AN EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Learning environment factors have been increasingly taken into consideration within higher education in Thailand. Research has found that students’ success in learning second language has formed by several factors within their learning context. This initial study aims to explore factors affecting learning environment of students studied toward Basic English I at the tertiary level. The instrument used in this investigation was a questionnaire. The study found that both internal and external factors affected second language acquisition of students. Components of effective learning environment included their desire to use English for specific purposes: education, travel, work, daily life, and hobby. In addition, factors such as teachers’ characteristic, need to get good English grade, or need to further study are viewed as key components in promoting students’ success in learning English as a second language