Primary and Lower Secondary School Teachers’ Attitudes toward English Language Learning A Case Study of Teachers in Muak Lek and Wang Muang Districts, Saraburi Province
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Abstract
This study surveyed the attitudes of primary and lower secondary school teachers in Muak Lek and Wang Muang districts of Basic Education Service Area Office 2, Saraburi province, toward the English language, and examined the significant difference between male and female teachers’ attitudes toward English and the significant difference between those with 1-4 years and those with more than 20 years of teaching experience. A modified 20-item attitude survey adapted from Gardner’s (1985) Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) was administered to 203 primary and lower secondary school teachers in Muak Lek and Wang Muang districts, Saraburi province. The data was analysed using MINITAB version 16, and the significance of differences between means was analysed using Two-Sample T-test. The findings of the study revealed that the attitude of the primary and lower secondary school teachers toward the English language was slightly positive. The study also showed that there was no significant difference between male and female teachers’ attitudes, and no significant difference in the teachers’ attitudes between those with 1-4 years of teaching experience and those with more than 20 years of teaching experience.
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Research Articles
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References
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Sarnoff, I.& Katz, D. (1954). The motivational basis of attitude change. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 49(1), 115-124.
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Zainol, A., et al. (2012). EFL students’ attitudes towards learning English language: The case of Libyan secondary school students. Asian Social Science, vol. 8, no. 2, pp.119-134.
Ashton, S. & Elyidirim, S. (2006). Creating positive attitudes towards English as a foreign language. English Teaching Forum, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 2-11.
Balcazar, I.H. (2003). Language shift and language attitudes of Kaqchikel Maya adolescents. The 4th International Symposium on Bilingualism, Arizona State University, USA. (April, 2003)
Bektas, F. & Nalcaci, A. (2012). The relationship between personal values and attitude towards teaching profession. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice. Spring Supplementary 2, vol. 12, pp.1244-1248.
Boriboon, P. (2011). Language, Ideology and Domination: Problems of English language teaching in Thailand and solutions. Songklanakarin Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, vol.17, no. 6, pp. 23-59.
Brown, H. D. (1994). Principles of language learning and teaching. Prentice Hall Regents, USA.
Brown, H. D (2000). Principles of language learning and teaching. 4th ed. White Plains, NY: Addison Wesley Longman.
Chaihiranwattana, M. & Nookua, S. (2010). An investigation on English language learning attitudes of Siam University Students. Retrieved: March 18, 2013, from: http://tldc.siam.edu/attachments/050_ ART-001.pdf
Darasawang, P. (2007). English language teaching and education in Thailand: A decade of change. Retrieved: May 6, 2013, from: http://arts.kmutt.ac.th/crs/Article/English%20Language%20Teaching%20and%2 Education%20in%20Thailand_A%20Decade%20of%20Change.pdf
Eagly, A. & Chaiken S. (1995). Attitude strength, attitude structure, and resistance to change. Mahwah, New Jersey: Eribaum.
Feng. R. & Chen, H. (2009). An Analysis on the Importance of Motivation and Strategy in Postgraduates EnglishAcquisition. English Language Teaching. 2, 93-97. Retrieved: August 29, 2013, from: http:// www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/elt/article/viewFile/3700/3301
Garcia-Santillan, A., et al. (2012). Cognitive, affective and behavioral components that explain attitude toward statistics. Journal of Mathematics Research, vol. 4, no. 5, pp. 8-15.
Gardner, R. (1985). Social psychology and second language learning: The role of attitudes and motivation. London: Edward Arnold.
Gourneau, B. (nd). Five attitudes of effective teachers: Implications for teaching training. Retrieved: March 20, 2013, from: http://www.usca.edu/essays/vol132005/gourneau.pdf
Hodal, K. (2012). Thai schools urged to boost speaking. Retrieved: April 30, 2013, from: http://www.guardian. co.uk/education/2012/feb/14/thailand-speak-english-campaign.
Hussain, S., et al. (2011). Attitude of secondary school teachers towards teaching profession. International Journal of Academic Research, vol.3, no. 1. (pp. 985-990).
