International Conference: language education for sustainable development

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Narinthorn S. Behr, Ph.D. -- A lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand. Her work reflects her commitment to phonetics, sustainable language education, and lifelong learning. Her projects focus on enhancing English skills in remote areas and empowering elderly citizens outside Bangkok to strengthen their language abilities, support their communities, and protect themselves against digital fraud.

Thailand has been facing a demographic shift with over 12 out of 67 million people aged 60 and above in 2023. This growing elderly population will play a significant part in shaping society. It is essential to encourage the elderly to stay active, engaged, and valued community members. In provinces with high tourism potential like Nakhon Nayok, elderly residents with local knowledge often stay in the community, whereas younger adults migrate elsewhere for work. Yet, limited English skills restrict their ability to engage with international tourists and support local tourism. This ongoing study addresses the gap by investigating whether English training can help the elderly develop their language skills and play an active role in local tourism activities. Thirty elderly participants attended the workshop on tourism-related vocabulary and scenarios tailored to their needs. Topics covered traditional local foods, such as battered fried bananas, mango sticky rice, and fried sesame balls, enabling participants to actively communicate and share their knowledge. A mixed-method approach was implemented, incorporating pre- and post-assessments and semi-structured interviews to evaluate English proficiency and motivation. Preliminary analysis relatively exhibits an increase in average score from 65 in the pre-test to 93.33 in the post-test. The statistical study using ANOVA at p < .05 yields an F-value of 1.686 and a P-value of .083. Even though the result is not statistically significant, it indicates an upward trend in English proficiency. The initial finding aligns with SDG 4.7 by equipping the elderly with the necessary skills to promote lifelong learning, sustainable development and global citizenship. As the study progresses, further analysis will explore the long-term impact of language education on seniors’ community involvement and economic contributions. The result can demonstrate the potential of language training to bridge sustainability and global citizenship.