New regulations on foreign language standards for international tour guides

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just issued Circular No. 04, effective from August 20, in which the foreign language proficiency standards for international tour guides have been amended and supplemented with some details compared to previous regulations.

Specifically, a person who is proficient in a foreign language as stipulated in the Law on Tourism must meet one of four criteria: Having a college degree or higher in languages ​​or foreign languages, foreign language interpretation, or foreign language pedagogy. While the old regulation only generally stated that "a college degree or higher in foreign languages ​​is required".

From August 2024, international tour guides must follow new regulations on foreign language proficiency standards.

The second criterion is that the person has a college degree or higher with a training program in a foreign language or language. In case the diploma or diploma supplement does not show the training language, it is necessary to provide additional documents proving the language used for training. This detail in the previous circular also stipulates more simply, that is "having a college degree or higher with a training program in a foreign language".

The third criterion is that the person has a college degree or higher abroad with a training program in the official language of the host country. In case of training in a language other than the official language of the host country, the diploma or diploma appendix does not show the training language, it is necessary to provide additional documents proving the language used for training. Meanwhile, the old regulation did not have the detail "diploma or diploma appendix does not show the training language".

The fourth standard is that the person has one of the following valid foreign language certificates issued by a competent organization or agency: a foreign language certificate from level 4 or higher according to the 6-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam; a foreign language proficiency certificate equivalent to level 4 or higher according to the 6-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam or equivalent to level B2 or higher according to the Common European Framework of Reference.

Meanwhile, in the old circular, this standard was only "having a foreign language certificate at level 4 or higher according to the 6-level foreign language competency framework for Vietnam or having a foreign language certificate that meets the required level according to regulations" and there was no requirement on the time limit.

In addition, while the previous circular required that diplomas, certificates, and certifications issued by foreign training institutions must be recognized according to regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the new circular states that "diplomas issued by foreign training institutions must be recognized according to regulations of the law on education, university education, and vocational education."

Thus, in this new regulation, the standards on foreign language proficiency of international tour guides are revised, supplemented to be more specific, detailed and stricter than previous regulations.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quy-dinh-moi-ve-tieu-chuan-ngoai-ngu-doi-voi-huong-dan-vien-du-lich-quoc-te-185240713123802222.htm