ATIPAT BOONMOH (KING MONGKUT'S UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY THONBURI (KMUTT))
NATKRISTHA KOPHIMAI (Piboonbumpen Demonstration School, Burapha University)

WORD SELECTION IN EFL READING: INSIGHTS FROM THAI HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' VOCABULARY CHOICES : METHODOLOGIES AND TEACHING APPROACHES

This research explores the vocabulary selection processes of Thai high school students engaged in reading English passages, aiming to enhance understanding of the factors influencing their choices. The study involved 30 participants from Math-English, French-English, and Chinese-English programs, who selected English passages from National Geographic Kids and TIME for Kids. Each student identified five unfamiliar words or phrases, justifying their selections based on personal relevance and perceived importance. The analysis, conducted using the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Online 6th edition, focused on word class, frequency, and academic status. Findings revealed a predominance of high-frequency nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, with a notable underrepresentation of function words. The choice of vocabulary was primarily driven by personal interests, trends on social media, and relevance to everyday language and academic use. Implications for teaching suggest that educators should consider integrating student interests and real-life contexts into EFL instruction to enhance vocabulary acquisition and reading comprehension. By using materials that reflect students' cultural backgrounds and current trends, teachers can promote greater engagement and autonomy in language learning. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of encouraging students to explore beyond familiar vocabulary, potentially incorporating strategies for recognizing and understanding less commonly taught grammatical structures. This approach not only supports personalized learning but also prepares students for more diverse and practical language use in real-world settings.

Atipat Boonmoh works as a lecturer in ELT at King Mongkut's University of Thonburi, Thailand. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching from University of Warwick, UK. His research interests include Lexicography, Dictionary use, Use of ICT, Learning strategies, and Teaching methods.

Natkristha Kophimai is a teacher in the Department of Junior International Program at the Piboonbumpen Demonstration School, Burapha University, Thailand. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Curriculum and Instructions, Faculty of Education, Burapha University. Her research interests include language teaching, curriculum development, and material design.