Learning a second language at school before, it
looked like an obligation for the student, because there was no reason why
learn it. Now; although we do not know whether to say "in consequence
of" or "thanks to" the globalization of economic, technological,
social and cultural process; learning a second language went from being an
obligation, to a need.
In order to not go so far back in history;
where the divisions of social class were so marked and there were two different
types of bilingualism in Colombia as the so-called "elite
bilingualism"[1]
aimed at the elite class of this time who needed to learn another language
besides of Spanish like English, French or German for being socially accepted
and Bilingualism of the indigenous communities considering their native
language (Creole), needed first, learn the Spanish language itself, even after
the constitution of 1991 in its Article 10 recognizes the languages and
dialects of ethnic groups as official in their territories and the education
provided in communities with their own linguistic traditions will be bilingual[2];
we can say that the development of bilingualism in Colombia occurred since the
creation of the National Bilingual Program stipulated by the Ministry of
National Education of Colombia in 2004.
It is noteworthy that this Bilingualism program
was established to give a focus of the
law 115 of February the 8th, 1994 known as the General Law of Education which
has one of the specific objectives set out in Article 21: "The acquisition
of elements of conversation and reading at least one foreign language"[3]
and in Article 22: "the understanding and ability to speak a foreign
language"[4]
as well as Article 5 that talks about the purpose of education in Colombia,
among theseone which says: "The study and critical understanding of
national culture and ethnic and cultural diversity of the country, as the basis
of national unity and its identity"[5].
In his time, Juan Carlos Grimaldo, Bilingualism
Program Manager in 2004 proposed to strengthen the teaching of English as a
foreign language in preschool, elementary, secondary, University programs for
work and human development, he also wanted strengthen the English language as a
second language in bilingual schools and finally he was looking to innovate in
ethnic education and ethnic communities establishing Spanish as their second
language.
As a result of this program two documents that
have a bit more contextualized the program goals established during the period
2004-2019 emerged.
One of these important documents was the series
of "curriculum guidelines for Foreign Languages", headed by the then
Minister of Education German Alberto Bula Escobar was looking raise the basic
ideas that would serve as guidance and support for teachers of second languages
(foreign) in their definitions relating to curriculum development within the institutional
school projects[6].
Also in 2005, along with her team, the Minister
of Education Cecilia Maria Velez White, within the "Education Revolution
-Colombia Learn" program, created the Guide No. 22 which establishes the
"Basic Standards of competence in foreign languages English, "that in
order to improve the quality of the education system and in order to adapt to
current and future requirements of the country so that all the purposes of the
education system are unified in a coherent way, reason why these standards are
coupled to the "Common European Framework of Reference for Languages:
Learning, Teaching and Assessment." describing the gradual scale of
Language levels is managing by the student. Now although the decision to learn a second
language can be very ambiguous because the reasons for the person want to
learn, it depends solely of him, There are several general reasons why so.
According to statistics of the previous year,
one in ten Colombians speak English and it was confirmed that 7.2% of students
have the opportunity to access the english, basic language[7].
Perhaps one of the most common reasons why
people learn English, is the necessity to increase employment opportunities, to
be more competent, enhance their professional profile or simply as a personal
growth. People who know two languages have many chances to be elected in a
process of recruitment of a company, irrespective the economic sector where it
is performed, and much more if you want to have an executive or senior rank in
multinational companies.
Last year, the President of the Republic of
Colombia Juan Manuel Santos and former Minister of Education María Fernanda
Campo, giving continuity to the Bilingual Program created in 2004, they
explained to the whole country The "National English Program 2015 -2025 -
COLOMBIA VERY WELL "an integrated, intersectoral and long term project
which is looking for students can use English as a tool to communicate with the
world and improve their employment opportunities[8].
Currently, the Minister of National Education
Gina Parody, presented to the country the strategies implemented by the
Ministry, through the Project for Strengthening Skills Development in Foreign
Languages, and the recent enactment of the Law of Bilingualism (Law 1651 of
2013).
It is important to know each of the policies
and conditions that govern the teaching and learning of English as a second
language in Colombia since they are the basis and basis for analyzing the needs
and characteristics of this process likewise to propose innovative strategies
to improve language teaching as future teachers in the country.
[1] De Mejia Anne- Marie, The National Bilingual Programme
in Colombia: Imposition or opportunity?, 2011
[2]
Article 10 Constitución Política de Colombia de 1991
[3] Article 21 The General Law of
Education of Colombia (law 115 of February the 8th, 1994)
[4] Article 22 The General Law of
Education of Colombia (law 115 of February the 8th, 1994)
[5] Article 5 The General Law of
Education of Colombia (law 115 of February the 8th, 1994)
[6]
MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA, Lineamientos Curriculares para
Idiomas Extranjeros, 2005.
[7]
http://blog.zonajobs.com/postulantes/la-importancia-de-saber-un-segundo-idioma-en-colombia/
[8]
http://www.mineducacion.gov.co/cvn/1665/w3-article-343476.html
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