'COLOMBIA Very well!'
Hello dear
readers, this time I am going to share with you some information about this
initiative led by the Ministry of National Education of Colombia. This National
Program is also a project that seeks to strengthen skills in English as a second language.
It is not a new theme. There have already been previous programs that aim at a
bilingual country. The Colombian government wants everybody (in Colombia) to
speak in English, for this reason, it has designed this program with a lapse
of 10 years, from 2015 to 2025. It (the Colombian government) takes into account not only
high school students but also teachers. The government just does it to join a global idea,
which promotes competitiveness. I do not mean this is wrong, but I think these
Public Policies should be reconsidered. Our beautiful country has too many
cultures and contexts. Not everyone learns in the same way. I think they should
be set Policies that encourage an improvement in our own languages, Indigenous
languages and Spanish or ‘Castellano’-As the Political Constitution states-, because it seems they want to forget
them. We have to become familiar first with our own things.
This initiative
has alternative programs or pedagogical models as 'Bunny Bonita', 'English for
Colombia' and 'My ABC English Kit', specially designed for Elementary school.
Those are strategies that seek learning English since an early age. This
program was presented in July 2014 under the charge of previous Education
Minister Maria Fernanda Campo Saavedra, and it continues current in spite of
there is a new Minister: Gina Parody.
I do not think
they can accomplish the goal of a bilingual country in 2025, because it is too
ambitious, time is short and that's a lot of work. The proposals in this
program seem to work only for the main cities in the country and when they want
to assess knowledge in the English language in a national test such as ICFES,
they will realize that only those main cities will achieve the desired
results.
Questions time!
Remember, I
always want you to answer honestly; it does not matter if it is a crazy
idea.
1. What do you
think about this National Program?
2. How was
the teaching of English at your school?
3. Is it possible that at that time Colombia can become a bilingual country? Yes or no? What do you think and why?
I think it is very risky and I do not think they are able to meet, I think adults and how it worked for them. But it's great to think that although I think it should have done before for example, long before signing the FTA as it was expected, to combat English in our country.
ResponderEliminarObviously Colombia has a long way to beat the English, because there are Indians, African Americans, and seniors as I said, rising with these people?
EliminarUnfortunately I had no English at school but thanks to my teacher's degree could study it and learn what it takes.
Hi Eli, many thanks for answering, but let me ask you something: what do you mean when you write: " I had no English at school"?
Eliminar1. I think it is too good to be true.
ResponderEliminar2. Kind of good because it was a very good answer to help the students fall in love of the language.
3. We are already bilingual and more than that. I am not able to answer to your questions now, maybe with the past of years we will see what is what the goberment really want with this program.
Thanks Káiser. Ok, I respect your last answer, but for that reason I asked: "what do you think", anyway, you already answered it.
Eliminar1. We think that it is a good idea. As César said... too good to be true
ResponderEliminar2. Jmmm, not as good as it could be
3. Yes, it is posible, lets wait and see. Keep calm my dear
Hahaha, "not as good as it could be", many thanks for answering, Girls!
Eliminar1-Its going to crash
ResponderEliminar2- Not the best
3-no, Q #1 answers
Why do you think it is going to crash? Thank you Esteban for your answers.
EliminarHello duvan :)
ResponderEliminar1. I think that this government is trying to employ other languages because nowadays is more than a need and I really like they are actually thinking in our future. I approve it :D.
2. Awful, but we are the ones who will change that way of teaching....hope so.
3. Everything is a process and we should keep in that process because that is how progress will come and make us go further.
Many thanks Sebastián, I will keep your last answer.
EliminarHi Duvaaan :)
ResponderEliminar1. I think it would be awesome if it could be true!
2.In my private school was really good , I learned a lot, but in the public one was aweful.
3.I don't know , Colombia is the country of promises.
Hi Tatianaaaa!
EliminarSo you made a little comparison between the two schools in which you were, and I have notice the same thing, the teaching of English in Private schools is better than the one in Public schools, tha'ts sad and lucky you!
I respect your first answer, but I have to say of course it is true, the program is real, the problem is how to carry it out in a good way.
A lot of thanks for answering!
Sir, what's up?
ResponderEliminar1. I consider it is the first step for countless thing that are gonna happen in our country in education terms. Thus there are over 10 years for testing this program.
2. It was neither good nor bad. It just was a experience that let me many storages of knowledge for my life. So this is it.
3. Not, I won't. Colombia is a large country and there are many people that even do not have a basic education. So it's really difficult teaching with those facts.
Hi Julián, I having a good day, thanks. What you argue in the third answer is completely true. I do not pretend to reproach what the government does, but I think it is illogical to think that at least the majority of students speak English without thinking about all those who have not had the opportunity to be in high school for reasons of conflict, oblivion and war. For the problem is not only educational, but also of social order. Thank you very much for commenting.
Eliminar