Thai Language and Culture in the Folk Game "Wao" (Kite) for Chinese Learners of Thai as a Foreign Language
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Abstract
This research aimed to analyze the linguistic and cultural values embedded in the traditional Thai folk game “kite” for Chinese learners of Thai as a Foreign Language. The study employed content analysis and utilized Moran’s (2001) 3Ps of Culture as the conceptual framework. The data were collected from seven documentary sources: (1) University Thai Reading Course (Part I), (2) Thailand Only: Unique Thai Stories, (3) Thai Wisdom Sports: A National Cultural Heritage, (4) Thai Encyclopedia for Youth, Learning Supplement Edition, Volume 37, (5) Encyclopedia of Thai Culture, Central Region, Volume 13, (6) Thai Proverbs, Sayings, and Idioms by the Royal Institute, and (7) Royal Institute Dictionary, B.E. 2554 (2011). In addition, fieldwork was conducted to observe and participate in kite flying in an authentic cultural context.
The research findings revealed that the kite reflected four key aspects of linguistic and cultural values: (1) local wisdom, (2) social context, (3) beliefs and traditions, and (4) Thai idiomatic expressions. The study also identified several limitations in learning this topic among Chinese learners of Thai, including insufficient depth of cultural content, incomplete lesson components, teacher-centered instructional approaches that limited learner engagement, and a lack of connection to real-life language use. Based on these findings, the study proposed guidelines for incorporating the kite folk game into Thai language instruction for Chinese learners in two main aspects: (1) learning models, emphasizing active learning and the integration of social skills development; and (2) learning media formats, recommending the development of creative and contemporary instructional materials that integrated linguistic and cultural knowledge in a holistic manner.
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