Colombian Foreign Language Bilingualism Policies and Plans (by Yuri Asias & León Chaves)
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--Latin is studied and used as a means of instruction. Spanish
sometimes used as a means of instruction but not studied. -
-- Some policies were created but they were not implemented.
• For instance: they proposed to teach in primary and secondary
schools Spanish, Latin, Greek, French, English, and one
indigenous language. -
Studying English and French became mandatory to graduate from secondary school. -
1833 to 1837 — Moreno de Angel proposed the creation of a system of primary education that consisted of establishing a school for every community of more than 30 families. -
Between this period English language gained more relevance after WWII ended, thus, more hours were assigned to this language inside institutions. -
Latin was gradually being left behind and by the 70's they decided to stop teaching it inside Colombian institutions. -
This law gave schools the right to teach one foreing language, as a result, Colombian schools decided to teach only English. The reason for this was the emerging dynamics of the world, and the 'power' of English as a Lingua Franca and businesses language. -
The programme was about understanding the different needs colombians had, cosidering the multiculturalism concept. -
This program (PFDCLE) was created with the aim to focus on developing the communicative competencies in foreing languages.
-The main idea behind this program was to ensure Colombian work force into the international economy and job market. -
At this moment law 1651 was created, which gave more relevance to the acquisition of a foreing language in all levels of education in Colombia: elementary, secondary, high shool, higher education and education to work and human development. -
This program was about re-adapting the previous educational English programs in the country so that they were transformed to our current reality. The main idea was to propose improvment strategies. -
Native speakers came to the country to teach English in public schools.
- Local teachers could not teach 10th and 11th grades only foreing
teachers were qualified to do so.