FROM CHALLENGES TO FACILITATING FACTORS: THAI LANGUAGE LEARNING AMONG FOREIGN RESIDENTS

Angvarrah  Lieungnapar; Nichaphat  Rattanasing; Anantachai  Aka

Angvarrah Lieungnapar Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand
Nichaphat Rattanasing Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand
Anantachai Aka Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand

Keywords: Thai language learning challenges, Learner perceptions, Thai as a foreign language

Abstract

Abstract— With the increasing number of foreign residents living in Thailand, the ability to use Thai has become essential for daily communication, social participation, and workplace interaction. Previous research on Thai as a foreign language has largely focused on identifying learner needs, motivations, or linguistic difficulties, often examining these aspects in isolation. This study moves beyond identifying challenges by examining how learner -perceived facilitating factors interact to support Thai language learning among foreign residents . Adopting a learner -centred perspective, th e study investigates (1) the challenges foreign residents experience in learning Thai, (2) the facilitating factors they perceive as supporting more effective learning, and (3) the relationship between challenges and facilitating factors . Data were collected through an online questionnaire administered to 51 foreign residents living in Thailand . The questionnaire included two open -ended questions focusing on learning challenges and learner -perceived facilitating factors . Qualitative data were analysed using thematic content analysis, followed by a mapping analysis to examine the alignment between challenge categories and facilitating factors . The findings reveal that foreign residents face multiple interconnected challenges, particularly in relation to Thai tones and pronunciation, the Thai writing system, grammatical and lexical difficulties, instructional and resource -related issues, and contextual constraints such as limited time and practice opportunities . Learner- perceived facilitating factors include pr actice-based and experiential learning, instructional quality and teacher expertise, structured curriculum design, a focus on functional daily -life communication, access to learning resources, and exposure to Thai in everyday environments. The analysis demonstrates that effective Thai language learning is shaped by the combined influence of pedagogical, experiential, and environmental factors rather than by isolated instructional solutions. The study contributes a conceptual model that highlights the interaction between challenges and facilitating factors, offering implications for the design of Thai language programmes for foreign residents.