NMG to conduct English courses for tourist police

The course will equip tourist police with better English skills and thus increase their ability to serve tourists. 

Tourism has been a vital cog in Thailand’s economy, attracting more than 22.3 million foreigners and generating about Bt965 billion revenue last year. 

Tourist Police Division commander Maj-General Roy Inkapairoj said about 100 policemen and policewomen would attend the five-week English courses and be later posted at key international airports such as Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai and Phuket where foreign visitors may need assistance. 

“We expect the project to boost the English skills of all trainees, in speaking, listening, reading and writing,” Roy said.

He described the project as “useful” because language often posed “a communication barrier” when foreign visitors needed to contact the Tourist Police Division. 

NMG, which has the Nation University under its umbrella, has assigned the university’s professional staff to conduct the courses. 

NMG president Duangkamol Chotana said the project would entail two main courses: “Intensive course” and “Workshop Course”. She said the Intensive Course would focus on role-playing, which would be about how to use appropriate language to deal with tourists in different situations. It will also cover Basic English and how to use it effectively. The Workshop Course will focus on simulation activities that will require trainees to put knowledge from the Intensive course into practical use. 

During the launch of the project “English Breakfast” on ThaiPBS, the television show’s presenter, Patrick Warin McBlain, gave a demonstration on how to use English in communicating with a foreigner. Breaking the mould of edutainment, the “English Breakfast” has focused on fun while teaching English to its viewers. This programme is broadcast on Sundays.