Towards the CEFR Action-Oriented Approach: Factors Influencing its Achievement in Thai EFL Classrooms

Nuntapat Supunya

Abstract


The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) has been globally accepted as a framework for language teaching, learning, and assessment. Thailand also adopted the CEFR in 2014 to escalate its English education quality in all levels, placing an emphasis on an action-oriented approach nationwide. Few studies have explored the factors influencing the successful CEFR implementation. As such, the current study, framed in a social constructivist case study methodology, used an in-depth interview with four in-service English teachers from four different regions to investigate the factors contributing to the achievement of the action-oriented approach in a Thai EFL context. The thematic analysis revealed thirteen potential factors that teachers believed affected the implementation of the CEFR, categorised into three different levels – policy, administration, and instruction-oriented. The pedagogical and policy implications were further discussed and generalised to other similar contexts.

 

Keywords: CEFR, Action-oriented approach; EFL Teachers; CEFR in Thailand; teaching practice


Full Text:

PDF

References


Akkakoson, S. (2019). Thai language learners’ sense of English ownership. PASAA, 58(2), 235–263.

Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.

Byrnes, H. (2007). Developing national language education policies: Reflections on the CEFR. The Modern Language Journal, 91(4), 679-685. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-4781.2007.00627_10.x.

Chien, C. (2014). Pre-service elementary school English teachers’ learning and reflection through simulated teaching practice and oral interviews. Reflective Practice, 15(6), 821-835. 10.1080/14623943.2014.944139.

Council of Europe. (2001). The Common European of Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, teaching, assessment. Cambridge University Press.

Council of Europe. (2018). Common European framework of references for languages: Learning, teaching and assessment: Companion Volume with new descriptors [Ebook]. Council of Europe, Language Policy Programme. https://rm.coe.int/cefr-companion-volume-with-new-descriptors-2018/1680787989.

Creswell, J. (2014). Research design qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications Inc.

Curriculum Service Canada. (n.d.) A guide to reflective practice for core French teachers: The action-oriented approach. http://www.edugains.ca/resourcesFSL/PDF/AGuideToReflective Practice /Module3_ActionOrientedApproach_English.pdf

Education First Standard English. (2020). EF EPI 2020 - EF English Proficiency Index. https://www.ef.com/wwen/epi/

English Language Institute. (2015). Handbook for learning and teaching English in a new way according to the CEFR. Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Ministry of Education.

Figueras, N. (2012). The impact of the CEFR. ELT Journal, 66(4), 477-485. 10.1093/elt/ccs037

Fitzpatrick, D. (2011). Making sense of the English language proficiency in Thailand: An exploration of teachers' practices and dispositions (Doctoral dissertation). University of Exeter.

Foley, J. (2021). CLT using CEFR and EIL in Southeast Asia and East Asia in the English language classroom. RELC Journal, 003368822199807. 10.1177/0033688221998079

Franz, J., & Teo, A. (2017). ‘A2 is normal’ – Thai secondary school English teachers’ encounters with the CEFR. RELC Journal, 49(3), 322-338. 10.1177/0033688217738816

Fulcher, G. (2010). Practical language testing. Hodder Education.

Given, L. (2008). The Sage encyclopedia of qualitative research methods. SAGE Publications.

Green, A. (2012). Language functions revisited: Theoretical and empirical bases for languages construct definitions across the ability range, English profile Volume 2. Cambridge University Press.

Hiranburana, K., Subphadoongchone, P., Tangkiengsirisin, T., Phoocharoensil, S., Gainey, J., & Thogsngsri, J., Sumonsriworakun, P., Somphong, M., Sappapan, P. & Taylor, P. (2017). A framework of reference for English language education in Thailand (FRELE-TH) ― based on the CEFR, The Thai Experience. LEARN Journal, 10(2), 90-119.

Hung, N. N. (2013). Vietnam’s national foreign language 2020 project: Challenges, opportunities, and solutions. http://bruneiusprogramme.org/wp-content/uploads/2013-Forum- Publication-Complete.63-65.pdf.

Jin, Y., Wu, Z., Anderson, C., & Song, W. (2014). Developing the Common Chinese Framework of Reference for Languages: Challenges at macro and micropolitical levels. Paper presented at the Language Testing Research Colloquium, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, June 4-6.

Jindapitak, N. (2019) English as an ASEAN lingua franca and the role of nativeness in English education in Thailand: Moving toward the ASEAN economic community (AEC). English Today, 35(2): 36–41.

Kanchai, T. (2019). Thai EFL University lecturers’ viewpoints towards Impacts of the CEFR on their English language curricula and teaching practice. NIDA Journal of Language and Communication, 24(35), 23-58.

Komorowska, H. (2004). The CEFR in course design and in teacher education. In K. Morrow, Insights from the Common European Framework (pp. 55-64). Oxford University Press.

Körkkö, M., Kyrö-Ämmälä, O., & Turunen, T. (2016). Professional development through reflection in teacher education. Teaching and Teacher Education, 55, 198-206.10.1016/j.tate.2016.01.014

Kulsiri, S. (2006). A critical analysis of the 2001 national foreign language standards-based curriculum in the Thai Schools system (Doctoral dissertation). University of Canberra.

