Thais Taking Turns: How Thais Participate in Group Work in the American Classroom

• Main Author: Bischof, Janine Chere
• Other Authors: Chelliah, Shobhana Lakshmi
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 1999
• Subjects: Thai students; Group work; Group projects; Thai students > United States.; Group work in education.
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278857/

Using Ethnography of Communication, Conversational Analysis, and surveys, Thai students' participation in group work was studied to determine how they interact with native English-speaking students. Issues discussed are: (1) behaviors Thai students display during group work; including comparisons and contrasts to native students' behaviors, (2) prejudices native students have about including Thai students in group work, (3) Thais' strengths and weaknesses in group work, and (4) perceptions native and Thai students and their professors have regarding group work and its importance to successful course completion. The study concludes by recommending ways that both Thai students and their professors can enhance the learning outcomes of courses that heavily emphasize group work.