of foreign teachers, high registration and tuition fees which are unaffordable for most families and government policies which cannot support or are not being implemented effectively reducing the opportunities for all students to learn in a quality EP. The innovative EIS approach is an alternative EMI system for NESTs one of the key success factors driving the process of the system is the EIS approach to continuous implementation of the administrators’ policies through the EIS 6 Tips pedagogy. It not only includes the development of the Thai basic education curriculum in the regular program but also helps to promote the Education Ministry’s policies of providing a quality education system. Moreover, EIS encourages competitive competency and reduces the gap in the quality of the public education system according to the national strategy.
Keywords: English as a Medium of Instruction/English for Integrated Studies/ Non-English Speaking Teachers/On the Job Training/Thailand 4.0
Article Details
References
Bruner, J. S. (1966). Toward a theory of instruction. Cambridge, MA: Belkapp Press.
Kolb, D. A. (2014). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development 2nded. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Krashen, S. (1987). Principles and practice in second language acquisition. Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Knowles, M. S., Holton, E. F., & Swanson, R. A. (2005). The adult learner: The definitive classic in adult education and human resources development (5th ed.). Woburn, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Matthayomwatnairong High School [MRS]. (2016b). MRS 2016 raising its educational management level to the top ten, letting Thailand escape the Middle Income Trap (MIT) with DCT. Mathayomwatnairong Journal, 19 (1), 4-6.
Matthayomwatnairong High School [MRS]. (2017b). The school’s strategies to excellence in learning and teaching during academic years 2011-2017. Mathayomwatnairong Journal, 20 (1), 3-8.
McKinsey & Company. (2007). How the world’s best-performing schools come out on top. Retrieved from https://www. mckinsey.com/industries/social-sector/our-insights/how-the-worlds-best-performing-school-systems-come-out-on-top
Ngamsom, S. (2009). The EIS training manual for non-English speaking teachers. Retrieved October, 14, 2017. from https://sites.google.com/site/eistrainingth/
Ngamsom, S. (2011). The effectiveness of bilingual education in the basic education curriculum; English for integrated studies (EIS) model. In The 3rd Malaysia-Thailand Joint Educational Research Conference, 2011 (pp. 455-483). Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia.
Office of the National Education Commission [ONEC]. (2015). New dimension education move forwards Thailand. Bangkok: Office of the Education Council.
Peansara, W., and other (2013). Bilingual teachers development model in the pilot project of English for integrated studies (EIS). Bangkok: MOE. Retrieved July,28, 2017. from: https://sites.google.com/a/eisth.org/eisth/nbs-sth-3
PRD-Thailand, (2017). Thailand 4.0 Focuses on Area-Based Development Policy. Retrieved Oct,14,2017. from http://thailand.prd.go.th/1700/ewt/thailand/ewt_news.php?nid=5175
Schleicher, A. (2015). Schools for 21st-century learners: Strong leaders, confident teachers, innovative approaches. Paris: OECD.
Senachit,T, Trakulmututa, J. (2017). An Implementation of Teaching English Program (Mini English Program:MEP): A Case Study of Primary Education Service Area Office Songkhla Province. Journal of Thonburi University. 11(24): (pp.74-80).
The Wallace Foundation. (2013). The school principal as leader: Guiding schools to better teaching and learning. New York, NY: The Wallace Foundation.
Tubsree, C. (2005). Instructional system design. Chonburi: Faculty of Education,Burapha University.
United Nation Development Program [UNDP]. (2007). Thailand human development report 2007: Sufficiency economy and human development. Bangkok: UNDP.
Upper Secondary Education Bureau [USEB]. (2009). Manual script NT & O-Net comparison report of Upper Secondary Education Bureau (USEB). Bangkok: OBEC.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.