Language Center

In most organizations, at a national or an international level, English language proficiency yields great profits in job achievement and advancement. This study aimed 1) to survey current English language use in the workplace, 2) to investigate English language needs in the workplace, and 3) to examine organizational support for English language skill improvement. The participants were 450 Thai professionals from local and international companies in Asoke, Sukhumvit business area in Bangkok, Thailand. The mixed method approach was employed in this study. The instruments used in this study were a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. The data were analyzed by using frequency and percentage. The results showed that 1) English was highly required in their workplace, in particular speaking and listening skills, and problems in the language use were found, 2) speaking skills were prioritized and needed in the workplace context 3) the professionals were supported to take English courses in other institutes for English language skill improvement. This study will provide many benefits for English language teachers and course designers in their consideration the revision of English courses at the tertiary level.

In most organizations, at a national or an international level, English language proficiency yields great profits in job achievement and advancement. This study aimed 1) to survey current English language use in the workplace, 2) to investigate English language needs in the workplace, and 3) to examine organizational support for English language skill improvement. The participants were 450 Thai professionals from local and international companies in Asoke, Sukhumvit business area in Bangkok, Thailand. The mixed method approach was employed in this study. The instruments used in this study were a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. The data were analyzed by using frequency and percentage. The results showed that 1) English was highly required in their workplace, in particular speaking and listening skills, and problems in the language use were found, 2) speaking skills were prioritized and needed in the workplace context 3) the professionals were supported to take English ...

International Communication Program, Srinakarinwirot University for their guidance throughout my study in this program. I also would like to express my deep appreciation for helpfulness of my good friends who studied with me over the period of our study together. My special thanks go to Mr. James Murphy, Head Teacher of Mulberry House International Preschool , who assisted me with his suggested direction to this research project. My sincerest thanks are also extended to Ms. Orawan Tanvimolrat and Ms. Sasinee Kovavisarach, the school's owner who gave me an opportunity to carry out this study. I very much appreciate the cooperation of all the parents from Mulberry House participating in this project and their useful information and recommendations. Above all, I deeply wish to express my deepest and wholehearted thanks to my beloved parents, brothers, cousins, and relatives for their love, understanding, moral support, and encouragement, which inspired me from the beginning through this undertaking. They will always have my deepest gratitude.

English language proficiency matters greatly in the global economy, and can be considered to be a key factor for success of certain professionals, including engineers. However, there have been a number of complaints about the gap between what is taught in university language courses, and what is used in workplace communication. This research deals with the current situation of how Thai novice engineers use language prior to and during their employment. It was found that the courses had not provided enough of the language skills, which are pertinent to novice engineers; they had not enhanced students' confidence in oral proficiency or of their reading skills (of articles, manuals, minutes and annual reports). It is critical for teachers to improve English courses for engineering students immediately, in particular non-native English speakers, to become well-qualified future members of the workforce in the global community.

English language and communication abilities are an essential part of the global engineering community. However, non-native English speaking engineers and students tend to be unable to master these skills. This study aims to gauge the perceived levels of their general English language proficiency, to explore their English communicative problems, to investigate their perceived abilities when performing English-related tasks in an engineering workplace communication situation, and to obtain feedback on student performances from English instructors in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses. The participants included 130 Thai undergraduate students and two English instructors at a government university. There were two instruments; a questionnaire for the students and a series of interview questions for the instructors. The results revealed that (a) although the students perceived their abilities to be at a fair level, they experienced difficulty using productive skills in English communication; (b) the English-related tasks that the students performed best and worst in were reading and writing tasks respectively; and (c) in the ESP courses, the ability of the students to use English in the 'real world' was not dramatically improved, and (d) these students also had unrealistic language learning goals. These results would benefit both ESP instructors and stakeholders in terms of increasing awareness of both language and communication problems, and designing tailor-made courses that are a perfect fit for their students with regard to the contemporary engineering community.