THAI STUDENTS’ LEARNING STRATEGIES IN CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
Abstract
This research aims to describe the speaking strategies of two Thai’s students taking a
Speaking course in the English Language Education Department. This study employs
descriptive qualitative design. Data were collected from observations, interviews, and
document collection. This study finds that the two Thai students apply various speaking
strategies in their speaking course. The strategies include switching to the mother tounges,
getting help, using mimes or gesture, avoiding communication partially or totally, selecting
the topic, adjusting or approximating the message, coining words, using a circumlocution or
synonym, overviewing and linking with already known materials, paying attention, delaying
speech production to focus on listening, finding out about language learning, organizing,
setting goals, and objectives, identifying the purpose of language task, planning for a
language task, seeking practice opportunities, and self-monitoring. All the strategies seem to
be able to help them to communicate and to follow the speaking course activities. Besides,
the strategies also help them to reduce nervousness when speaking, raise awareness for
mastering more vocabulary and practice speaking more. Recommendations for future
research may include investigation on the use of each strategies in context and how such EFL
students deal with the problems.