Stress in learning English for agriculture of agriculture students at Maejo University

Abstract

The objectives of this qualitative and quantitative study were to explore: perception traits of the students based on personality and management ability, a level of stress in learning English for Agriculture, and guidelines for solving stress problems of the students. Respondents in this study consisted of 109 second year Animal Science Students and 39 second Agronomy students. All of them were obtained by purposive sampling. Also, there was focus group discussion among English for Agriculture instructors at MJU. Results of the study revealed that more than one-half of the respondents were female, 20 years old, second year students, and animal Science students. Most of the respondents’ domiciles were in northern Thailand and they mainly got allowance from their parents. Their late grade point average in English was 3.50-4.00. Regarding perception traits of the respondents based on personality and management ability, it was found at a high and moderate level, respectively. Besides, the respondents perceived that teaching and learning activities were appropriate at a high level. Besides, it was found that the respondents had moderate level of stress based on relationships with friends. For behavioral and physical disorder of the respondents due to the stress, both were found at lowest level. The following were suggestions: 1) the teacher should be broad minded and accept a level of the student ability to learn English for Agriculture, 2) the teacher should not always follow learning content in the learning material but can make use of other reading selections from other printed materials which are interesting, 3) the teacher should not focus on grammar but English Agricultural technical terms, 4) the teacher should employ diverse teaching methods and modern teaching media to interest the students, and 5) the teacher should always give a chance for the students to truly participate in the teaching and learning process.