An Application of Project-Based Learning on the Development of Young Local Tour Guides on Tai Phuan’s Culture and Tourist Attractions in Sisatchanalai District, Sukhothai Province

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation of a research entitled, “ An Application of Project-based Learning on the Development of Young Local Tour Guides on Tai Phuan’s Culture and Tourist Attractions in Sisatchanalai District, Sukhothai Province. It was intended to develop young local tour guides on Tai Phuan’s culture and tourist attractions in Sisatchanalai, Sukhothai Province. The study explored the improvement in students’ communicative ability and examined to what extent the students revealed both positive and negative attitudes towards project-based learning. The study also aimed to develop a set of recommendations for future practice in project-based learning in Thai educational institutions. The research was conducted in classroom of 50 grade 10 students with purposive sampling of Muangchalieng School in Sisatchanalai, Sukhothai Province. The questionnaire aimed to evaluate the students’ satisfaction of the methodology called project-based learning in terms of their attitude in English language development and the practice of young local tour guides. A focus-group interview with each group provided in-depth information regarding their learning and provided ideas for a set of recommendations for future practice. It is anticipated that the information gained from this study will benefit both the teachers in their choices of suitable methodologies and students’ outcomes with the respect to improved competency in their skills in English and increased confidence in project-based learning in small groups.