The linguistic aspect of “Soft Power” in Russian-Thailand relations

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Introduction

Thai language teaching in Russia and Russian language teaching in Thailand at university focus on students’ communication skills. Both Russia and Thailand have introduced foreign language teaching in response to changing circumstances. It has promoted cooperation between educational institutions and plays a crucial role in promoting cooperation at the state level. This article analyses the development of Thai language teaching and Thai studies in Russia and Russian language teaching and Russian studies in Thailand from the beginnings of language teaching at the university level to the current year (2024). The aim is to show the efforts of educational institution in this regard, which promote the acquisition knowledge and language skills of Russian and Thai populations and thus cooperation between the two states.

Problem statement

The authors conduct a comprehensive review of relevant research and academic articles. First, Vera Saengnateswang examines the development of teaching Thai as a foreign language in Russian higher educational institutions that offer foreign language courses as part of a bachelor’s degree program (or a specialist’s degree program based on the Soviet model) from the second half of the 20th century to the year 2021 [13]. Second, Rom Priramontri gives a historical overview of the introduction of Russian language teaching in Thailand at Thammasat University in 1975. He discusses the necessity of establishing and formulating a new curriculum, e.g. for Russian studies in 2003 [12]. However, no studies have examined the different characteristics of language teaching in each educational institution, studied the development of Regional Studies in addition to the language, and analysed the factors that influence the introduction of foreign language teaching and the development of the curricula.

The usefulness of this article lies in developing knowledge about the development of teaching Thai language and Thai studies in Russia and Russian language and Russian studies in Thailand and the role of the two languages in promoting cooperation between Russia and Thailand in various fields.

Methods and source base

This article is documentary research, i.e. information was collected from various documents, including academic articles, research articles and websites of educational institutions offering classes in these fields, and interviews conducted with lecturers. The authors selected three higher education institutions in Russia offering Thai language and Thai studies since the Soviet era and three Thai universities focusing on Russian language and Russian studies to present readers with the developments in language teaching that have taken place during the same period and to show how international circumstances and cooperation between the two countries have influenced the development of the curriculum in each country.

On the websites of Russian educational institutions offering courses in Thai language and Thai studies, the authors found histories of major important lectures and courses, including the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO)¹, the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University² and Saint Petersburg State University³.

The Thammasat University’s website also provided information about the Russian⁴ and so on, and Russian and Eurasian Studies curricula for 2023⁵, as well as the range of lectures and textbooks for Russian. Ramkhamhaeng University’s website provided details about the Russian curriculum for 2022⁶. Chulalongkorn University’s website outlines the history of teaching Russian as an elective subject from 2004 to 2024, when Russian became a major subject⁷.

In gathering information about the teaching of Thai language in Russia, the authors interviewed lecturers from three Russian institutions to obtain information from each institution, including Darya Borisova (MGIMO), Irina Lipilina (Institution of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University), and Mikhail Ignatiev (Saint Petersburg State University).

The data were subjected to a descriptive analysis using the method of historicism, in which historical events from the early period of foreign language teaching in both states are analysed. The inductive approach examined the various factors that influenced the development of foreign language teaching, while the deductive approach helped the authors to make a more comprehensive analysis of the topics studied. In addition, the comparative approach enabled the authors to analyse both similarities and differences in the development process as well as the various factors influencing the creation of the curriculum.

Discussion: background of the issue

Teaching Thai language and Thai studies in Russia

The first Thai language classes were held in 1954 at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations under the direction of Dr. Sci. (Philol.) Lev Morev, who was the first lecturer of Thai in the Soviet Union. After completing his studies at the institute, Morev took up an internship at the Soviet Embassy in Thailand. This gave him the opportunity to learn Thai⁸. After his arrival in Russia, he was offered a position as a Thai lecturer at MGIMO.

