Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 12. Number2  June 2021                                                     Pp. 125-141
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no2.9

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Existing EFL Pedagogies in Thai Higher Education: Views from Thai University Lecturers

Yusop Boonsuk
English Section, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
Prince of Songkla University, Pattani, Thailand

Eric A. Ambele
English Section, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
Prince of Songkla University, Pattani, Thailand
Corresponding author: agrie.a@psu.ac.th

Received: 3/8/2021                 Accepted: 5/8/2021                 Published:6/24/2021

Abstract:
Since English is extensively used among linguacultural users to access life opportunities, it has become a requisite foreign language in the Thai educational system. To prepare Thai learners for this new changing role of English and reduce English Language Teaching dependency on the native English variety, this study aimed to explore English lecturers’ voices in Thai universities on existing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) pedagogies at the Thai tertiary level with the research question: how do English lecturers in Thai universities perceive EFL in Thai universities? Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 Thai EFL university lecturers selected from ten different universities in Thailand and analyzed using content analysis. The finding reveals that EFL-oriented pedagogy plays a dominant role in English language teaching (ELT) education in Thai classrooms, illustrating three main salient themes from the study: (1) EFL pedagogies; (2) EFL materials; and (3) EFL curriculums. The result shows that the pedagogy is less responsive in the changing roles of English use and its widespread worldwide, especially among diverse linguacultural interlocutors. Hence, English university lecturers should reconsider, adjust, and made more practical glocal changes in English language teaching for the purpose of language teaching, language planning and predicting language change.
Keywords: Cultural awareness, curricula content, EFL pedagogies, intercultural citizenship, Thai Higher Education

Cite as: Boonsuk, Y., & Ambele, E.A. (2021). Existing EFL Pedagogies in Thai Higher Education: Views from Thai University Lecturers.
Arab World English Journal, 12 (2) 125-141.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no2.9

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Received: 3/8/2021 
Accepted: 5/8/2021 
Published: 6/24/2021   
https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no2.9  

Asst. Prof. Dr. Yusop Boonsuk is an English lecturer/researcher at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand. His research interest focuses on Global Englishes, English as an International Language, Intercultural Awareness, English Language Teaching, English Medium Instruction, and English Language Beliefs, Attitudes, and Identity.
ORCid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3923-6163

Dr. Eric A. Ambele is a lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand. His research interest focuses on Global Englishes, Sociolinguistics, Teacher Education, Discourse Analysis, Intercultural Communication and Innovative Research Methodology.
ORCid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2206-8746