The application of immersion teaching method in learning Chinese speaking skill for grade 5 Thai students

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to (1) compare grade 5 Thai students’ learning achievement in Chinese speaking skill between a control group and an experimental group using immersion teaching method and (2) investigate grade 5 Thai students’satisfaction in learning Chinese speaking skill using immersion teaching method. Mixed methods were applied and 1 section of 30 grade 5 Thai students was involved as an experimental group in the study using a clustered random sampling method. Four Lesson Plans of 100 minutes each (1 Lesson Plan = 2 Sessions) using immersion teaching were used and taught for 8 sessions (2 sessions per week) in the sample group within the time period of a month. The researcher collected the quantitative data through Pre-test and Post-test and collected the qualitative data through classroom observation (CO) and semi-structured interview. The quantitative data were analyzed by standard deviation signed rank test. The qualitative data were analyzed by thematic analysis. The significance value was .02 which indicated that there was statistically significant enhanced learning in Chinese language speaking skill after the intervention. The result showed that the use of immersion teaching was effective in enhancing Grade 5 Thai students’ Chinese language speaking and students’ learning attitude was positive towards the use of immersion in learning Chinese speaking.