The foundation for teaching Thai was laid by Sak Semsampan, a Thai journalist and businessman who worked at the university from 1956 to 1960. Margarita Fomitcheva and Vasily Churmanteev also played a role in this process⁹. The development of Thai language teaching was later taken over by Ludmila Larionova (PhD in History, Associate Professor), who was the first student of Mr. Morev. Before being appointed as a lecturer at the Institute, she gained professional experience at the USSR Embassy in Thailand and Laos, then she taught Thai since 1976. The current lecturer is Daria Borisova, who has been working since 2018.

The lecturers at this institution had published books and textbooks on the Thai language. The first Thai-Russian dictionary was written by Mr. Morev, with Sak Semsampan as co-editor [10]. The textbook of Thai language was written by Margarita Fomitcheva [4] and the textbook on socio-political translation by Ludmila, intended for 3rd–4th grade students [7].

Courses in Thai are currently offered at the Faculty of International Relations and the Faculty of International Economics. As part of the undergraduate program at the Faculty of International Relations, students have the option to choose Thai as their first or third language. They can choose Thai as a third language in addition to their main foreign language. The pedagogical approach of this institute emphasizes the development of listening comprehension, linguistics and culture, home reading, social and political translation, and economic translation.

During the Soviet era, in 1956, the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University initiated the teaching of Thai language within the Department of Philology of Southeast Asian Countries, Korea and Mongolia. The development of Thai language teaching in this context was due to Lev Morev and his students between 1960 and 1970¹⁰. During this period, Thai was also taught in the History department [13]. An important lecturer who initially taught was Margarita Fomitcheva, who worked from the beginning until the early 2000s.

The institute currently teaches Thai language and Thai studies subjects such as Thai language, Thai Literature, Introduction to Thai Special Philology, Thai Language Theory. Full-time lecturers until 2024 have included Pimchanok Thapanosoth (Thai lecturer) and Paulina Balakshin¹¹. In addition, full-time lecturers, such as Irina Lipilina and Pimchanok Thapanosoth, in collaboration with Yuri Muzychenko, wrote a Thai language textbook for first-year students of the Asian and African Studies program, which was published in 2019 [8].

In addition, the Department of History of the Far East and Southeast Asia teaches Thai History, Main Problems and Trends of the Historical Development, History of Religions, Basics of Ethnology and Ethnography, History of Public Thought, Source Studies and Historiography¹². The Thai language is not taught in this department.

Saint Petersburg State University, the first Russian institution, offers courses in Thai language and Thai studies under the direction of the Faculty of Asian and African Studies. Thai Philology was founded in 1961 by Dr. Sci. (Philol.) Yuri Osipov in the Department of Southeast Asian Philology. The History of Thailand program was also established in 1962 in the Department of History of the Far East¹³. At that time, Yuri Osipov was a lecturer who specialized in the study of Thai language and literature of Southeast Asian nations and authored a Thai-Russian dictionary [11].

From 2017 to 2024, this institute offered degree programs in which students learnt the Thai language and Thai studies. On the one hand, the following courses are offered in the Khmer and Thai Philology program (academic year 2017 and 2019): Introduction to Thai Philology, History of Cambodia and Thailand, Ethnography of Cambodia and Thailand, Theoretical Grammar of Thai Language, History of Ancient and Medieval Literature in Thailand, Geography of Cambodia and Thailand. Students are also required to write a term paper each academic year. They may study a special topic of individual interest in conducting the research¹⁴.

Secondly, History of Thailand (in Thai and Chinese, academic year 2018, 2021) is a program that specifically focuses on Thai language, History of Thailand, Indigenous Peoples of Thailand, History of Relations between Russia and Thailand (19^th – early 21^st century), Similarities and Differences between Thai and Lao, the Pacific as a Focus of Thai Foreign Policy in the 20^th – early 21^st centuries, Historiography and Sources, Thai Literature, Thailand-Europe Relations¹⁵.

Thirdly, the History of Thailand and Burma program (academic year 2023) covers the major disciplines such as Thai language, Geography of Thailand and Burma, Ethnography and Culture of Thailand and Burma, History of Thailand and Burma, and Literature of Thailand¹⁶.

