Solving Problems in Reading Buddhist Pali and Sanskrit Loanwords in Thai for Chinese Students at Kasetsart University

Abstract

This research aimed at solving problems in reading Buddhist Pali (PL) and Sanskrit (SKT) loanwords in Thai of Chinese students who were studying in the Communicative Thai Language for Foreigners Program (CTLF) of Kasetsart University. The objectives of study were; 1) to explore causes of the problems in reading PL-SKT loanwords of third-year Chinese students in the CTLF program; and 2) to explore reading solutions and development. 5 Chinese students were selected for the study by purposive sampling technique from a total of 13 participants in the course ‘Thai Reading II.’ Research tools in the study were: 1) Buddhist PL-SKT loanword reading skill exercises, 2) Buddhist PL-SKT loanword cards with short messages; and 3) media for oral reading of Buddhist PL-SKT loanwords. The research results revealed that the causes of the problems were: 1) Chinese students had problems with the pronunciation of PL-SKT words, 2) they lacked reading skills, 3) they had no skill in reading compound PL-SKT loanwords (samasa) because they had different basic knowledge of the Thai and PL-SKT languages, and 4) they lacked continuity of practice in reading PL-SKT loanwords. These problems directly affected their Thai reading. As for the study of the solutions, Chinese students had different results in each reading test, but their development in reading improved continually, and finally, they were able to read and spell Buddhist PL-SKT loanwords properly and fluently although it still took some of them a long time to read a text. After three reading tests, they were able to attain a pass in the reading of Buddhist PL-SKT loanwords by obtaining a score of 100% in the final test.