Investigating Thai University Learners' Attitudes towards English as a Medium of Instruction

Abstract

This study investigates Thai university learners’ attitudes towards using English as a medium of instruction (EMI). University learners who enrolled in the international programs in a public university were given a five-point Likert scale questionnaire. A total of two hundred and four returned questionnaires were analyzed using means, standard deviations and percentages. A total of 12 participants were randomly chosen for the interview to gain in-depth information about Thai university learners’ attitudes, perceived opportunities and challenges of EMI. The results revealed that Thai university learners had a positive attitude towards EMI. The findings also indicated that EMI facilitated learners’ overall competence in English language skills and improved their self-confidence and competitiveness in the job market. However, the participants reflected that the expensive tuition fees in EMI programs would increase the economic burden on the family. Notably, a lack of English competence negatively affected both the teaching and learning processes. The qualitative data analysis also provided support to the quantitative results. Additional discussions in light of pedagogical implications and future investigations into EMI are also provided.

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