Nopporn Sakulyunyongsuk
Faculty of Home Economics Technology
According to ASEAN Economics community and RMUTP towards the 2nd decade project, the primary objective of Intensive English Language Studies aims at English language development of 18 Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon (RMUTP) lecturers from 5 faculties: Faculty of Industrial Education, Faculty of Mass Communication Technology, Faculty of Home Economics Technology, Faculty of Business Administration and Faculty of Engineering. The program took place at the Center of Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE), Manawatu campus, Massey University, New Zealand from July 5th, 2014 to August 5th, 2014.
The program focused on the usage of academic English and the development of reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. So, RMUTP lecturers are able to use the learned lessons in their university classrooms. The lecturers, who attended the program, must take English placement test which has 4 levels: introduction, lower intermediate, upper intermediate and advanced levels. The test was able to assess their proper English level and assist lecturers by placing them into the most appropriate classes.
Along with other international students such as Chinese, Taiwanese, South Koreans and Saudi Arabians, RMUTP lecturers attended classes such as English listening and speaking classes and optional classes which were weekly arranged with different subjects in each week such as New Zealand culture, presentation skill and English for careers. The RMUTP lecturers had to do classwork in pair with the other international students by using English in order to develop their English proficiency and English accents. At PaCE, the lecturers could access to instructional media. Massey University also arranged homestay program, so RMUTP lecturers could speak English everyday with the family whom they spent times with.
One of our lecturers said “New Zealand cuisine could not be compared to Thai one, but I really like the English teaching methods. I am impressed with all English instructors. In the very first week, they spoke slowly so that I could understand what they said. But weeks later, they spoke faster, tried to correct my pronunciation and also encouraged me. So, I think I have increased my English proficiency in speaking, listening and writing and what I’ve learned in New Zealand is very useful.