In addition, this institute will introduce the new degree program “Thai Philology (with Thai and Burmese language training)” in the academic year 2024. The main objective of this degree program is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of various aspects such as language, culture, politics, economy, society, ethnicity and literature. Furthermore, students of this program have the opportunity to obtain a certificate as a specialist in the field of translation, which gives them the status of an official translator. This program covers various topics such as the Thai language, Geography of Thailand, Ancient and Medieval Literature of Thailand, History of Thailand, Ethnography and Culture of Thailand, History of Thai Literature, and Language of Thai Press¹⁷.

The main objectives of each program are to provide comprehensive education and expertise in the field of Thailand in order to promote and enhance bilateral cooperation between Russia and Thailand in all different areas, including politics, economics, culture and education. Graduates of these programs have found employment in many fields such as diplomacy, translation and academia.

Russian lecturers who taught Thai language and Thai studies in the past to present include Dr. Sci. (Hist.) Boris Melnichenko, who taught Thailand history and geography, and Sergey Trifonov, who taught Thai language. The current lecturers are Leonid Borisov, who teaches the Thai language, and Mikhail Ignatiev, who teaches Geography of Thailand, Thai history, Thai literature, Thai Buddhism and Thai language.

The Institute of Earth Sciences is introducing a new bachelor’s degree program entitled “Organization of Tourist Activities with Advanced Thai Language Training” in the 2024 academic year to mark the 300^th anniversary of Saint Petersburg University. This degree program is new and has unrivalled in Russia to address the shortage of professionals for the coordination of Thai-language tourism ventures. The main objective of this program is to train professionals with specialized knowledge and skills in the fields of language, tourism and hospitality to promote cooperation between Russia and Thailand. The curriculum includes disciplines such as Thai language, culture and ethnography of Thailand as well as social and political phenomena of Thailand¹⁸.

The interesting theme of this program is to equip students with the ability to communicate and translate effectively in Thai, especially in the service sector. In order to develop a Thai tourism program tailored for Russian tourists, students will acquire organizational skills and work with Thai travel companies. Especially professionals from the Faculty of Asian and African Studies attend this course. Graduates could work as tour guides, travel coordinators for Thai tourists in Russia and for Russian visitors to Thailand¹⁹.

According to three educational institutions in the Russian Federation, the teaching of Thai language and Thai studies was introduced as part of bachelor’s degree curriculum during the Soviet era. The special feature of the curriculum was the integration of a bachelor’s and a master’s degree program, which lasted 5 to 6 years. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the duration of the bachelor’s degree was adjusted to four years. The Thai language and Thai studies were taught throughout at the major educational institutions in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The main institutions responsible for teaching Thai language and Thai studies are still three institutions. Each of these institutions has tailored its curriculum and course content to its specific needs and the prevailing Russian-Thail relations.

At MGIMO, the Thai language is taught as both a first and a third language. Subjects include Thai grammar, Thai speaking, writing, listening and reading as well as translation in the social, political and economic files to equip staff with the necessary skills to support diplomatic efforts. This institute therefore places great emphasis on improving the communication and language skills of its students. Thai language is taught in the Thai Philology Department of the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University, where topics such as grammar, speaking, writing, listening and reading as well as literature are covered. In addition, this institution also offers a Thai Studies program that focuses on the history of politics, society, ethnicity and religion. The Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University places great emphasis on training individuals who have good language skills and expertise in the field of Thai history.

The Thai Language and Thai Studies programs offered at Saint Petersburg State University are interesting because they include Chinese, Khmer and Burmese languages in addition to Thai. As for the teaching of Thai studies subjects such as history, both Thai history and Thai and Burmese history are taught simultaneously. In addition, the start of each course is cyclical, meaning that Thai and Thai studies courses are offered alternately. Importantly, Thai language is the major subject in all degree programs offered by this faculty. In 2024, St. Petersburg University will introduce a new program entitled “Organization of Tourist Activities (with Advanced Thai Language Training)”. This degree program is new and combines management sciences and language. It can be said that Saint Petersburg State University offers several Thai degree programs that focus specifically on the Thai language.

