Improving Use of The English Language and Increasing the Performance of The Entrepreneur English Language to Promote Local Products in Ubon Ratchathani; Associated with The One Tambon One Product (OTOP) Initiative; to The Wider ASEAN Community: Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

The findings of this study were as follows: Firstly, this research aims to
assess the potential use of the English language to promote local products.
The local products are connected to the OTOP initiative; furthermore, the
products are all from Ubon Ratchathani province. Secondly, this research aims
to examine ways to increase the use of the English language In Ubon
Ratchathani so that OTOP product promotion can materialize successfully
within the ASEAN community. Thirdly, this research aims to improve the
language of the entrepreneur community in Ubon Ratchathani with a view to
improving the promotion and trade of products associated with the OTOP
initiative. Finally, the research seeks to determine satisfaction with the
development of the use of English within the entrepreneur community in Ubon
Ratchathani. This research is a quantitative research study; the subjects in this
study were an experimental group of entrepreneurs who had a Community
Product (OTOP) in Ubon Ratchathani province. In this research, the
population consisted of three groups of 75 entrepreneurs, totalling 225. The
sample sizes were three groups of 60 entrepreneurs, totalling 180. Sampling
was purposive sampling method. The first element to the training package
was a test to measure English communication skills. The test was carried out
before and after the training had been conducted, so that the skills and
progress acquired through training could be evaluated fairly. The test subjects needed to attend training to improve communication skills in English. After
the post training test, test subjects were given a satisfaction assessment. After
the satisfaction assessment, data analysis was carried out and conclusions
were made based on the facts raised from the study. Surveys were given to
those who attended training to improve communication skills in English. And
satisfaction assessment skills to speak the English to communicate was used
with the data analysis and conclusions based on facts. The data were analyzed
by the SPSS program. The statistics used in data analysis were mean, standard
deviation and t-test. The results showed that: 1) The entrepreneurs who were
involved in the OTOP initiative in Ubon Ratchathani province demonstrated
that they could improve their spoken English to that of a higher level of
proficiency. (X
_
= 3.60) 2) The entrepreneurs who were involved in the OTOP
initiative in Ubon Ratchathani province demonstrated that they wanted to
improve their English language skills. The skill which they wanted to improve
the most was the skill of speaking. (X
_
= 4.29) 3) The entrepreneurs were
tested in three groups. The first group was made up of fabric entrepreneurs.
The second group was made up of entrepreneurs who specialized in appliances.
The third group was made up of entrepreneurs who specialize in food and
herbal drinks. The results of the post-test were that the groups achieved a
statistical level of .01. 4) The fourth result found that the entrepreneurs (OTOP)
in Ubon Ratchathani province had a high level of satisfaction with the skills
that they had learnt. (X_= 4.02)