Thais fear AC English barrier

The launch of the Asean Community (AC) on Thursday, and
 the integration of regional economies through the free
 movement of skilled labour in an English-mediated environment,
has prompted fears among Thais, who worry their English
competency is not up to par to compete in the labour market.

Thais' poor grasp of the English language has generated
 concern among students, teachers and policy-makers, and
comes despite the vast new employment opportunities
 promised by the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

 According to the EF English Proficiency Index 2015

 conducted by Education First Language Institute, Thailand

 is a non-English speaking country with "very low"

 English proficiency.

The English abilities of Thai people are ranked at 14th out of

16 countries in Asia and 62nd out of 70 countries worldwide.

Tothsaporn Thongdee, 20, a second-year higher vocational

 student at the Eastern Technological College in Chon Buri

said he worries about whether his English is strong enough

for his future career as an accountant, a profession that is

 granted free movement under the AEC.

.

"I think I'm good at accounting but I'm not sure I can find

a job after graduation since my English is not good," he said.

Under the Asean Mutual Recognition Arrangements,

 professionals in eight fields are allowed free movement

throughout the region.

 The eight fields are accountancy, engineering, surveying,

 architecture, nursing, medical services, dental services

 and tourism.

"Workers from other countries can come to work here.

Competition will get fiercer for those who are not well-prepared,"

 said Kanjana Kiewpimai, 16, a student enrolled in the English

Programme of Chetupon Commercial College's Hotel

 Management course.

 Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday urged Thais to

pay more attention to improving their capacity to communicate

 in English, which he also considers a weak point for Thais in

 the era of the AC. He called on people to boost their skills to

 compete in the AC labour market, as they will face tougher

 competition from people from neighbouring countries, according

 to government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

By contrast to the lack of confidence expressed by political

leaders, the minority of students who study under

 English Programmes (EP) or mini-English Programmes introduced

by the Office of Vocational Education Commission (Ovec)

 in 2012, and do speak well, are optimistic about the opportunities

that will open up to them in the AEC.

 Pairtiwa Rampool, 16, a Hotel Management student at Chetupon Commercial College, anticipates much travel in her future.

"After graduation, I plan to study further in Switzerland, then I will

 consider applying for jobs outside my country as the AEC will

open doors for me," she said.

 "I would like to work in Singapore because the salary over there

 is better than here in Thailand."

Chetupon Commercial College's English Programme was introduced

 three years ago to prepare Thai students for the AC.

Ovec oversees 167 vocational institutes nationwide, teaching 22

 subjects to more than 4,000 students in the EP and Mini EP.

 The EP is part of the government's six-point strategy for the

 country to thrive in the AC, which also includes creating public

 awareness of Asean, improving education, sharpening

labour proficiency, boosting technology and forming more

networks with neighbouring countries.

 “Following the launch of the AEC, the job market will become

 more competitive.

People with higher skills in English will be at an advantage,

so we try to prepare them for the AEC,” said Amornrat

 Kreetatorn, 54, the head of the English programme at

Chetupon Commercial College.

While Thai students are relatively competitive in terms of

 vocational skills, the lack of English proficiency is a major

disadvantage, said Ms Amornrat.

"I am seeing an influx of skilled workers from countries  like

 the Philippines doing jobs that require English-speaking

 employees in Thailand. Our students need to be aware that

workers with stronger English skills will have the cutting edge,"

she said.

 Meanwhile, Wanich Uamsri, Ovec's deputy secretary-general,

 said the college is just one example of how Thailand is preparing

 itself to ensure Thai workers do not fall behind in an integrated

 market that promises a free flow of labour.

"Apart from the EP and mini EP students, the English competence

 of Thai technical students in general remains low,"

Mr Wanich said.

He attributes the low English proficiency among most Thai

 vocational students to the traditionally prescriptive approach

to education, which he says hinders language learning.

The influence of Thai culture and low motivation among students

 to learn a foreign language also play a part, he added.

 "Thai students are good workers, but they still lack language

abilities, which will limit their career opportunities,"  he said.

 Meanwhile, Ovec has introduced an urgent plan to improve

 the English skills of both students and teachers, including the

publication of small books with 1,000 often-used English

vocabulary words for the vocational sector and a one-month

 "train-the-trainer" programme for vocational teachers in the

 first two months of this year.

 "We are not expecting our teachers and students to become

experts in just a short period of time, but we want to boost

 their confidence in using English," Mr Wanich said.


News,General,Bangkok Post, 2 January 2016.

 

In my viewpoint,Thai students are weak in English because

they are least practice in speaking it.So if we want our students

to be strong in English we should let them to practice speaking

more in the classroom.

Sincerely Yours.