ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

A Reflect of L2 Learning Strategies on the Development of English Language Proficiency at a Language Centre in Thailand



A Reflect of L2 Learning Strategies on the Development of English Language Proficiency at a Language Centre in Thailand

Introduction

The term second language learning means the set of conscious and unconscious processes by which the learner reaches a certain level of competence in a second language. It does exercising different learning skills in the activities of various kinds. In these processes external and psychological factors influence learning. Internal factors are the motivation of the learner, their needs and learning style. External factors are the context in which learning takes place and trying to promote education (Cohen, 1975, p. 35).

When highly literate adults start to learn another language, feelings of discomfort often arise as they experience a lack of oral comprehension, particularly if the consequences matter. Early attempts to explain learning occurred in the context of behaviorism. Since then there have been many other proposals, among which those of are cognitive, the humanistic approach, the social interaction and constructivism. The different approaches and methods of teaching and learning of languages have their theoretical basis in one of these streams of psychology (Cohen, 1975, p. 35).

Language is a tool that, widely used by humans of all ages and groups. We live life in and through our language. Language structures our thoughts and expressions in meaningful forms and shapes our social presence. It builds our relationship with the world around us. It helps us in retaining presence in the universe with the help of developing our own unique ideas, opinions, and views; using nothing but, a language. When we talk about language so, we must remember that we can only communicate with those people effectively who knows, understand and speak the native language (Cohen, 1975, p. 35).

Language is a barrier when to talk about global interaction to avoiding that English been declared as the second language so no matter which country you belong you can communicate to the world if you know English. According to the researchers, people do face a lot of the problems in speaking a second language (L2) as an indigenous language (L1) has a significant influence on their learning (Cohen, 1975, p. 35).

Context

This study will be done at the Army Training Command Language Centre (ATCLC), Royal Thai Army in Bangkok, Thailand. Conducting a study at this institution would make it easy for me to conduct the study. This is because of the fact that I did my internship here and am planning to work as an English teacher at the institution, as soon as I am done with my degree program.

This institution provides the service of training those individuals and students, who are planning to move abroad for different purposes. In order to get an admission to the language center, it is mandatory for the students to take a standardise test, as it will be helpful to the institution in identifying the English speaking and writing skills of the ...