I recently interviewed Karma Thinley, a certified French-speaking Bhutanese guide. During the interview, I learnt that Karma had gone to France nearly two decades ago. I didn’t realize that language guides existed as early as 2007.
Tashi Wangmo: What are the qualifications to become a French-speaking guide?
Karma Thinley: As long as you can speak French fluently you can become a French-speaking guide. Even without a guide license, you could go on tour as a translator.
What made you learn French?
-A french family I worked with invited me to France. This was more than eighteen years ago. Initially on a holiday, I ended up studying French. However, before I could study the language, I had to earn a diploma– Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF) which took a year to complete.
Was it worth it?
-It was. With this diploma I could be a French-speaking guide anywhere in the world. Moreover, I could teach the language, something I had considered but have not been able to do. There are many reasons why I haven’t been able to do that. It’s also because I don’t want competition. I believe I am the only Department of Tourism (DoT) certified French-speaking guide in Bhutan.
Language guides are a growing and fast-changing part of the Bhutanese tourism sector. While they were always in demand, there were fewer guides and limited language options in the past. Today, however, Chinese, French, Spanish, and Japanese-speaking guides are especially sought after. Bhutanese language guides are paid in U.S. dollars, starting at USD 100 per day, while select guides like Karma Thinley earn up to USD 150 daily.
Do you prefer guiding in English or French?
-I prefer guiding in French.
What are some of the joys and struggles of being a French-speaking Bhutanese guide. Would you recommend it?
-The joy is the money. There was also pride in knowing that I could speak a language that not many in Bhutan were able to speak. The struggle is that sometimes I don’t know certain words, as the language keeps changing. I keep myself updated by asking my clients, or using Google translate.
I definitely recommend becoming a French-speaking guide, or a language guide because once you have a family, it could be difficult to sustain only as a cultural guide.
Franco-Bhutanese relations are only growing. As per the France in India website, The French Institute in India (IFI) signed two agreements—one with the Royal Academy of Bhutan in July 2024 and another with the De-suung Skilling Programme in August 2024. Through the first agreement, French will be taught to students from Classes VII to XII in Bhutan for the first time, starting within a year. The second agreement allows French volunteers to help with vocational training in Bhutan.
There have also been positive connections made in tourism and hospitality with Le Cordon Bleu, one of the world’s top institutes for French cooking and hotel management.
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