The Development of an English Learning Audio Book For Thai Massage Therapists with Visual Impairment

Abstract

Thai massage therapists with visual impairment see the need to improve their English in order to be competent in a wider market as Thailand is officially joining the AEC in 2015. However, their access to learning resources is still very limited. The objectives of this research were therefore (1) to develop an audio book which would enable learners with visual impairment to study and practice the English necessary for their profession, and (2) to examine their feedback for further improvement. A syllabus was designed and the prototype audio book was developed in MP3 format. Participants included professional massage therapists, and massage apprentices, all with visual impairment. They were divided into two groups: those who self-studied the audiobook and those who studied the audio book with an instructor in a classroom environment. The pre/post-test results showed that the average scores of both groups were higher, but that the latter group scored significantly higher due to the better discipline and motivation obtained from a classroom atmosphere. The assessment questionnaires and interviews revealed that both groups were satisfied with the overall layout of the prototype audio book, but preferred to have tutorial assistance due to their limited background of English. Data collected through class observation, class discussion, informal interviews, and participation in the life of the group was used for the improvement of the content and the presentation style of the final version of the audio book. Finally it was made into MP3 CD format, a large print book, and was also translated into Braille. The MP3 CDs and the Braille books were then distributed to the participating organizations and were incorporated as part of their curricula and their annual language training.