A SURVEY OF TASKS WITH ENGLISH SKILLS AMONG THAI DON-MUENG RAIWAY STAFF

Abstract

This study examined Thai Don Mueng Railway staff’s English skills and activities that needs English in their professions. This study was a purposive sampling method. The sample was ten full-time employees at Thai Don Mueang Railway Station. The instrument in this study was an in-depth interview. The results showed that the participants had the with listening and speaking difficulties. When talking to foreigners, it was difficult for them to catch the foreigners’ accents. Even though they could employ basic conversations, it was so difficult for them to respond their interlocutors immediately. This leads one to have speaking anxiety. Some participants could read in English in general, but unfamiliar words were the causes of misunderstanding the texts. Most participants could write basic English with simple sentence structures. Most participants knew general vocabulary to perform their everyday tasks, such as ticket sales, but they could not explain complex travel destinations once asked by foreign passengers. Accordingly, most employees at Thai Don Mueng Railway need to develop their English skills, especially in speaking to be able to communicate with foreign passengers more effectively. This leads to their better services for foreign passengers visiting Thailand.