MikeS

I'm actually writing a paper on this at the moment, using the paper on which my above post was based, plus an interview with a Thai learner of English (who is bilingual) plus some other stuff to make a Comparative Analysis of how a Thai L1 can interfere with the learning of an English L2. Its very interesting. Certainly has opened my eyes to some of the difficulties my students face.
One obvious point is that they're used to the 5 tones in Thai, and then try to import that into English, and it just doesn't work.
Another is the different voels and consonant combinations resulting in them trying to add a single vowel to English words e.g. speak becomes sa-peak.
Another point is them using the base form of English words even when they should be changed, because in Thai that's the way it is with the context coming fromn other words, so in their eyes there's nothing wrong with mixing tenses and singular/plural.
I think its clear a Thai L1 can interefer with an English L2, although it was interesting my interviewee said some of the points raise din the original article were not serious problems for him, but others were very serious, so the effect seems to vary.
My main problem is my Thai is hopeless so I'm having to double check everything with others and dictionaries so its slow going, but i"m learning some things.

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