Abstract

Thai and Filipino students study English in different learning contexts. To illustrate this, Thai students study English as a Foreign Language (EFL), while Filipinos students study English as a Second Language (ESL). This study explores the metaphors which represent the concepts of English of Thai and Filipino students, to find the reasons to explain concepts, and to show the comparison of concepts towards English Language Courses of theses two groups of students. The participants were divided into two groups: Thai and Filipinos. They are all first year students. The participants were asked to respond to a questionnaire asking them personal information and ‘What will you think of in terms of concrete things like home, or rose when talking about English course?’ According to the results, the responses of Thai and Filipino students can be divided into two groups: positive and negative. Then, in each group, concepts are classified into additional groups. Thai and Filipinos have shown similarities and differences in metaphors, for example, as a positive metaphor, they are the same in thinking of ‘food’, and different in thinking of ‘sharpener’ by a Filipino, while Thai think of ‘sword.’