English Camp: A Language Immersion Program in Thailand

A summer English camp language immersion program, which began in 2003, provided instruction by native English speakers to Thai college students via collaboration between Prince of Songkla University in Thailand and Ball State University in Indiana, USA. During this program, Thai students were exposed to English formally through classroom instruction and through informal field experiences. During the 2005 program, one English camp leader conducted a study for her three-student group to assess how well the program assisted in language acquisition through writing. The results indicated the immersion program was successful not only in language acquisition but also in cultural understanding for all the program participants. Due to the economic crises and political challenges in the late 1990s, Thailand was forced to increase its global competition. Among many means for achieving this goal is the enhancement and improvement of English language skills for the Thai students. A grant was offered to Thai universities to promote English to the college students. Prince of Songkla University, Ha