A proposed program for training teachers of English as a foreign language in Thailand

The purpose of the study was to develop a program for training teachers of English as a foreign language at all levels of instruction in Thailand. The study was designed to determine levels of performance in English as well as courses of high value for a Thai EFL teacher. So that an effective program for training Thai EFT, teachers could be established, literature pertaining to qualifications of teachers of English to speakers of other languages was reviewed, and questionnaires relevant to the purpose of the study were prepared.The Form A questionnaire was utilized to determine present: qualifications of Thai EFL teachers and existing impediments to better instruction of English in Thailand. The Form B question was used to obtain judgments regarding the courses to be of high value for a Thai EFL teacher as well as general suggestions, concerning an effective program for training teachers of English in Thailand. The Form A questionnaire was mailed to EFL teachers In Thailand and the Form B questionnaire was mailed to recognized specialists in the United States in the field of teaching English to speakers of other languages.The return of more than 75 percent of each of the questionnaires was analyzed according to the purpose of the study. The following findings were based upon the analysis of the questionnaire data.1. A majority of Thai EFL college and university teachers have completed courses recommended by ESOL specialists; however, very few of these teachers have high competence in English language skills.2. A majority of Thai EFL teachers indicated high need for intensive training in the four language skills and methods of teaching and preparing materials for teaching English as a foreign language.3. The impediments to better English instruction in higher education of Thailand were: overcrowded classrooms, poor knowledge of English by students, variations in students' knowledge of English, and poor motivation on the part of students.4. Courses recommended to be of high value for a Thai EFL teacher at all levels of instruction were: introduction to linguistics, English phonology and morphology, methods of teaching English as a foreign language, psychology of learning, Thai lin- guistics, and contrastive analysis of Thai and English.Based upon the review of related literature and the analysis of questionnaire data, ideal qualifications for an EFL Teacher were determined. Additionally, basic qualifications for a Thai ELL teacher and guidelines for the training program for Thai EFL teachers were established.Ideal qualifications for an EFL teacher and basic qualifications for a Thai EFL teacher were determined in these areas: 1. Characteristics of an EFL teacher2. Attitude toward, knowledge and skill of English for an EFL teacher3. Knowledge of Thai4. Knowledge and skill in general education5. Knowledge and skill in teaching and preparing materials for teaching English as a foreign language6. Cultural awareness.Guidelines for the training program for EFL teachers to obtain basic qualifications include the following areas: (l) objectives of the program; (2) selection and retention of students; (3) administration of the program; (4) course offerings; (5) major changes; (6) curriculum; and (7) evaluation of the program.Thesis (D. Ed.