In today’s world, English is one of the most widely used languages utilized in cross-cultural and international interaction around the world today. Various countries in the Asia-Pacific region such as Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand accentuate importance of learning English as a foreign language (EFL) at early age. In Taiwan for example, the Ministry of Education (1998) proposed general guidelines of grade 1-9 curriculum for elementary and junior high school education, which emphasize cultivation of language knowledge and skills related to expression, communication, and sharing in English from early age.
According to Thailand’s “Basic Education Core Curriculum B.E. 2551,” for Thai students, the ability to use foreign languages for communication is at the top of the list of goals or milestones. For third grade Thai language learners, students should be “able to use foreign languages,” with the focus being on listening and speaking in order for them to communicate about themselves, their families, school, their surrounding environment, foods, beverage, and so on. The curriculum, stresses on the ability to speak in “Strand 1: Language for Communication,” of the Foreign Language section, which helps foster and promote the importance of speaking and communicating. (Ministry of Education, 2008) It is important to teach and practice speaking as it helps students progress academically and improve their proficiency a second language (Ellis, 2003; Richards 2003).