n this context, a common language can become a powerful tool to succeed in globalized economies. So the old argument that language is integral to a cultureidentity does not necessarily lead to separating it from others. Language is just one part of a culture.
To be able to migrate to other countries and be able to find a better paying job requires knowing more than one language. Knowing English is even better especially when a person wants to go to England, Australia or America to have higher education or explore new options for a better job or a career. Proficiency in English becomes an essential requirement. One's culture is not going to help to survive in a foreign land. Besides manners, work ethics and life style issues the language should also be seen as an essential survival tool.
Well, in Thailand English teaching and learning problems cannot be solved by employing the "native speakers". As mentioned earlier, Switzerland, and many other European countries where teaching and learning English is a big success, do not rely on what my colleague Dr. Sorin, call as "na (t) ive" speakers but on their own teachers of English.
In Asia, a good example is India. Although colonized formore than two centuries India does not employ foreigners to teach English. Yet, it has a huge population that can speak and write English. It has grown its own crop of English teachers. They are all graduates of Indianuniversities majoring in English. Singapore and Malaysiaalso followed the same model. It created its own pool ofexcellent English teachers.
If the Thai Ministry of Education is genuinely interested in improving English education, then they have to do the following:
Improve the quality of Thai English teachers. The teachers of English have to be good; they have to be aninspiration for their students. It would be very natural for young Thai students to say "if my teacher could do it, I can do it too". A white hillbilly native speaker from Texas, USA without a degree in English literature can never be an inspiration for Thai students.
If Thailand really wants to employ a foreign teacher, then he/she must be a real qualified language teacher, not just a na (t) ive speaker. It has to be one who has a high degree in language or linguistics, and who has also learned at least one or more foreign languages.
Although there may be some similarities between ASEAN and the European Union's Bologna Process which seeks to harmonize the region's higher education system. But in comparison to Europe the diversity in education systems and economic development across ASEAN presents many more difficult challenges. There is still hope that both the Thai politicians and the civil servants realize that in an emerging Asian Economic Community (AEC) English language can become a common language and act as glue that can bind the region together. It is very clear that English language is playing a major role in the process of globalization.
Another area of improvement that requires some urgent action is the Thai popular media. There should be more and more English language based news papers, magazines, radio stations and television shows focused on creating sights and sounds that can immerse the learners in an environment that facilitates learning ofEnglish language. Language learning is based on the sights and sound surrounding the learners.
So instead of wasting time on deciding what to call English, (English as a Foreign Language (EFL) or English as Second Language (ESL) and for what reason, the Thai Ministry of Education should really be engaged in and concerned about improving the quality of English teachers and of English teaching in Thailand.
Kuldeep Nagi is a Fulbright Fellow from Seattle, WA, USA, and is currently working at Assumption University, Bangkok. He can be reached via e-mail DrKuldeep@Live.Com.