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Rajabhat and traditional universities: institutional differences in Thai students’ perceptions of English

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Abstract

This research explores the perceptions students at three traditional university campuses and four Rajabhat university campuses in Central-Western Thailand have of English. The students were surveyed on (1) their backgrounds, (2) their thoughts about English in general, (3) their thoughts about their own ability in English, and (4) their thoughts about their current English teachers. The researchers found that traditional university students had better backgrounds in English. Additionally, most students at both types of institutions thought positively about English and their teachers, but didn’t think so positively about their own English ability. However, the differences in students’ responses were small and therefore any implications from the institutional differences in students’ perceptions are limited.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Faculty of Education, Silpakorn University, Rajamankha Nai Road, A. Muang, Nakhon Pathom, 73000, Thailand

    Samuel J. Grubbs

  2. Department of English, Faculty of Arts, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon Sai 4, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand

    Salisa Chaengploy

  3. Department of English, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University, Malaiman Road, A. Muang, Nakhon Pathom, 73000, Thailand

    Kanoknate Worawong

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  1. Samuel J. Grubbs
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  2. Salisa Chaengploy
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Correspondence to Samuel J. Grubbs.

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Grubbs, S.J., Chaengploy, S. & Worawong, K. Rajabhat and traditional universities: institutional differences in Thai students’ perceptions of English. High Educ 57, 283–298 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-008-9144-2

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