In Thai context, what are the problems when you first learning English?

For me, When I was in primary school I have been stuck in the teaching environment that tries to put guilt into students. I remembered having bad experience speak wrong English word in English class and the teacher herself tried to make me feel funny in front of other pupils. That’s made me lose of my self-confidence and it took me a decade to learn that we all can make mistake and learn from it. I think many of Thais’ students used to face on this problem as same as me.

Amolwan 050 4EN

When I first learned English, things that considered to be my obstacle would be "self confidence". As you guys been knows that English is our second language and the words or the letter is completely different from Thai language so, I was afraid of making mistake and also I'm not familiar with its sound, as the result, I'm very shy of speaking English.

Everything seemed to be problems when I started learning English but the biggest problem for me was the "environment". I can communicate in English just only in the classroom because it's hard to speak English outside the class. Many people speak in Thai. I need to communicate in English more and more to improve my English skill.

Jutaporn011 3EN

When I first was in the university seemed to be the first time I can call that It was the first time for me to learn English. I remembered that my life was surrounded by those who were skillful at English. At that time, I though that why they had a thousand of things to talk to foreign teachers but I did not. I dared not speak English as I was afraid of making a mistake. After every English class, I always spoke to myself that I should try to speak no matter what happened. From then on, I try to open my mind and try to speak English.

Supalak Phoonnok 3EN 034

When I first started to learn English, I had a problem with my inner mind. I was an extremely shy child. I did not dare to speak or to do anything. My English was very poor. All I knew was the English alphabets. The second problem was the English teachers in my school did not encourage students to learn. That is why my English skills were so poor.

Natcha 023 4 EN

I think Thai context focus on learning grammar structure.
So I fear to speak English because I fear to speak wrong.
We should not focus too much on grammar structure because it will make learners worry about grammar structure when they communicate in English.
I think the heart of learning English is to communicate so the think that we should focus firstly is communication and this is my problem and I think Thai students get this problem also.



Jamrut 009 4EN

From my own experience, I still remember that......
when I was in high school , I was mostly taught about grammar and vocabulary in order to be able to do English examination like KKU's Quota , Gat-Pat or O-net.
For listening and speaking skills, I had just only a class per week to practice and in the class there were too much students about fifty so that it was very hard for students to be looked after.
I think I first seriously learn English to communicate when I was the first year student in MSU.

In the future, I hope that Thai educational system will pay more attention to English language in the school.

tanawat 4EN 059

In Thai context focus on learning grammar than how to make an attitude to learning English.
To make an attitude is a way to learning English. If you are negative attitude to learn English, it is hard to open your mind learn English. On the other hand, if you are good attitude to learn English, you will enjoy learning and will funny learning English at the same time. When I was at the elementary school, I was negative to learn English because it was difficult to Thai students. I was afraid to learn English as four skills. Fortunately, my attitude was changed by my mother. She taught English me after I finished school. I got some ideas. From that time on, I did't afraid to learn English until now. In the other hand, I love learning English. People around me support me to study English. This is one of my reasons why I choose studying English for teaching at Mahasarakham University at the present time.

Arissaraporn041 4EN

The problem is I learn a lot about grammar but I can't communicate in English.
As we know, Thai teachers always focus on grammar when they teach English while foreign teachers
focus on four skills and it is more successful. I want to know the way that the foreign teachers teach.
I hope it will be useful for Thai teachers who teach English because knowing grammar
is not the most important result of studying English. I think communicating in English is
more important result the students should get.


Tharinee 046 4EN

I think all problems are from the learner's mind.
When we learn new things first we have to be clear minded and open minded.
If you don't open your mind is would be hard to accept new things in your life.
Not only about learning language but everything.

Thananya 045 4EN

When starting leaning English language, the grammar and translation annoys me.
Every time I read or write any English word or sentence, I say its meaning in Thai.
I have to translate every word including an article-a/an/the found in a sentence.
That's too bad for my first step of leaning English.

Thitiphong 012 4EN