Factors influencing the development of Thai language teaching and Thai studies in Russia

Thai language teaching in Russia began in 1954 and was expanded at other institutions in the 1960s and 1970s. At that time, the Soviet Union government appointed Sergei Nemchina as the Soviet Union Envoy in Bangkok in July 1947 [3: 36]. Therefore, knowledge of the Thai language was important for the development of diplomatic relations and access to information from abroad. As a result, MGIMO University began teaching the Thai language. With regard to the teaching of Thai language and Thai studies at the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University, the authors examined the correlation between the evidence that both institutions are knowledge-generating, and the research studies are conducted in the two most populous cities. As a result, the founders of the Thai language at MGIMO began teaching Thai at the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University. Saint Petersburg State University is a centre for Asian history and language studies. It is also located in a city whose history includes the beginning of diplomatic relations between the Russian Empire and Siam, so this institute began teaching the Thai language and Thai studies.

Moreover, the teaching of Thai language at these two universities began at a time when Russia and Thailand elevated diplomatic relations to the level of ambassadors, who were appointed in June 1956. In the 1970s, there were several visits to the Soviet Union by members of the Thai royal family (1974) and the Thai Prime Minister (1979), as well as the visit of the USSR Foreign Minister to Thailand (1987). The analysis of factors influencing the teaching of Thai language and Thai studies in Russian universities shows that the progress in relations between Russia and Thailand has led to the continued inclusion of Thai language and related subjects in the curriculum of educational institutions. As for Russian students, their passion for academic work is unwavering. In 2003, President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit by a head of state to Thailand. During her visit to Russia in 2007, Saint Petersburg State University’s Faculty of Asian and African Studies conferred an honorary doctorate on Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand. Establishment of a Thai room at the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg State University to serve as a common repository for Thai language materials were mentioned to facilitate research and knowledge acquisition for Russian students.

In addition, bilateral cooperation between Russia and Thailand has developed dynamically following Prime Minister Medvedev’s visit in 2015. This has fostered an environment of interaction within the public sector. One example of this is the significant influx of Russian tourists to Thailand, which had exceeded 1 million since 2011. This increase in tourist numbers has awakened the desire among Russian to learn the Thai language and pursue careers in Thailand, for example as translators and academics. As a result, Russian institutions feel compelled to consistently offer Thai language courses.

Teaching the Russian language and Russian studies in Thailand

The teaching of Russian was first introduced at the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Thammasat University on the initiative of Professor Dr. Adul Wichiancharoen, who was previously Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Acting Rector of Thammasat University. In 1974, during a visit to the Soviet Union, Professor Adul asked Princess Galyani Vadhana, who was a lecturer at the Faculty of Liberal Arts, to invite the two daughters of the Thai Ambassador to Moscow, who were doing for their Masters in Russian language and literature, to teach Russian language course at the Faculty of Liberal Arts. As a result of this incident, Thailand started teaching Russian as an elective subject in 1975, and in 1993 it was elevated to a major subject by Assoc. Prof. Yingboon Vachranukulkieti and Assoc. Prof. Yodboon Loesrit, who laid the foundation for the teaching of Russian at this institute [12: 67–69].

During the Cold War, there were political and ideological differences between the Soviet Union and Thailand. Thammasat University offered courses on Russia, exclusively in Russian. The teaching of subjects such as literature and history was not possible at that time, as the Thai government rejected the socialist ideology [Ibid].

However, the beginnings of Russian language teaching in Thailand can be seen as an important foundation. The language serves as a means of promoting mutual understanding between people. In addition, the Thai institution has further developed the teaching of the Russian language and now also offers the teaching Russian studies.

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts in Russian as a major includes Russian Grammar, Reading, Listening, Speaking, Writing, History of Russian Literature, Russian Translation, and as an elective Russian Language and Culture, Russian for Business, Russian for Tourism, Russian for Hospitality Business, Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language, Russian Interpreting²⁰. The Thai full-time lecturers in the department, both past and present, have written several books and textbooks in Russian for teaching purposes. These include valuable resources such as “Russian for Tourism in Thailand” [9], “Russian-Thai Dictionary for the Socio-Political Field” [5], “Russian Writing 1” [2], “Russian for Airline Business” [1], “Syntactic Structure and Morphological System of Russian” [6].

