Attitudents toward and Motivation in Learning English of Students in Public Health Certificate Programs (Community Health,Pharmacy Technique,Dental Public Health
Abstract:
The purpose of this research was to attitudes toward learning English of students in Public Health Certificate (Community Health, Pharmacy Technigue,Dental Public Health) and to compare motivation in 3 aspects:curiculum,gender,and age. Samples of this study were the first year students enrolled in academic year 2004 at Sirindhorn College of Public Health in Trang. Results of the return questionnaires were:51 of 70 (72.86%) From Community Health Program, 29 of 33 (87.8%) from Pharmacy Techique Program, ad 20 of 31 (64.52%) From Dental Public Health Program. Characteristics of sample group were female, 80.6, and at the age 20 year old or younger, 88.9%. The reliability of the questionnaire was 0.86 of cronbach's test. Data were analyzed ad represented using the percentage, mean,standard deviation, analysis of variance, Scheff's test,amd t-test.
With respect to attiudes towards English in curriculum, the findings revealed that 92.0% in the Public Health certificate Programs ( mean=4.38) stronly agreed with an Fnglish class that deals with an appropriate topic in the current situations and laboratory practices reqguired listening in the language laboratory. Attiyudes toward English learning as a subject,94.0% of students (mean= 4.26) showed strong agreement with the necessity of English in health work. 98.0% (mean= 4.51) regarded as being very significant the knowledge, capability, and intention of instrutor.
For all programs, attitudes toward English due to audio-visual equipment and environment of classrooms, 86.0% (mean = 4.04) students indicated agreement of appropriate handouts while 95.0% (mean = 4.13) of students showed agreement of evaluation of English followed the objectives of contents. 83.0% (mean = 3.94) of student showed agreement of others of appropriate practices in English listening. As far as motivation in learning English was concered, most of students, 83.0% (mean= 4.11) considered very significant their preference over English intructors.
A comparison of students' motivation across different certificate programs nevertheless exhibited significant differences with favor of English language, no English language course, fiishing class, happy to do assignment atter class, and readiness for a quiz. The Scheffe's Test comarison showed a different between Community health and Pharmacy Technique in their preference, no English language course, and happy to do assignment after class. Community Health students differed from Dental Public Health students with respect to preference over finishing class earlier and readiness for a quiz.
Comparison of motivation in learning English among all programs by gender was significant different between male and female in the factors of absent for the class, preference over instructors, happy to do assignment after class, and attending the class on time.
Aditionally, comparison of motivation in learning Eglish among all programs by age was significant different between 20 year of age or younger and older 20 years old in the factor of practicing English during their free time.
Suggestions and recommendations from respondents were analyzed and presented to English intructors who could nevertheless use the results of this research as a guideline to better develop thir teaching-learning enviornment and to improve thier student's English skills by introducing activitics which would increase thier interst such as writing and reading practices.singing, introducing oneself in English, and Engish conversation.