Inside bilingual education in Thailand : staffroom and classroom perspectives
Abstract
This research investigates the professional backgrounds, experiences and working conditions of teachers on the bilingual programme (English Programme) in Thailand. Its main purposes are to provide an insight into the professional lives and working situations of these teachers and to contribute to a better understanding of the current state of bilingual teaching in the country.
The study adopts a qualitative approach to data collection and analysis. The data set comprises thirty-eight in-depth interviews with a group of Thai and foreign teachers involved in bilingual teaching in Thailand, fieldnotes from school and classroom observation conducted in a leading bilingual school in Bangkok, and an analysis of documentary evidence relevant to bilingual education and bilingual teachers in Thailand. Data analysis uses a grounded approach, employing open, axial and selective coding.