Thammasat University has developed its curriculum to include teaching about Russia in addition to the Russian language. The Russian Studies program was launched by the university in 2003 and serves as an interdisciplinary course on Russia. The goal of this curriculum is to produce graduates who have a comprehensive understanding of politics, economics, military and society, arts and culture, as well as considerable knowledge of the Russian language. It is important that each student engages independently with the issues of Russia²¹. The 2023 Russian and Eurasian Studies curriculum has been developed at this institution as a contemporary program. Majors and electives focus on both language, such as Russian Language, Russian Language and Culture for Tourism Communication, Introduction to Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language, Elementary Russian-Thai Translation, and humanities and social sciences, such as Ideological and Belief Systems in Russia and Eurasia, Evolution of Politics and Government in Russia, Modern Eurasian Studies, Integration Process in Eurasia, International Relations and Foreign Policy of Russia, Russia in the Global Economy and Trade, and Research Project²².

Ramkhamhaeng University is the second institution to offer Russian language courses at its Faculty of Humanities. The Russian language was initially offered as an elective in 1976 and developed into a major in 2002 [12: 67]. Ramkhamhaeng University is a public university, which allows anyone who wishes to study to enter without an exam. Students can study in class and do their own self-study. The Russian language curriculum includes Russian for Communication, Listening, Speaking, Writing in Russian, Translation: Russian-Thai, Russian for Tour Guides, Russian for Hotel Work and Introduction to Russian Literature²³.

Thai full-time lecturers who teach the Russian language have created textbooks specifically for teaching university students. In 2024, the textbooks are Russian for Communication 2, 3 and 5, Russian for Tour Guide 1, Russian in Airline Business²⁴.

The Department of Western Languages of the Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkorn University began teaching Russian in 2004. Subsequently, in 2005, the Department of Russian Language expanded its offerings to include Russian language courses for students as a minor or elective subject. In 2024, the Department of Western Languages opened its doors for the first time to students majoring in Russian at the Faculty of Arts, in line with the revised Bachelor of Arts curriculum in 2023, so that students within and outside the Faculty of Arts who choose subjects in this field will have a well-rounded and in-depth knowledge of the science of language and Russian culture²⁵.

This institution offers courses that focus on language and humanities, including Russian, Russian Speaking, Writing, Reading, Basic Russian Translation, Russian Culture, Basic Russian Interpreting, Specialized Russian Translation, Russian for the Tourism Industry and Hotel Business, Independent Studies²⁶.

It could be said that the teaching of Russian language and Russian studies was carried out at the universities in Bangkok. While the teaching of Russian language began before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a significant development occurred in the 2000s with the establishment of a Russian Studies Program at Thammasat University. Chulalongkorn University introduced Russian as a minor subject. Looking at the subjects at these universities, majors and electives have a common element of incorporating grammar lessons, developing listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, and teaching culture. There are also specialized Russian courses for specific professions. All three institutes focus on teaching Russian in the hotel and tourism sectors. In addition to teaching language skills, the use of certain languages is also practiced. The curricula at Thammasat and Chulalongkorn Universities focus on teaching humanities and social sciences.

The introduction of reginal studies curricula in higher education in Thailand is not a new concept. Universities have already offered programs such as American Studies, Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies and Southeast Asian Studies. The development of the Russian Studies curriculum aims to equip students who will become key members of the workforce with a comprehensive understanding of Russia by also mastering the Russian language. This curriculum is the only undergraduate program in Thailand.

Factors influencing the development of Russian language teaching and Russian studies in Thailand

Considering the factors that influenced the introduction of Russian language teaching and Russian Studies in Thailand, it can be seen that bilateral relations between Russia and Thailand developed gradually at that time. The growth of cooperation was influenced by several reasons. The change of circumstances in Southeast Asia was the fundamental factor.

