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Speak the lingo if you get wed
Thais face new hurdle getting visas to UK, Germany,
Under new rules imposed by those countries, they must have a basic command of English or German before their visa will be approved.
Under the UK regulation, all non-Europeans travelling to the UK to join their partner or marry must demonstrate a basic command of English.
They will be required to pass tests to prove that their command of English is good enough to cope with everyday life before being granted a visa.
This applies to spouses, unmarried couples, same sex partners and fiancees.
The rule will take effect around September but the exact date has yet to be announced.
Germany has imposed a similar rule, which says non-EU national spouses may only join their partners if they are over 18 and can demonstrate a basic knowledge of German.
To help Thai citizens cope with the new language requirements, the Foreign Ministry, in collaboration with Khon Kaen University (KKU), will launch a pilot training programme for Thai women starting next Wednesday and running until Sept 30 at the university. At least 20 "students" are expected to take part.
Deputy director-general of the consular affairs department, Madurapochana Ittarong, said the number of Thai women from the Northeast marrying foreigners is rising every year.
Over the past few months, almost 2,000 people have shown their intention to marry foreigners, she said.
The figure prompted the ministry to come up with language training programmes, starting with a German class, to help these women apply for visas.
The course will cover knowledge of social and cultural life in Germany, language, family law, adjusting to change and building relationships, stress management, communications and internet usage, applying for part-time work, and financial management.
"The problems of Thai women marrying foreigners include a lack of [foreign] language skills, and unemployment, which can lead to family problems. When they get divorced, the women could then lose the custodial rights to their children," Ms Madurapochana said.
"If the women could speak a little German, they could work and might gain the right to take care of their children," she said.
Most Thai women also lack the local knowledge needed to help them gain access to state services, such as health benefits, she said.
More than 100,000 Thai women live in Germany, a fifth of whom have married Germans.
Dussadi Aryuwat, of KKU's humanities and social science faculty, who oversees the training programme, said participants would also learn skills such as Thai massage, Thai cooking, and how to care for children.
Cultural differences were also a challenge. For example, she said, Germans would not welcome visitors at home before 10am on a holiday, parents would not leave their child alone at home, and German husbands would not want to share expenses.
Lack of understanding of German culture has led to an increase in the number of Thai women divorcing their German husbands in recent years.
"If the women realise these things before going there, they will be able to stay happily," Ms Dussadi said.
Somjai Suktakua, 35, who is among 20 women who will attend the training programme, plans to marry a 62-year-old retired German, whom she met two years ago when she worked as a cashier in Pattaya.
They speak mostly in English. Ms Somjai said her husband-to-be wanted her to speak and read German before they married in Germany.
"Mostly, I will stay in Thailand [after the marriage], but if I can get a long-term visa, I might change my mind and stay in Germany instead," she said.
Paopirad Ravan, 40, who has been married to a German for five years, has also applied for the programme.
They run a fitness centre in Khon Kaen.
"I would like to talk to him in German after years of talking to him in English," she said.
Mrs Paopirad met her husband through a match-making service. She paid 150,000 baht for a trip to Germany to meet the man. She visits Germany three times a year.
"My expectation to join in this programme is to be able to speak German in case I have to live in the country. It could also help me find part-time work," she said.
Thais face new hurdle getting visas to UK, Germany,
- Published: 24/07/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Under new rules imposed by those countries, they must have a basic command of English or German before their visa will be approved.
Under the UK regulation, all non-Europeans travelling to the UK to join their partner or marry must demonstrate a basic command of English.
They will be required to pass tests to prove that their command of English is good enough to cope with everyday life before being granted a visa.
This applies to spouses, unmarried couples, same sex partners and fiancees.
The rule will take effect around September but the exact date has yet to be announced.
Germany has imposed a similar rule, which says non-EU national spouses may only join their partners if they are over 18 and can demonstrate a basic knowledge of German.
To help Thai citizens cope with the new language requirements, the Foreign Ministry, in collaboration with Khon Kaen University (KKU), will launch a pilot training programme for Thai women starting next Wednesday and running until Sept 30 at the university. At least 20 "students" are expected to take part.
Deputy director-general of the consular affairs department, Madurapochana Ittarong, said the number of Thai women from the Northeast marrying foreigners is rising every year.
Over the past few months, almost 2,000 people have shown their intention to marry foreigners, she said.
The figure prompted the ministry to come up with language training programmes, starting with a German class, to help these women apply for visas.
The course will cover knowledge of social and cultural life in Germany, language, family law, adjusting to change and building relationships, stress management, communications and internet usage, applying for part-time work, and financial management.
"The problems of Thai women marrying foreigners include a lack of [foreign] language skills, and unemployment, which can lead to family problems. When they get divorced, the women could then lose the custodial rights to their children," Ms Madurapochana said.
"If the women could speak a little German, they could work and might gain the right to take care of their children," she said.
Most Thai women also lack the local knowledge needed to help them gain access to state services, such as health benefits, she said.
More than 100,000 Thai women live in Germany, a fifth of whom have married Germans.
Dussadi Aryuwat, of KKU's humanities and social science faculty, who oversees the training programme, said participants would also learn skills such as Thai massage, Thai cooking, and how to care for children.
Cultural differences were also a challenge. For example, she said, Germans would not welcome visitors at home before 10am on a holiday, parents would not leave their child alone at home, and German husbands would not want to share expenses.
Lack of understanding of German culture has led to an increase in the number of Thai women divorcing their German husbands in recent years.
"If the women realise these things before going there, they will be able to stay happily," Ms Dussadi said.
Somjai Suktakua, 35, who is among 20 women who will attend the training programme, plans to marry a 62-year-old retired German, whom she met two years ago when she worked as a cashier in Pattaya.
They speak mostly in English. Ms Somjai said her husband-to-be wanted her to speak and read German before they married in Germany.
"Mostly, I will stay in Thailand [after the marriage], but if I can get a long-term visa, I might change my mind and stay in Germany instead," she said.
Paopirad Ravan, 40, who has been married to a German for five years, has also applied for the programme.
They run a fitness centre in Khon Kaen.
"I would like to talk to him in German after years of talking to him in English," she said.
Mrs Paopirad met her husband through a match-making service. She paid 150,000 baht for a trip to Germany to meet the man. She visits Germany three times a year.
"My expectation to join in this programme is to be able to speak German in case I have to live in the country. It could also help me find part-time work," she said.
