Students in the country are graduate from schools with a low English profile, so several academics propose a change in the curriculum mesh of the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) to reach the appropriate level of bilingualism from preschool.
As explained to crhoy.com, the former vice minister of the MEP, Rocío Solís, and the director of the School of Modern Languages of the University of Costa Rica (UCR), Allen Quesada, it is necessary for students to be educated from mother and preschool.
A change in curriculum mesh is essential to improve English teaching in educational institutions and stimulate students in a second language from preschool.
Even the implementation of bilingual subjects is essential. We need young people to have the opportunity to study in English, which will facilitate their exposure to the language and not just how many hours, because currently only private or bilingual schools are the ones that implement the language the most hours, Solís explained.
According to the former Vice- Minister, the MEP must ensure that the bilingualism plan has coordination from maternal to secondary school.
In addition, the interaction with language is dynamic and the use of the language is implemented in everyday activities.
English education should start from the pre-school stage. Children with more receptive to language learning in their early years of life and it is important to take advantage of this stage.
It is important that the curriculum change is comprehensive, so that students are encouraged from mother, preschool and the level progresses to high school, he added.
To this, the director of Modern Languages of the UCR, Allen Quesada, says that a change in the curriculum mesh would be beneficial from the point of view of leading students to a natural immersion of the language. As well as putting children to practice and absorb the vocabulary as sponges.
Incorporating English from the moment is essential for them to interact with the language naturally. This early dive not only facilitates the acquisition of the language, but also provides a solid basis for its linguistic development.
If scenarios are created in educational establishments where not only is spoken in the classroom, but also outside, it creates a communicative need among students, who will see normal refer in English to common situations of life, and not only practice the language in a classroom.
This methodology allows learning to be more meaningful and relevant, helping students associate English with real situations, Quesada explained.
Teacher training
The proposal to change the curriculum mesh to implement English in other subjects and even apply language teaching from motherland goes hand in hand with the quality of teachers in the classrooms.
According to the UCR academic, it is important that teachers who go to work in the classrooms with students comply with a grade of C1 English, one of the highest language knowledge bands.
It’s not just about knowing the language, it’s required that teachers have the ability to teach it effectively. This involves training in methodologies that favor the acquisition of the language, creating natural and motivated environments to communicate, he explained.
The policy of promoting foreign languages of the MEP implemented between 2021 and 2022 could work if the curriculum mesh is reviewed to implement this learning option from the mother.
According to the former vice minister of the MEP, political will is required to implement these changes in English learning.
Implementing these changes requires political will and collaboration between the MEP and universities. Educational institutions must work together to define an adequate teaching profile that meets the current needs of the education system.
It is necessary to create a constant dialogue to ensure that quality standards are met in teacher training, Solís added.
Both academics conclude that bilingualism must involve all educational actors, from the MEP, directors, teachers to families, so that there is a synergy – of the curriculum and an interest of all parties.
The country’s education system is implementing an Action Plan that estimates that by 2040 all students of public schools will come out talking, understanding and writing in a second language, this at the level of English, French, Portuguese, Mandarin, Italian or German.
The plan envisages several axes to be implemented, including:
- Universalization of a second language from preschool
- Improvement of recruitment processes.
- Update of the curricula
- Increased lessons.
- Evaluations of the language mastery of the student.
On this possibility, the MEP was consulted on the plan to implement English from mother and preschool, however, at the close of the note, no response has been obtained.
This article was translated after appearing in crhoy.com