The role of the United States was weakened by the Vietnam War. Thailand therefore attached great importance to China and the Soviet Union, which played an important role as a great power on the international stage. In 1970, the two countries signed their first trade agreement, which led to the exchange of trade missions between them. At the same time, educational institutions recognized the importance of acquiring knowledge about Russia. Especially during the Cold War, Russia and Thailand had a different economic and political ideologies. Therefore, lessons in Russian language, history, politics and economics were introduced.

In the early days of Russian language education in Thailand, students’ interest in learning Russian was encouraged by the Soviet Union’s involvement in Southeast Asia and the diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Thailand. The development of trade cooperation led to increased engagement among businesspeople. As a result, Thais began to take an interest in the Russian language. It could be said that the beginnings of understanding of Russia in Thailand can be traced back to the education personnel who recognized the importance of learning and understanding foreign countries despite the different political ideologies between Russia and Thailand. The initial phase of teaching Russian in Thailand faced many challenges due to the domestic political situation in Thailand and the significant influence of the Soviet Union in Southeast Asia.

Consequently, only the language itself was allowed to be taught at that time. Nonetheless, the graduates who were given the opportunity to study in Russia are an important mechanism to promote understanding of Russia among Thai citizens and have worked as lecturers at three universities.

The factor that influenced the development of the Russian Studies curriculum, besides the initiative of educational institutions, was the role of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Prime Minister Thaksin made official visits to Russia in 2002, at which time the Thai government considered Russia as a new market that Thailand was keen to trade with and invest in. Thailand foresaw that the establishment of economic relations between Russia and Thailand could potentially serve as a hub for Thailand’s accession to the Commonwealth of Independent States. During the leadership Prime Minister Thaksin and President Vladimir Putin, Thailand and Russia signed state-level agreements covering many areas such as cultural cooperation, investment protection, education and visa exemptions for official passport holders and diplomatic personnel as well as individuals from both countries. This phenomenon has fostered dynamic interaction between the two governments, the private sectors and both citizens.

Bilateral cooperation agreements in education have played a crucial role in facilitating cooperation between Russian and Thai universities. An agreement was signed between Moscow State University, Saint Petersburg State University and Thammasat University. Under this agreement, Thai students were sent to study Russian for 6 months and 1 year. At the same time, Russian students could study international relations, Thai studies and the Thai language.

The number of Russian tourists visiting Thailand exceeded 1 million before the pandemic in 2019. The need for the Russian language is recognized by Thai educational institutions, which has led to Russian language courses being offered as part of tourism to facilitate tourists’ experiences. In addition, the Russian Studies curriculum has expanded its content to include Russian and Eurasian studies. The factor that has influenced the development of the curriculum is the fact that Eurasia is an important geopolitical region, and Russia plays a crucial role in this region as a prominent player in global politics and economy. Therefore, Thai institutions have prepared manpower to support the development of both bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

It could be said that among the factors influencing the teaching of the Russian language and Russian studies in Thailand is Russia’s influence on the international stage and in Thailand. The cooperation between Russia and Thailand and the growing influx of tourists has led to a demand for people who know and understand the Russian language and social customs in Thailand. Educational institutions are engaging in curriculum development and expanding their institutional capacity to effectively address these circumstances.

Results

Foreign language teaching focuses on the study of language as a cultural tool. In addition to study of grammar, literature and culture, speaking, reading and writing are essential for effective communication with foreigners. Therefore, the curricula in various educational institutions are designed according to the institution’s goals in terms of producing graduates. At the present higher educational institutions in Russia and Thailand have also developed their curricula to include humanities and social sciences.

The origins and development of the teaching of Thai language and Thai studies in Russia and Russian language and Russian studies in Thailand can be attributed to internal factors within the respective educational institution, the international political environment and the dynamic cooperation between Russia and Thailand. As a result, language teaching has been expanded, which has led to a diversification of teaching content. The empirical results of teaching and knowledge acquisition are: The Russian institutions hold conferences and events on Thai language and Thai studies, such as the Days of Thailand at MGIMO and the Boris Melnichenko & Sergei Trifonov Memorial Readings in Thai & Lao Studies at Saint Petersburg University.

