The Role of English in Thailand’s Education System and Globalization

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Published: Aug 31, 2025
Keywords:
English education, Thailand, globalization, language policy, English proficiency

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Sutasinee Sirikit

Abstract

English plays a crucial role in Thailand’s education system as both a subject of study and a gateway to participation in globalization. In recent decades, English has been increasingly recognized as the lingua franca of international communication, higher education, business, and technology, creating strong demand for Thai students to develop proficiency in the language. The Thai government has implemented multiple educational reforms to integrate English into curricula from the primary level through higher education, aiming to enhance competitiveness in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the global marketplace. However, despite these efforts, Thailand continues to face challenges such as teacher shortages, traditional grammar-translation teaching methods, and limited opportunities for authentic language use, which contribute to relatively low levels of English proficiency compared to neighboring countries. Research highlights that Thai learners often approach English with instrumental motivation, seeking academic and professional advancement, but they also experience high levels of anxiety and limited confidence in communication. The impact of globalization has amplified the need for Thailand to improve English language education, not only to support individual learners in achieving academic and career success, but also to strengthen the nation’s role in international cooperation, tourism, trade, and cross-cultural exchange. This study emphasizes the dual role of English in Thailand: as an essential skill for personal development and as a strategic resource for national progress in an increasingly interconnected world.

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How to Cite
Sirikit, S. . (2025). The Role of English in Thailand’s Education System and Globalization. Journal of Asian Language Teaching and Learning, 6(2), 62–69. retrieved from https://so10.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jote/article/view/2982
Issue
Vol. 6 No. 2 (2025): Journal of Asian Language Teaching and Learning May - August 2025
Section
Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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