Sociocultural Background Factors towards Thai Students’ Speaking Skills at Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya: An Analysis of Students’ Perspectives

This study aims to identify what sociocultural background factors
are involved and what the impact is on the speaking skills of Thai students
in the English Education Department at Muhammadiyah University of
Surabaya from the students’ perspectives. This study uses a narrative design
(qualitative method) with instruments in the form of questionnaires and
interviews. The subjects of this study were 4 Thai students in English
Education Department at the Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya who
came from different cities representing the Southern and Northern Thailand
regions. The results of the data analysis showed that almost all students had
the same socio-cultural background factors, and the most significant
difference was seen in student A who came from Bangkok, Northern
Thailand. It means that the difference in the background of the living
environment is also involved in the development of the English speaking
skills of Thai students. Although it may be that the socio-cultural
background factor does not affect speaking skills, it does play a role in the
process from the perspective of Thai students.