Students’ and Teachers’ Voices for Language Learning Materials Design in an English for Science and Mathematics Subject
Main Article Content
Abstract
English is widely recognized as an international language for education communication, which has led to the development of several English for Academic Purposes (EAP) subjects for Thai students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL), especially in specialized school programs. The primary objective of these EAP subjects is to prepare Thai students for academic success in an increasingly interconnected world. Therefore, appropriate learning materials are needed to enhance students’ academic language proficiency and ability to engage in interdisciplinary studies. As part of a full research and development project, this preliminary study was conducted to investigate the voices of Thai secondary school students and teachers for theme-based learning materials design in an English for Science and Mathematics (ESM) subject. Focus group and individual interviews were used to explore the experiences and opinions of students and teachers in the Enrichment Program of Science, Mathematics, Technology, and Environment (SMTE). The study identified specific academic English literacy needs, including reading strategies, planning for paragraph writing, sentence structure, knowledge of vocabulary and grammar, and learning materials preferences of the SMTE students. These empirical findings could offer valuable insights for materials developers and English language teachers engaged in designing learning materials for students with specific needs.
Article Details
References
Ampa, A. T., & Quraisy, H. (2018, January 29). Needs analysis of the English writing skill as the base to design the learning materials. SHS Web of Conferences. https://www.shsconferences.org/articles/shsconf/abs/
/03/shsconf_gctale2018_00050/shsconf_gctale2018_00050.html
Arsingsamanan, W., Kijkuakul, S., & Supap, W. (2019). Science teachers’ view on learning management in enrichment science classroom.
Journal of Education Naresuan University, 22(3), 235-247.
Bjorkman, B. (2013). English as an academic lingua franca: An investigation of form
and communicative effectiveness. De Gruyter Mouton.
Bogdan, R. C., & Biklen, S. K. (2007). Qualitative research for education: An
introduction to theories and methods. Pearson Education, Inc.
Charubusp, S., & Chinwonno, A. (2014). Developing academic and content
area literacy: The Thai EFL context. Reading, 14(2), 119-134.
Charunsri, K. (2019). The challenges of implementing content language
integrated learning in tertiary education in Thailand: A review and
implication of materials. Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 10(4), 125-129.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative
and mixed methods approaches. SAGE Publications, Inc.
Eshtehardi, R. (2017). Needs analysis and course design: A framework for
designing exam courses. International Journal of Applied linguistics and
English literature, 6(6), 274-288.
Foley, Y. (2017). Critical literacy. In B. V. Street & S. May (Eds.), Literacies and language education (pp. 109-120). Springer.
Fu, D., & Matoush, M. M. (2015). Focus on literacy. Oxford University Press.
Grant, R. (1993). Strategic training for using text headings to improve students’ processing of content. Journal of Reading, 36(6), 482-488.
Harmer, J. (2004). How to teach writing. Pearson Longman.
Haven, K. F. (2015). Writing workouts to develop common core writing skills: Step-by-step exercises, activities, and tips for student success, grades 2-6. Libraries Unlimited.
Hedge, T. (2000). Teaching and learning in the language classroom. Oxford University Press.
Hutchinson, T., & Waters, A. (1987). English for specific purposes: A learning-
centred approach. Cambridge University Press.
Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology. (2013a).
Enrichment science classroom under the cooperation of IPST and NSTDA.
MOU Agreement. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B52WU
YQPVT65UW8zUU9TejNuNDA/edit?resourcekey=0-skMIh
zadoD6aTdr8D8kGNg.
Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology. (2013b). Enrichment science classroom under the cooperation of IPST and NSTDA.
Budget Requirements Project. https://sites.google.com/site/
enrichmentscienceclassroom/khorng-ngan.
Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology. (2013c). Curriculum for developing and encouraging talented students in science and
mathematics under the Cooperation of IPST and NSTDA. Enrichment
science classroom curriculum for junior high school students.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B52WUYQPVT65R0swM2h
jS2dtdEU/edit?resourcekey=0-XleUs7JOseR3oHk4PTk9mA.
Kucer, S. B. (2014). Dimensions of literacy: A conceptual base for teaching reading
and writing in school settings. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Lichtman, M. (2013). Qualitative research in education: A user’s guide. SAGE Publications, Inc.
Liu, J.-Y., Chang, Y.-J., Yang, F.-Y., & Sun, Y.-C. (2011). Is what I need
what I want? reconceptualising college students’ needs in English
courses for general and specific/academic purposes. Journal of English
for Academic Purposes, 10(4), 271–280.
Mazraehno, F., & Mazdayasna, G. (2016). Developing ESAP materials: A
case of graduate students of Islamic Jurisprudence. Electronic Journal
of Foreign Language Teaching, 13(1), 82-111. https://eflt.nus.edu.sg/
wp-content/uploads/2020/09/mazraehno.pdf
McGrath, I. (2016). Materials evaluation and design for language teaching. Edinburgh University Press.
McWilliams, R., & Allan, Q. (2014). Embedding academic literacy skills:
Towards a best practice model. Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, 11(3), 1-20.
Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2016). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. Jossey-Bass.
Molle, D. (2015). Introduction. In D. Molle, E. Sato, T. Boals, & C. A.
Hedgspeth (Eds.), Multilingual learners and academic literacies: Sociocultural
contexts of literacy development in adolescents (pp. 1-10). Routledge.
Mubar, M. K. N. A. (2015). Developing English learning materials for young
learners based on needs analysis at MTSN model Makassar. ETERNAL (English, Teaching, Learning, and Research Journal), 1(2), 313-330.
Nation, I. S. P., & Macalister, J. (2010). Language curriculum design. Routledge.
Nunan, D. (1991). Language teaching methodology: A textbook for teachers. Prentice
Hall International (UK) Ltd.
Office of the Education Council. (2017, March). Education in Thailand.
https://www.bic.moe.go.th/images/stories/pdf/EDUCATI
ON_IN_THAILAND_2017.pdf.
Pennington, M. C., & Rogerson-Revell, P. (2019). English pronunciation
teaching and research: Contemporary perspectives. C. N. Candlin & J.
Crichton (Eds.). Palgrave Macmillan.
Prayoga, A., Irwansyah, D., & Harya, T., D. (2021). Developing English learning materials for computer network engineering students at peripheral Indonesia. EduLite: Journal of English Education, Literature and Culture, 6(1), 28-41.
Rankin, J. L., Bruning, R. H., Timme, V. L., & Katkanant, C. (1993). Is
writing affected by spelling performance and beliefs about spelling?.
Applied Cognitive Psychology,155-169.
Rivers, W. M., & Temperley, M. S. (1978). A practical guide to the teaching of
English as a second or foreign language. Oxford University Press.
Ruiz-Garrido, M., & Fortanet Gómez, I. (2009). Needs analysis in a CLIL
context: A transfer from ESP. In Marsh, D. & Mehisto, M (Eds.), CLIL practice: Perspectives from the field (pp. 179-188). University of Jyväskylä.
Savin-Baden, M., & Major, C. H. (2013). Qualitative research: The essential guide to theory and practice. Routledge.
Tomlinson, B. (1998). Materials development in language teaching. Cambridge
University Press.
Tomlinson, B. (2011). Materials development in language teaching (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Tomlinson, B., & Masuhara, H. (2018). The complete guide to the theory and practice of materials development for language learning. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Woodrow, L. (2018). Introducing course design and English for specific purposes. Routledge.
Yasmin, M., Sarkar, M., & Sohail, A. (2016). Exploring English language needs in the hotel industry in Pakistan: An evaluation of existing teaching material. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Education, 28(4), 202-213.