jenny mabel rincón
TRANSCRIPT
NATIONAL BILINGUAL PROGRAM:
IMPROVING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING ACROSS COLOMBIA
Five Actions that transformed education in Colombia
Education for innovation and
competitiveness
Education throughout life
Schools Improvement
Permanent modernization of the sector
Inclusive Participation
Five Actions that transformed education in Colombia
Education for innovation and
competitiveness
Education throughout life
Schools Improvement
Permanent modernization of the sector
Inclusive Participation
Pertinent education as a priority for the development of the
country, in a regional, local and globalized context.
Education for innovation and competitiveness in preschool, primary, secondary and higher
education
Use of Media and Information Communication Technologies
Labor related Competences
Bilingualism: Improvement of communicative competences of English as a foreign language along the educational system
National Bilingual Program Overall Goal
Colombian citizens will be able to communicate in English with internationally comparable standards. This will contribute to the
insertion of the country in the processes of universal communication, the global economy and cultural openness.
This project should help increase the level of competitiveness and improve the quality of education
in Colombia.
The National Bilingual Program has:
• adopted a common framework • established goals for the ELT field• diagnosed teachers’ and students’ needs• developed national standards for English
ELT Policies and Actions2005 - 2009
ELT Policies
• developed a coherent evaluation system• certified developed competences and levels achieved• developed a teacher development scheme• verified progress and adjusted actions
Basic Education11th Grade Students: Intermediate level (B1)English Teachers: High Intermediate (B2)
Higher EducationFuture English Teachers: High Intermediate (B2+ C1) Other university students: Intermediate level (B2)
Language InstitutesLanguage Programmes registered
Specific Goals
Actions 2005-2009The National Bilingual Program has…
Primary and Secondary Education
• Involved 36/80 LEAs in regional bilingual programs• Diagnosed language levels for 12,780/15,000 state
English teachers• Offered development opportunities to 6,200
teachers in different levels (additional to regional initiatives)
• Advised on allocation of budget in the regions to develop English programs and made suggestions on how best to invest
• Supported regional pilot initiatives (state bilingual schools in Manizales, Quindío, Armenia, Bogotá, Valledupar, San Andrés, Barú, Barranquilla)
Some Regional Programs…
advanced
initial actions
Bogotá Bilingüe
Neiva speaks English
Huila habla Inglés
MedellÍn City
Quindío Bilingüe
MonteríaBilingüe
Valle Bilingüe
Duitama “Dialogando con el
mundo”
Manizales Bilingüe
The National Bilingual Program has…
Higher Education
• Diagnosed and supported 10 Language Teaching Programs and proposed specific improvement action plans
• Developed the Teacher Development Program (MEN TDP) for school teachers, rooted in contextual factors and Colombian diversity (15 universities & British Council)
• Commissioned some public and private universities and ASOCOPI to conduct research studies on different aspects of bilingual education and ELT in Colombia
• Diagnosed teachers language levels in Technical and Technological Colleges (1000 teachers) and offered them development programs
The National Bilingual Program has offered…
Development opportunities
abroad
Language immersion programs
New possibilities to English teachers
Support to schools,
universities, and LEAs
Language and
methodology courses
Workshops on Standards
Academic support in
ELT events
...teachers the opportunity to see the ELT profession
at the centre of the discussion
Media & ICT resources
and training
Realities and Obstacles1. The English Teacher• Low English level• Sophisticated teaching discourse vs Traditional/teacher centred
methodologies• Lack of guidelines for helping students develop communicative
competence
2. The learner• Low English level• High motivation towards learning English / Poor motivation towards
the English class• Large classes• Lack of resources
3. Local Education Authorities• Misinterpretation of policies• Short term policies• Resources not well administered• Lack of communication with universities and language institutes
• Expansion of the Project in the regions
• Implementation of the National Standards for English (Primary)
• Working closer with SE to assure quality of education
• Build strong networking processes to widen the scope and reach of the project
• Consolidation of policies for Initial and In-service Teacher Development Programs
• Guidelines for bilingual education development and implementation in state schools
• Documentation and communication of policies to provide for a better implementation
Challenges…
• Continuous academic support to state school teachers
• Support to ELT regional associations of teachers
• Offer professional development programs, based on needs analysis and context
• How to solve the teacher supply problem at primary level?
• How to fulfil teacher training demands?• How to prepare future
language teachers competent to face the country’s demands?
• How to go beyond good intentions at all levels?
Final Remarks
Only the collective and collaborative effort of MoE, LEAs, universities, language institutes, private bilingual schools, other educational entities and allies from both public and private sectors can bring about quality education and further social transformation.
The power to broaden the horizons of our children is in our hands!
“Inglés para Todos”
www.colombiaaprende.edu.co/bilinguismo
General objectiveTo promote teaching and learning English as a foreign language through the use of media and new information and communication technologies on the Ministry’s educational site: “Portal Colombia Aprende”.
http://www.colombiaaprende.edu.co/bilinguismo
• Jenny Mabel Rincón (ELT Consultant)• [email protected]
• Juan Carlos Grimaldo (Project Manager) [email protected]
Phone number (1) 222-2800 Ext. 2134
::: Thanks!