Examining the Impact of Social Interactions on Thai Students' Classroom Participation in a Pre-Sessional EAP Couse in a British University

Abstract

This case study aims to examine the impact of social interactions on Thai students’ classroom participation in a pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programme in a British university. The data collection tools for this study included the semi-structured interviews, classroom observation, and English speaking logs. The finding suggest that there was a complicated interrelationship between English language learning and social interactions own the community. Using English in communications with British people helped improve Thai students’ language competence and their adaptation to British culture and  society. The student also become more confident in their use English in the EAP classroom in communicating with their teachers and fellow students. It is therefore important that English teachers adapt the communication experience of student outside the classroom to classroom instruction, particularly for developing listening and speaking skills, This will give students opportunities for communication in side the classroom that they can apply in real practice outside the classroom and so contribute to their IInguistic, cultural and academic development while they are pursuing higher studies in Britain.