A Comparison of English Learning Achievement and Analytical Thinking of Matthayomsuksa 3 students between Total Physical Response and Traditional Method

Abstract

Total Physical Response originally developed by James Asher, an American
professor of psychology, in the 1960s; Total Physical Response (TPR) is based on the theory
that the memory is enhanced through association with physical movement. It is also closely
associated with theories of mother tongue language acquisition in very young children. The
purpose of this research were to study the efficiency of the Total Physical Response plan
according to the established criterion 75/75 (2) to study an effectiveness index of the Total
Physical Response Method, and (3) to compare the learning achievement in English and
analytical thinking ability using Total Physical Response Method and Traditional Method.
The samples were 51 students of Matthayomsuksa 3 students of Phrathongkham
development and quality standards of education in the first semester of the academic year
2012. They were selected through the cluster random sampling technique and assigned
into 2 groups; the experiment group of 26 Ban Nongyang School’ students and the control
group of 25 Kudtadam School’ students. The instruments used in this study were (1) Total
Physical Response lesson plans and Tradional lesson plans of 8 each. (2) learning
achievement test, and (3) analytical thinking ability test. The data were analyzed by mean,
standard deviation,
and Hotelling’s T2
The research showed that;
1. The efficiency of the Total Physical Response plan were 80.34/78.08 according
to the established criterion 75/75
2. The effectiveness index of the Total Physical Response Method was 0.2692 or
at 26.92 percent.
3. Matthayomsuksa 3 students who learned using learning activities with Total
Physical Response Method showed higher learning achievement in English and analytical
thinking ability than students who learned using learning activities with Traditional Method at
.05 level of statistical significance.
In conclusion, the lesson plans based on the total physical method can result in
students’ increase in English learning achievement, and can thus be used to develop
students’ analytical thinking ability. Therefore, teachers can be applied to the context of the
materials for the students to achieve the purpose of learning the English language.