On the 9th of October 2023, the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA) proudly inaugurated the Overseas Posting English Programme for the year 2024. The opening ceremony, presided over by Ms. Thitiporn Chirasawadi, the Director of DVIFA, featured an inspiring speech underscoring the pivotal role of English proficiency in overseas postings.

          In her address, the Director highlighted the importance of a strong command of the English language for officers undertaking overseas duties. Recognizing the unique challenges, she stressed the need for each officer to be self-reliant in both professional and personal spheres, including tasks such as communicating with local staff, negotiating rental contracts, contacting banks, etc. English is an essential skill that requires continuous development. Accordingly, DVIFA has introduced the Overseas Posting English Programme, which focuses on enhancing the four communicative skills, namely listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, through simulated overseas posting duties. The programme aims to boost participants’ confidence in English communication. The Director further encouraged participants to embrace the benefits of sustained learning and practice throughout the training course. Additionally, she emphasised the continuous improvement of English skills to further enhance the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ mission in the future.

          This programme is one of the important programmes within the curriculum, aiming to develop the use of English skills for Thai civil servants at all levels who are preparing for overseas postings. Acknowledging its importance in effectively performing their duties, DVIFA organised the Programme Development Workshop last July. Attended by the programme executives, instructors, and support staff, the workshop served as a collaborative forum for exchanging insights and expertise. The focus was on refining the programme through the sharing of knowledge, emphasising “Active Learning” methodologies, and encouraging increased learner engagement in the classroom, ultimately contributing to a higher success rate in the learning process.

          The Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA) hopes that the Overseas Posting English Programme for the year 2024 will serve as a more modernised and customised course. The initiative aims to better align with the proficiency skill levels of participants, with a specific focus on elevating the proficiency of support staff to a more advanced communicative level. This year, the programme welcomes the participation of 35 support staff from 18 departments within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is divided into two classes, each conducted one to two times a week, from 9th October 2023 to 21st February 2024 at DVIFA.