A comparative study of Chinese learning achievement of Grade 7 students using Chinese or Thai as a medium of instruction in Chinese language class at Wat Suthiwararam School in Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify whetherthere was a significant difference in the gain in Chinese learning achievement between Grade 7 students using Chinese as a medium of instruction in a Chinese languageclass and those using Thai as a medium of instruction at WatSuthiwararam School in Bangkok,Thailand. The study duration was two months. Seventy students were targeted in this study, conducted during the academic year 2020-2021. In the experimental group, 36 students usedChinese as a medium of instruction in Chinese language class. The researcher,as a teacher, taught the experimentalgroup. And the control group, taught by aThai teacher and 34 students in total, usedThai as a medium of instructionin Chinese language class. The results of research carried out on Jan. 2021.The data collected wereanalyzed by a statistical software program. According to the purpose and hypotheses of the study, different statistical methods were used to analyze the data (e.g.,means, standard deviations, dependent samples t-test,independent samples t-test). The study showed the level of learning achievement of Grade 7 students using Chinese as a medium of instructionin Chinese language class was very good. The class was very good for Grade 7 students using Thai as a medium of instruction in a Chinese language. The results showed nosignificant difference in Grade 7students using Chinese orThaias a medium of instructionin Chinese language class at Wat Suthiwararam School in Bangkok, Thailand.