KIETNAWIN AND SUPONG SRIDHANYARAT AND TANGKIENGSIRISIN (THAMMASAT UNIVERSITY )
SUPONG TANGKIENGSIRISIN (Language Institute Thammasat University)

EFFECTS OF DATA-DRIVEN LEARNING (DDL) ON THAI EFL LEARNERS’ ABILITY TO USE ACADEMIC COLLOCATIONS : METHODOLOGIES AND TEACHING APPROACHES

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Data-Driven Learning (DDL) on Thai learners’ ability to use collocations in academic contexts. Framed within the Involvement Load Hypothesis, this research also examined the learners’ opinions on the implementation of DDL to improve their proficiency in using academic collocations. The study involved 31 Thai university students whose English proficiency levels ranged from B1 and B2 according to the CEFR. A multiple-choice test and a collocate writing test were designed to measure the effectiveness of the intervention. Additionally, a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather students’ attitudes toward the use of DDL to develop their knowledge of academic collocations. The results revealed that DDL was effective in enhancing the ability of Thai learners to use academic collocations. The questionnaire results indicated that the learners agreed DDL improved their ability to use English collocations in academic contexts. Based on the interview results, the participants expressed that DDL played an important role in driving their strong need, present search, and strong evaluation to master academic collocations independently.

Kietnawin Sridhanyarat is a Ph.D. candidate in the English Language Teaching Program at the Language Institute of Thammasat University. He is currently an assistant professor of English at the Faculty of Archeology, Silpakorn University. Additionally, he serves as the Deputy Director for English Language Development at the G&E Center, Silpakorn University.

Supong Tankiengsirisin is an Associate Professor at the Language Institute of Thammasat University, Thailand. He earned his Ph.D. in English Studies from the University of Nottingham, UK. He serves as the Director of Advanced Center for Testings at Language Institute, Thammasat University (LITU-ACTs), and is currently Past President of Thailand TESOL Association. He also serves on several Editorial Committees for international academic journals. His areas of interest include Global Englishes, discourse analysis, ESP, ELF, and second language writing.