The Significance of Songs in Teaching Thai Language To Foreign Learners

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the significance of songs in teaching Thai language to foreign learners. The study focuses on the criteria affecting the song choices including 1) occasions and factors and 2) singers clear and correct Thai accents.The qualitative research design included open-ended questions in the in-depth interviews with 18 subjects on How to choose the songs for foreign learners. The 18 subjects taken part in the study were Thai teachers who teach Thai language to foreign learners in both government and private universities as well as private language schools located in Bangkok Metropolitan Region. The findings reveal that most of the subjects have similar view points towards the criteria in choosing the songs. They emphasize clear pronunciation of singers.The songs of which singers sing clearly and correctly are particularly the songs chosen for beginner classes so that the learners can learn how to speak Thai with an appropriate Thai accent at the same time. However, for intermediate classes or higher, the subjects song choices are based on the song lyrics and language usage appropriate for the learners background knowledge of the language so that the learners can learn Thai language in accordance with the reality taken place during the time of their study. Besides, the subjects emphasize the songs with positive meaning which can convey the feelings of being Thai and reflect the Thai culture as well.