Thammasat University serves as a venue for the collection of research papers conducted by undergraduate students. The Centre for Russian Studies and the Commonwealth of Independent States at Thammasat University was established to conduct research and educate the public. Chulalongkorn University has partnered with the Russki Mir Foundation to facilitate the provision of books and educational resources in the library and to offer regular courses in Russian.

Despite the long history of Russian-Thai relations spanning more than 125 years, the development of cooperation between the two states still depends on the active involvement of the government sector and the participation of the public sector. Promoting the study of the Russian and Thai languages therefore serves as a means of communication between the citizens of both states. In addition, the language promotes a deep and comprehensive understanding of each other. The availability of Thai studies programs in Russia and Russian studies program in Thailand is still limited to a few educational institutions and mostly concentrated in the major urban areas. However, it is evident that educational institutions continue to make efforts to create and develop new curricula.

Conclusion

This article studies the development of teaching Thai language and Thai studies in Russia and Russian language and Russian studies in Thailand at university level. There are both similar and different characteristics of language teaching in each educational institution. It depends on the specific objectives, namely, to train people for diplomatic tasks, enable graduates to communicate with native speakers in the public and private sectors and create experts in these fields. The educational institutions have developed their curricula to include teaching of regional studies in addition to the language.

The factors influencing the introduction of teaching Thai language in Russia are to prepare personnel for conducting diplomatic relations and experts in Thailand to promote cooperation in various fields. Teaching Russian in Thailand is to prepare staffs for building cooperation in the public and private sectors. In terms of curriculum development, both sides are not only focusing on teaching of communication languages. Thai and Russian studies have been included to the curricula to train people with comprehensive expertise to meet the needs of the labour market, which requires knowledgeable people in both states. The most important factor influencing the development of the curricula is the political dynamics between Russia and Thailand since 2000.

The authors examine the teaching of Thai language and Thai studies in Russia and the teaching of Russian language and Russian studies in Thailand because we recognize the significant role of educational institutions in promoting cooperation between Russia and Thailand. Research on foreign language teaching in both countries could also further explore the influence of institutions and examine the outcomes of teaching that directly affect bilateral relations. This research will be useful for curriculum development.

¹ Thai Language. Faculty of International Relations, MGIMO University. 2024, December 6. URL: https://mgimo.ru/study/faculty/mo/kkit/docs/tayskiy-yazyk/ (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

² About Department of Philology of Southeast Asian countries, Korea and Mongolia. Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University. 2024, December 6. URL: https://iaas.msu.ru/about/departments/department-phylology/department-phylology-asia/ (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

³ History of Thailand (Thai and Chinese). Faculty of Asian and African Studies, Saint Petersburg State University. 2020, November 2. URL: https://orient.spbu.ru/index.php/ru/abiturientu/bakalavriat/programmy-bakalavriat-2021/item/197-istoriya-tailanda-tajskij-i-kitajskij-yazyki-2021 (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

⁴ Bachelor of arts program (Curriculum 2023). Bangkok: Faculty of Liberal Arts, Thammasat University, 2023. 283 p. URL: https://arts.tu.ac.th/undergraduate4 (data of accesses: 18.11.2024).

⁵ Bachelor of arts program in Area Studies (Curriculum 2023). Bangkok: Faculty of Liberal Arts, Thammasat University, 2023. 184 p. URL: https://arts.tu.ac.th/undergraduate4 (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

⁶ Bachelor of arts program in Western languages (Curriculum 2022). Faculty of Humanities, Ramkhamhaeng University. 2022. URL: http://www.human.ru.ac.th/about/student-info/curri1/major65 (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

⁷ About Department of Western Languages. Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. 2024, December 6. URL: https://www.arts.chula.ac.th/west/russian/history/ (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

⁸ Thai Language. Faculty of International Relations, MGIMO University. 2024, December 6. URL: https://mgimo.ru/study/faculty/mo/kkit/docs/tayskiy-yazyk/ (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

⁹ Ibid.

¹⁰ About Department of Philology of Southeast Asian countries, Korea and Mongolia. Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University. 2024, December 6. URL: https://iaas.msu.ru/about/departments/department-phylology/department-phylology-asia/ (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

¹¹ Ibid.

