THE EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM ON THAI HIGH SCHOOL EFL LEARNERS' VOCABULARY KNOWLEDGE

Abstract

The Study Abroad (SA) concept has been viewed as one of most crucial approaches in EFL learning. The objectives of this study were a) to study the effects of a short-term SA program on Thai high school EFL students’ English vocabulary knowledge and b) to study the effects of SA on students’ attitudes towards learning English. The participants were 17 high school students from Phuket Witthayalai School in Phuket province. The English vocabulary tests were employed to collect the quantitative data, while a questionnaire was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data were analyzed using mean scores, standard deviation, and a t-test analysis, while the qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The results revealed that there were no statistically significant differences found in students’ vocabulary knowledge before and after participating in short-term SA program (t (16) = .81, p > .05). However, the posttest mean scores (M = 13.29, SD = 2.62) of students in English vocabulary were higher than the pretest mean scores (M = 12.82, SD = 3.45). In addition, there were no significant differences in students’ attitudes toward learning before and after attending the short-term SA program English (t (16) = 1.86, p > .05). scores. However, they gained higher positive attitudes (M = 4.35, SD = .43)compared to their attitudes before participation in SA (M = 4.05, SD = .48). The qualitative data revealed that students had positive attitudes toward participating in SA. They thought that the SA environment and setting could affect their vocabulary knowledge and attitudes toward English study.

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