Exploratory Action Research in Thai Schools: English teachers identifying problems, taking action and assessing results

Exploratory Action Research in Thai Schools: English teachers identifying problems, taking action and assessing Results

The centrality of classroom action research to Thai teachers can be seen in the teacher competency framework, which stipulates all teachers must undertake action research as a mandatory requirement. This emphasises the value of this publication for teachers and education supervisors in Thailand. Classroom enquiry is a vitally important part of what it means to be a member of the teaching profession. It demonstrates the drive and commitment that so many teachers put in to their students’ learning. Ultimately, teacher research sends the message that each and every learner in the class is valued and important, and that the teacher is determined to help each of them progress. At the heart of action research is the pursuit of excellence, both in terms of teacher and student performance. This publication captures that pursuit of excellence. It shines a light on the need to focus on the identification of problems. It articulates problems in a way that allows other teachers to reflect on and learn from their counterparts across the country. Importantly, it counters the idea that we can do the same thing over and over and hope for the best. The effect of the pandemic on students and student learning further highlights the reason why teachers need to take a case-by-case approach to classes and students.

The British Council in Thailand in partnership with King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) and Professor Anne Burn; the editor of this publication would like to introduce the EAR manuscript with 12 chapters to the accounts of Thai teachers’ exploratory action research (EAR) that follow.

Title: Exploratory Action Research in Thai Schools: English teachers identifying problems, taking action and assessing results

Author/Editor: Professor Anne Burns

Writer

  • Chapter 1: What Strategies Can Improve Students' Confidence to Speak in the Target Language? by Bhunnarak Bhurampawe
  • Chapter 2: How to Support Students to Cope with Reading Comprehension Problems by Jittima Duangmanee
  • Chapter 3: How do Students Improve their Vocabulary Retention? by Jessie James Ramirez Dagunan
  • Chapter 4: How to Enhance Students’ Writing Skills by Menada Juiboonmee
  • Chapter 5: A Breakthrough in Grammar Lessons by Patcharin Kunna
  • Chapter 6: How to Enhance Students’ Reading Comprehension Skills by Nattanan Lengluan
  • Chapter 7: How to Improve Students’ Speaking Skills by Pajonsak Mingsakoon
  • Chapter 8: How to Encourage the Writing of Varied Sentence Structures in Writing Tasks by Nuananong Mookkhuntod
  • Chapter 9: How to Improve Students’ Pronunciation Skills by Pheerapol Muprasert
  • Chapter 10: Improving Students’ Critical Thinking Skills Through the Use of the QAREP Model by Tharach Puttarak
  • Chapter 11: Perceptions of Students and Issues in Teaching and Learning Writing by Anuchit Tharamanit
  • Chapter 12: Students’ Difficulties in Learning Vocabulary in Reading and Writing Classes by Kanchanokchon Woodeson

What readers will find in these pages is not just the research stories of individual teachers but also maps for future classroom research exploration, and potentially for innovative and collaborative professional development initiatives within their schools - Professor Anne Burns