A STUDY OF ENGLISH PREPARATION NEEDS FOR THAI UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE FOR THE INCOMING ASEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY

Abstract

This study has the objective to investigate the needs of English preparation for undergraduate students in the Faculty of Architecture in response to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) across three groups of samples, namely undergraduate students, instructors in the Faculty of Architecture, and stakeholders in the field of architecture. Moreover, it also explores the opinions of these samples regarding the English preparation for the AEC and English courses that are currently provided by the Faculty of Architecture. Data were collected by means of questionnaires and interviews from 300 undergraduate architecture students, ten instructors, and five stakeholders in architectural field. The interview session was used to collect more in-depth information regarding the needs of English preparation in response to the AEC, the English courses being offered by the Faculty of Architecture, and English language skills that would meet the expectations for the AEC. The study findings have revealed that the participants have realized the expansion of labor market in ASEAN and undergraduate students need to improve their English language proficiency in order to be needed in the job market. The participants also perceived the English language courses offered by the Faculty of Architecture should be put on the integrated skills, language content that is practical for using in area of study which could be English for Specific Purposes (ESP), and a lot of practice in classroom.