TTLV: Thailand's English-language policy and suggestions for Vietnam

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name:Pham Thu Ha

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: September 9, 1989

4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Decision on student admission No. 3215/2014/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 31, 2014, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in the training process: Extension of the study period from December 2016 to June 2017.

7. Thesis title:Thailand's English language policy and suggestions for Vietnam.

8. Major: Linguistics Code: 60.22.02.40

9. Scientific supervisor:Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khang(Institute of Linguistics – Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences)

10. Summary of the thesis results

- The thesis has described in detail four main periods in the history of implementing English language policies in Thailand (1824-1910, 1910-1960, 1961-1996, and 1997-present). In each period, regardless of the political or socio-economic regime, English language education has always held a top priority in Thailand's education policy, and English has consistently been the most popular foreign language to learn in the country.

- The thesis also discusses the shortcomings in the implementation of language policy regarding English in Thailand, including the decentralization of education management, the limited capacity of teachers, the consequences of examinations, and the limited time allocated to English in the curriculum.

- In relation to English language policy in Vietnam, the thesis has highlighted the Vietnamese government's efforts to comprehensively reform English teaching and learning in the context of globalization and regional integration. However, in implementing the government's reform policies, issues related to building foreign language competency frameworks, teacher competency frameworks, and regional foreign language centers still pose certain challenges.

11. Practical applications

This thesis can help Vietnamese educators, English teachers, and policymakers learn lessons from the case of Thailand, and propose policy adjustments to improve English proficiency among young people in the context of globalization and regional integration.

12. Future research directions

- It is possible to learn about the effectiveness or impact of policies on teaching activities at each educational level.

- On a broader scale, a comparative analysis of Thailand's English language policy could be conducted with that of Vietnam or other Southeast Asian countries to draw lessons from each country's case, highlighting successes and shortcomings in policy implementation, and thereby offering appropriate recommendations.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

Pham Thu Ha (2017). Thai English education policy through the ages. Language & Life Journal 2(256) 2017, 75-80.

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Pham Thu Ha 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: September 9, 1989 4. Place of birth: Hanoi

5. Admission decision number: 3215/2014/QD-XHNV-SĐH, dated December 31, 2014, issued by Rector of University of Social Studies and Humanities – Vietnam National University

6. Changes in academic process: Extension of the training time from December 2016 to June 2017

7. Official thesis title: The English Language Policy of Thailand and some recommendations for Vietnam

8. Major: Linguistics Code: 60.22.02.40

9. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Khang (Institute of Linguistics – Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences)

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

- The thesis gives a detailed description of 4 main periods in the history of English language policy in Thailand (1824-1910, 1910-1960, 1961-1996 and 1997-now). Although each period has different social, political and economic settings, English education has been prioritized in Thailand's education policy and English has always been the number one language chosen to learn as a foreign language in this country.

- The thesis also discusses the problems in the implementation of English language policy in Thailand, which has involved the decentralization in educational management, teachers' limited authority, test backwash and the limited time for English in the curriculum.

- The thesis shows the effort of Vietnam's government in thoroughly renovating English teaching and learning in the era of globalization and regional integration. However, there are some challenges regarding the English proficiency framework, English teachers' competency framework and regional foreign languages ​​centers.

11. Practical applicability

From the case of Thailand, educators, teachers of English and policy makers of Vietnam can draw lessons and then make necessary amendments in order to improve

the young generation's English proficiency in this time of globalization and regional integration.

12. Further research directions

- Study the effectiveness or the influence of the policy on the English teaching and learning at different stages of education, ie elementary, secondary and tertiary education.

- On a larger scale, carry out an in-depth comparative analysis of the English language policy of Thaiand and that of Vietnam or other ASEAN countries.

13. Thesis-related publications:

Pham Thu Ha (2017). The history of English education policy in Thailand. Language & Life Journal 2(256) 2017, 75-80.