Abstract:
Throughout a study of problems in developing Thai conversation in 01363132 Thai
Conversation in Everyday Life I: with special reference to the students in Kasetsart University
Student Exchange Program (KUSEP), the objectives of this research were to survey the problems
in learning Thai conversation in 01363132 Thai Conversation in Everyday Life I of those KUSEP
students and to find the way to solve the problems in learning Thai conversation in such the
subject. It was carried out through the qualitative and quantitative research methods. There are
populations totally 96 KUSEP students studying 01363132; 82 students from the first semester and
14 students from the second semester in academic year 2014. The research tools used in this study
were; 1) rating-scale questionnaire 2) structural in-depth interview and 3) participatory
observation. It was found that Thai conversation problems of KUSEP students were; 1) a lack of
confidence 2) inadequate knowledge of Thai vocabulary 3) being worried while having the
practical Thai conversation with their own pairs due to inadequate knowledge and a lack of Thai
conversation skill 4) a lack of practical conversation with others after class and 5) the development
of Thai conversation that mostly used among the students was done by following of the practical
examples of a good Thai conversation via YouTube, movies and television. Moreover, the KUSEP
students’ serious practices of Thai conversation in class under feedback supervised individually
made the students feel more confident and improve their Thai conversation. Furthermore, field trip
that brought KUSEP students to have the cultural exploration and experience including the
practical conversation with native Thais through such the field trip was also a good way that
helped KUSEP students improve their Thai conversation skill