Little, D. (2007). The common European framework of reference for languages: Perspectives on the making of supranational language education policy. The Modern Language Journal, 91(4), 645-655. 10.1111/j.1540-4781.2007.00627_2.x

Loo, D., Maidom, R., & Kitjaroonchai, N. (2019). Non-native English speaking pre-service teachers in an EFL context: Examining experiences through borderland discourse. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 47(4), 414-431. 10.1080/1359866x.2019.1607252

Makina, B. (2018). Exploring pre-service teacher development through daily journal reflections: A case study. Africa Education Review, 16(3), 67-83. 10.1080/18146627.2016.1275951

Mala, D. (2016). English in the news: Govt launches app, Teachers' 'boot camp'. https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/891472/english-in-the-news-govt-launches-app-teachers-boot-camp

McNamara, T. (2011). Managing learning: Authority and language assessment. Language Teaching, 44(4), 500-515. doi: 10.1017/s0261444811000073

McNamara, T., & Röver, C. (2006). Language testing: The social dimension. Basil Blackwell.

Miles, M., Huberman, A., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis (3rd ed.). SAGE Publication.

Minh Ngo, X. (2017). Diffusion of the CEFR among Vietnamese teachers: A mixed-methods investigation. Asian EFL Journal, 19(1), 7-32.

Minister of Education. (2021). Ministry of Education announcement regarding the English language teaching reform policy [Ebook] (pp. 1-3). English Language Institute, The Office of Basic Education Committee. http://english.obec.go.th/english/2013/index.php/th/2012-08-08-10-26-5/60-2014-04-05-08-29-13.

Mohamad Uri, N., & Abd Aziz, M. (2018). Implementation of CEFR in Malaysia: Teachers’ awareness and the Challenges. 3L The Southeast Asian Journal Of English Language Studies, 24(3), 168-183. https://doi.org/10.17576/3l-2018-2403-13.

Mohamad Uri, N., & Abd Aziz, M. (2020). The appropriacy and applicability of English assessment against CEFR global scale: Teachers’ judgement. 3L The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies, 26(3), 53-65. https://doi.org/10.17576/3l-2020-2603-05.

Negishi, M., & Tono, Y. (2014). An update on the CEFR-J project and its impact on English language education in Japan. ALTE.

Nonthaisong, K. (2015). The impact of the English language policy in the basic education core curriculum BE 2551(2008) on English instruction of Thai secondary EFL teachers: A multiple case study in Northeast Thailand. (Doctoral dissertation). The University of Alabama, USA.

North, B. (2009). A profiling grid for language teachers. European Association for Quality Language Services [Ebook]. European Association for Quality Language Services. Retrieved from https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.467.6058&rep=rep1&type=pdf

North, B. (2014). The CEFR in practice. Cambridge University Press.

Paltridge, B., & Phakiti, A. (2015). Research Methods in Applied Linguistics: A Practical Resource. Bloomsbury Academic.

Parsons, M., & Stephenson, M. (2005). Developing reflective practice in student teachers: Collaboration and critical partnerships. Teachers and Teaching, 11(1), 95-116. 10.1080/1354060042000337110

Phoolaikao, W., & Sukying, A. (2021). Insights into CEFR and its implementation through the lens of preservice English teachers in Thailand. English Language Teaching, 14(6), 25. 10.5539/elt.v14n6p25

Rose, H., McKinley, J., & Baffoe-Djan, J. (2020). Data collection research methods in applied linguistics. Bloomsbury Academic.

Sanpatchayapon, U. (2017). Development of tertiary English education in Thailand. In E. Park & B. Spolsky, English education at the tertiary level in Asia: From policy to practice (pp. 168-182). Routledge.

Sechrest, L., Fay, T., & Zaidi, S. (1972). Problems of translation in cross-cultural research. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 3(1), 41-56. 10.1177/002202217200300103

Stenberg, K., Rajala, A., & Hilppo, J. (2016). Fostering theory–practice reflection in teaching practicums. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 44(5), 470-485. 10.1080/1359866x.2015.1136406

Sunyakul, N., & Teo, A. (2020). Primary school English teachers’ application of knowledge/skills from boot camp to their classroom teaching practices and factors hindering their application. LEARN Journal, 13(1), 145-160.

Thongsri, M. (2005). n investigation into the implementation of 2001 English language curriculum in government schools in Songkla (Master's thesis). Prince Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand.

Triastuti, A. (2020). Assessing English pre-service teachers' knowledge base of teaching: Linking knowledge and self-portrayal. TEFLIN Journal - A Publication on The Teaching and Learning of English, 31(1), 108. 10.15639/teflinjournal.v31i1/108-138

Van Huy, N., & Hamid, M. (2015). Educational policy borrowing in a globalised world. English Teaching: Practices & Critique, 14(1), 60-74. 10.1108/etpc-02-2015-0014

Wang, Y., Wang, L., Li, Y., & Li, D. (2020). Countermeasures and suggestions for improving the quality of online education during epidemic prevention and control. China Medical Education and Technology, 34, 119-124.

Wudthayagorn, J. (2018). Mapping the CU-TEP to the common European framework of reference (CEFR). Language Education and Acquisition Research Network Journal, 11(2), 163-180.

Yan, J., Zunmin, W., Alderson, C., & Weiwei, S. (2017). Common European framework of reference for languages (CEFR) for English language assessment in China. Language Testing in China, Special Issue.

Zhang, L. (2010). A dynamic metacognitive systems account of Chinese university students' knowledge about EFL reading. TESOL Quarterly, 44(2), 320-353. 10.5054/tq.2010.223352




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/3L-2022-2802-03

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


 

 

 

eISSN : 2550-2247

ISSN : 0128-5157