Abstract—This study highlights the positive impact of
integrated instruction of local culture and global English. A
school and a historical temple in Thailand were the premises of
this study. To examine the impact of local culture instruction, a
test was constructed and administered to a class of Grade 4
students in the first and last lessons of the five-week instruction.
To assess the students’ English ability, a tour guide simulation
activity was organized upon completion of the instruction.
Finally, to examine the students’ attitude towards the
integrated instruction, a mini-questionnaire was administered.
The students had significantly higher gain scores regarding the
knowledge of their local culture and were able to successfully
perform the role of a tour guide at the monastery site. Finally,
all students expressed their positive attitude towards the
integrated instruction and activities employed. This study
demonstrates a crucial step towards the national AEC
integration in 2015.
Index Terms—English, Thailand, local culture, young
learners.
Budsaba Kanoksilapatham is with the English Department, Faculty of
Arts, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom, CO 73000 Thailand (e-mail:
kanoksib@hotmail.com).
Cite: Budsaba Kanoksilapatham, "Developing Young Learners‟ Local Culture Awareness and Global English: Integrated Instruction," International Journal of Information and Education Technology vol. 5, no. 9, pp. 676-682, 2015.