¹² Department of History of the Far East and Southeast Asia. Institute of Asian and African Studies of Moscow State University. 2024, December 6. URL: https://iaas.msu.ru/about/departments/department-history/department-history-fareast/ (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

¹³ History of Thailand (Thai and Chinese). Faculty of Asian and African Studies, Saint Petersburg State University. 2020, November 2. URL: https://orient.spbu.ru/index.php/ru/abiturientu/bakalavriat/programmy-bakalavriat-2021/item/197-istoriya-tailanda-tajskij-i-kitajskij-yazyki-2021 (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

¹⁴ Khmer-Thai Philology. Faculty of Asian and African Studies, Saint Petersburg State University. 2017, February 13. URL: https://orient.spbu.ru/index.php/ru/abiturientu/bakalavriat/profili-2017/item/85-kkhmersko-tajskaya-filologiya (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

¹⁵ History of Thailand (Thai and Chinese). Faculty of Asian and African Studies, Saint Petersburg State University. 2020, November 2. URL: https://orient.spbu.ru/index.php/ru/abiturientu/bakalavriat/programmy-bakalavriat-2021/item/197-istoriya-tailanda-tajskij-i-kitajskij-yazyki-2021 (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

¹⁶ History of Thailand and Burma. Faculty of Asian and African Studies, Saint Petersburg State University. 2022, November 8. URL: https://orient.spbu.ru/index.php/ru/abiturientu/bakalavriat/programmy-bakalavriat-2023/item/268-istoria-tailanda-birmi-2023 (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

¹⁷ Thai Philology (with Thai and Burmese language training) (with the additional qualification «Specialist in the field of translation»). Faculty of Asian and African Studies, Saint Petersburg State University. 2023, November 2. URL: https://orient.spbu.ru/index.php/ru/abiturientu/bakalavriat/programmy-bakalavriat-2024/item/294-tajskaya-filologiya-2024 (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

¹⁸ Organization of Tourist Activities (with Advanced Thai Language Training). Saint Petersburg State University. 2024. URL: https://spbu.ru/postupayushchim/programms/bakalavriat/organizaciya-turistskoy-deyatelnosti-s-izucheniem-tayskogo (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

¹⁹ Bachelor’s degree program “Organization of Tourist Activities (with Advanced Thai Language Training)” – the answer to the challenges of the labour market. Saint Petersburg State University. 2024. URL: https://spbu.ru/news-events/novosti/programma-bakalavriata-organizaciya-turistskoy-deyatelnosti-s-izucheniem (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

²⁰ Bachelor of arts program (Curriculum 2023). Bangkok: Faculty of Liberal Arts, Thammasat University, 2023. 283 p. URL: https://arts.tu.ac.th/undergraduate4 (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

²¹ Bachelor of arts program in Russian studies (Curriculum 2018). Bangkok: Faculty of Liberal Arts, 2018. 97 p.

²² Bachelor of Arts Program in Area Studies (Curriculum 2023). Bangkok: Faculty of Liberal Arts, Thammasat University, 2023. 184 p. URL: https://arts.tu.ac.th/undergraduate4 (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

²³ Bachelor of arts program in Western languages (Curriculum 2022). Faculty of Humanities, Ramkhamhaeng University. 2022. URL: http://www.human.ru.ac.th/about/student-info/curri1/major65 (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

²⁴ Bookstores online. Ramkhamhaeng University Press. 2024. URL: https://bookstore.ru.ac.th/ (data of accesses: 18.11.2024).

²⁵ About Department of Western Languages. Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. 2024, December 6. URL: https://www.arts.chula.ac.th/west/russian/history/ (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

²⁶ Bachelor of arts program in Russian language (Curriculum 2023). Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. 2023. URL: https://www.arts.chula.ac.th/west/russian/curriculum/ (data of accesses: 06.12.2024).

About the authors

Katima Poungchingngam

Author for correspondence.
Email: katima.p@arts.tu.ac.th

assistant professor, Department of Free Arts

References

Supplementary files