The Development of Honesty, Discipline, and Engagement through English Language Learning among Primary 4 to Primary 6 Students, Primary Department, Demonstration School of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University

Abstract

Character development has become an important focus in primary education, as academic learning alone may not fully prepare students for the social, emotional, and moral challenges of everyday life. This classroom action research explored how honesty, discipline, and engagement could be encouraged among Primary 4–6 students through English language lessons at the Demonstration School of Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University. The study followed a classroom action research approach using cycles of planning, action, observation, and reflection. Various English learning activities were designed to include character development, such as group work, storytelling, role-play, reflective activities, and small projects. Data were gathered through classroom observations, student behavior records, learning notes, and the teacher’s reflective journal. Simple descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to understand the changes observed in students’ behavior. The results showed gradual and positive improvements in students’ honesty, discipline, and engagement. Students became more responsible in completing tasks, followed classroom routines more consistently, and participated more actively in English activities. These findings suggest that English classrooms can provide a meaningful and supportive environment for character development when teachers intentionally include character-building elements in their lessons.