Kaewmala. (2012). Thai education failures – Part 1: Ridiculous O-NET questions. Retrieved: March 19, 2013, from: http://thaiwomantalks.com/2012/02/26/the-sorry-state-of-thai-education-part-1-ridiculous-onet-questions/
Kaewmala. (2012). Thai education failures – Part 4: Dismal English- language training. Retrieved: April 30, 2013, from: http://asiancorrespondent.com/78647/thai-education-failures-part-4-dismal-englishlanguage-education/
Kara, A. (2009). The effect of a ‘learning theories’ unit on students’ attitude towards learning. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 34(3), 100-113. Retrieved: August 29, 2013, from: http://ro.ecu.edu.au/ cgi/viewcontent.cgi?articles=1357&context=ajte
Katz, D. (1960). The functional approach to the study of attitudes. Public Opinion Quarterly, 24, 163-204.
Khunasathitchai, K. (2009). A survey study of students’ attitudes towards English I of the first year students, the Faculty of Technical Education majoring in computer technology at Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep. Language Institute, Thamasat University.
Kitjaroonchai, N. & Kitjaroonchai, T. (2012). Motivation toward English language learning of Thai students majoring in English at Asia-Pacific International University. Catalyst, 7 (1), 21-40.
Lapinski, M.K.& Boster, F.J. (2001). Modeling the ego-defensive function of attitudes. Communication Monographs, vol. 68, no.3, pp. 314-324.
Likert, R. (1932). A technique for the measurement of attitudes. Archives of Psychology, vol. 22, p.140.
Mamum, A., et al. (2012). Students’ attitudes towards English: The case of life science school of Khulna University. International Review of Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 3 no. 1, pp.200-209.
Marley, D. (2004). Language attitudes in Morocco following recent changes in language policy. Language Policy, 3, 25-46
Mee-ling, L. (2009). I love Cantonese but I want English-A qualitative account of Hong Kong students language attitudes, The Asia Pacific Education Research, 18(1) (2009), 79-92.
Melhim, A. & Rahman, A. (2009). Attitudes of Jordanian college students towards learning English as a foreign language. College Student Journal, June 2009, Part B, vol. 43, issue 2. Retrieved: March 20, 2013, from: http://web.ebscohost.com
Nagi, K. (2012). Learning English language in Thailand: hype or necessity. Retrieved: May 6, 2013, from: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Learning-English-language-in-Thailand-Hype-orNece-30179150.html
Online Business Dictionary. (2013). Attitude. Retrieved May 20, 2013, from: http://www.businessdictionary. com/definition/attitude.html
Papanastasiou, C. (2002). School, teaching and family influence on student attitudes toward science: Based on TIMSS data for Cyprus. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 28, 71-86.
Patanathabuts, R. (2008). Attitudes toward teacher styles and teaching styles in an International Business Management Program: case study comparison. Paper presented at the International Conference, Cowan University, Perth Western Australia, 19-21, November 2008.
Petty, R. E. & Cacioppo, J. T. (1996). Attitudes and persuasion: Classic and contemporary approaches. UK: Westview Press.
Punthumasen, P. (2007). International program for teacher education: An approach to tackling problems for English education in Thailand. The 11th UNESCO-APEID international conference. Retrieved: May 8, 2013, from: http://www.worldedreform.com/pub/paperie13dec07.pdf
Sammons, A. (nd). Functions of attitudes. Retrieved: March 21, 2013, from: http://www.pschlotron.org.uk/ resources/social/AS_AQB_social_attitudes_function.pdf
Sarnoff, I.& Katz, D. (1954). The motivational basis of attitude change. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 49(1), 115-124.
Sea, C. (2011). Ministry of Education on rural schools. Retrieved: April 30, 2013, from: http://bk.asia-city.com/city-living/article/mental-breakdown/ministryofeducation-interview Searchlight Process. (2013). English speaking initiatives in Thailand. Retrieved: March 20, 2013, from: http://futurechallenges.org/local/searchlight/english-speaking-initiatives-in-thailand/
Srisa Ard, B. et al. (nd). Problems and suggested solutions for the development of Basic Education in Educational Region 11, Thailand. Retrieved: April 30, 2013, from: http://www.watpon.com/boonchom/problem. pdf
Wikipedia. (2013). Education in Thailand. Retrieved: March 19, 2013, from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Education_in_Thailand
Zainol, A., et al. (2012). EFL students’ attitudes towards learning English language: The case of Libyan secondary school students. Asian Social Science, vol. 8, no. 2, pp.119-134.