The Roles and Availability of Specialized Word Lists in EAP Learning and Teaching for Thai Engineering Students

Abstract

Many word lists have been created in the past decades with different purposes to fit the target market and needs. This paper explores the availability of word lists in English for academic purposes and the possibility of applying word lists in the Thai context, especially for engineering students. Apart from reporting on the brief details of the word lists, which include which corpus it was based on, the method deployed, and the possible applications of the word list, the author discusses the similarities and differences of particular word lists and also how applicable these word lists are to Thai engineering students, with a focus on second language learning. Some suggestions are discussed regarding what requirement should be added in order to facilitate students’ learning.