Unknown Story
Kuvakäsikirjoitus Teksti
- I sit here, reflecting upon what I learnt in this course and the fact that I have seven years of experience teaching English as a foreign language. It bothers me to the bone these new findings: the efforts from past policies have been so far, to some extent, futile. I read an article not too long ago written by Portafolio, and it shocked to even more the headline 'Colombia, entre los países con peor dominio de inglés en la región.' I know first-hand how the educational system is from the population I have worked for. I have discovered through the years that English is still a fierce challenge in private (in its majority, except truly elite schools) and public schools, where English is still a 70-year newborn, more or less a deformed newborn that never grew up, which means that we, as a nation, have failed. I get all the concepts learned throughout the course; however, reality hits harder than theory.
- Let us imagine for a second that we designed, planned and put to work an indigenous language in Colombia, and it will not work. But bare with me, would you? It can be a state-of-the-art policy that has descended from heaven and will still need more. What is the problem? You may ask. In one word 'Culture', there is a particular negative culture towards education and its importance, LAFM reported 'Pruebas Pisa: Colombia ocupó el puesto 59 entre los 70 países evaluados.' It not only happens to attempt to teach foreign languages in Colombia to become bilinguals in foreign languages but also other subjects. Compared to Asian cultures, which excel and are a super successful race, even in the US, they are at the top of the most successful races nationwide. Asians regard education above all, which is an excellent way to live, in my personal opinion and experience. The way both teens and parents treat the teachers is also a critical point to consider, and no course or university is preparing teachers for that. Why would they? They would have fewer students if they knew what students would be coming up against.
- Another new scientific experiment is in the works, Frankenstein-style, 'El chino mandarín se comenzará a enseñar en los colegios públicos de Bogotá' by the mainstream media. English is easier to learn than other languages such as Russian or German, or even Spanish; Mandarin is a tonal language that already makes it more challenging. We must also see the writing of characters and the new and old alphabet. Honestly, I wish I could say it more hectically, a waste of time and resources. If the population is struggling to learn English, imagine Mandarin. Today's policies are just a big mistake and a colossal mess future generations of Colombians will have to pick up and bury, hoping society becomes more conscientious, less envious, and more diligent towards bilingual education. I sit here wondering if there will be a light at the end of the tunnel; winter is not coming any time soon.
Yli 30 miljoonaa kuvakäsikirjoitusta luotu