JOLLT Journal of Languages and Language Teaching
Vol. 13 No. 3 (2025): July

Implementing Soft-Power as an Experiential Learning Strategy to Enhance Speaking Engagement: A Case Study in a Thai School

Wulandari, Diah Ayu Rizqi (Unknown)
Maghfiroh, Ana (Unknown)
Harmanto, Bambang (Unknown)
Sinthong, Phakit (Unknown)
Simpol, Wanida (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
18 Jul 2025

Abstract

English language teaching in Thailand faces persistent challenges, including barriers related to teacher competence, insufficient English fluency, and a lack of effective teaching methods and strategies. Socio-individual and cultural factors, such as low self-esteem, also reduce students’ motivation in speaking practice. This study explores how the Soft-power strategy can address these issues by emphasizing active participation, collaborative learning, and experiential techniques like group discussions and real-life conversations that foster a supportive classroom environment. Using a qualitative descriptive design, the study involved 15 fourth-grade students over three months. Data were collected through classroom observations and questionnaires. The findings show that Soft-power strategies significantly enhanced student engagement. For instance, more than 86% of participants strongly agreed that the strategy helped them build confidence in speaking English, while over 66% reported enjoying and feeling comfortable during the activities. The analysis also revealed reduced student anxiety and more positive peer interactions. The results suggest that Soft-power strategies offer a promising alternative to traditional methods by fostering a supportive learning environment for long-term language development. These findings offer valuable insights for educators and policymakers aiming to transform English instruction in non-native, multilingual settings.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jollt

Publisher

Subject

Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

OLLT is an open access journal which provides immediate, worldwide, barrier-free access to the full text of all published articles without charging readers or their institutions for access. Readers have the right to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of all ...