English Immersion: an excellent strategy to qualify English language

English
Presentación
English Immersion: an excellent
strategy to qualify English
language teaching
:ĞƐƷƐŵĂƵƌLJzƵƌŐĂŬLJĞŶŝƚĞnj
WĂƌƟĐŝƉĂŶƚdĞĂĐŚĞƌĨƌŽŵŚŽĐſ
ĂŵĂLJƵƌďΛLJĂŚŽŽ͘ĞƐ
dŚŝƐƉĂƉĞƌŝƐĂŶĂƩĞŵƉƚƚŽƐŚĂƌĞǁŝƚŚƚŚĞƌĞĂĚĞƌƚŚĞĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞŽĨďĞŝŶŐŝŶĂŶŝŵŵĞƌƐŝŽŶŝŶŶŐůŝƐŚƚŚĂƚŚĞůƉĞĚŵĞƚŽŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵLJŇƵĞŶĐLJĂŶĚƚŽƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚƚŚĂƚƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ
ŶŐůŝƐŚǁŝƚŚƚŚĞƉƵƌƉŽƐĞŽĨĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŶŐǁŽƵůĚŚĞůƉŽƵƌƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ͕ŽƵƌƐĐŚŽŽůƐĂŶĚ
the standards of quality in Colombia. The program is then an excellent strategy to qualify
ŶŐůŝƐŚůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐĂŶĚŚĂƐďĞĞŶǀĞƌLJĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞĨŽƌƚŚĞƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌƐŝƚƵĂƟŽŶ
of our country.
/Ŷ ŽůŽŵďŝĂ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ƚĂƚĞ ƉƌŽŵŽƚĞĚďLJƚŚĞEĂƟŽŶĂůDŝŶŝƐƚƌLJŽĨĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂŶĚ
ŝŶƐƉĞĐŝĂůǁŚĂƚŝƐĐŽŶĐĞƌŶĞĚǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŶĂƟŽŶĂů
EĂƟŽŶĂů ŝůŝŶŐƵĂů WƌŽŐƌĂŵ requires of a well
trained Professional in Language both academically and pedagogically. This is necessary in
order to qualify the language teaching process
ĂƐĂĚŝƐĐŝƉůŝŶĞ͖ĂŶĚĂůƐŽ͕ƚŽƉƌŽŵŽƚĞƐƉĞĂŬŝŶŐŝŶ
ŶŐůŝƐŚ͕ĂƐĂǀĞŚŝĐůĞŽĨĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŽŶ͕ĐƵůƚƵƌĞ
and human development.
ƌƵůĞƐ͕ŝŶƚĞƌĂĐƟŶŐĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞůLJǁŝƚŚƉĞĞƌƐǁŚĞŶ
ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚŝŶŐĐůĂƐƐƚĂƐŬƐ͘&ŝŶĂůůLJ͕ƚŚĞĂĐĂĚĞŵŝĐ
ĐŽŵƉĞƚĞŶĐĞwhich is the ability to acquire new
ƐŬŝůůƐ͕ĂƐƐŝŵŝůĂƚĞŶĞǁŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶĂŶĚĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƚ
new concepts to apply in context. Another important aspect we teachers need to improve is
ƚŚĞůĞǀĞůŽĨůŝƐƚĞŶŝŶŐĂŶĚƐƉĞĂŬŝŶŐŝŶĂŶĂƟǀĞʹ
like environment. And the appropriate place in
Colombia is San Andres Island.
To solve the problem of having teachers with
Knowing that not all the teachers in public ůŝŵŝƚĞĚŶŐůŝƐŚƉƌŽĮĐŝĞŶĐLJ͕ƚŚĞŽůŽŵďŝĂŶŐŽƐĐŚŽŽůƐŚĂǀĞƚŚĞƐĂŵĞƉƌŽĮĐŝĞŶĐLJŝŶŶŐůŝƐŚ͕/ ǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚŚĂƐďĞĞŶƉƌŽŵŽƟŶŐĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚŬŝŶĚƐ
ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌŝƚĐƌƵĐŝĂůƚŽĨŽƐƚĞƌƚŚĞĞīĞĐƟǀĞƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐ ŝŶ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ĐŝƟĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ
in bilingual classrooms. According to dŝŬƵŶŽī ƚŚĞůĂƐƚĮŌĞĞŶLJĞĂƌƐ͘/ƚŚĂƐĂůƐŽĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ͞dŚĞ
;ϭϵϴϯͿ͕ĂƚĞĂĐŚĞƌǁŝƚŚůŝŵŝƚĞĚŶŐůŝƐŚƉƌŽĮĐŝĞŶĐLJ ŶŐůŝƐŚ/ŵŵĞƌƐŝŽŶWƌŽŐƌĂŵ͕͟ĐĂƌƌŝĞĚŽƵƚŝŶ^ĂŶ
needs to develop three kinds of competences. ŶĚƌĞƐ/ƐůĂŶĚ͘dŚĞWƌŽŐƌĂŵŽīĞƌƐƚŽŽůŽŵďŝĂŶ
dŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ŽŶĞ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟǀĞ ĐŽŵƉĞƚĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐ ; WĂŶĂŵĂ͕ DĞdžŝĐŽ͕
which is the ability to respond appropriately ,ŽŶĚƵƌĂƐ͕ŽƐƚĂZŝĐĂ͕ů^ĂůǀĂĚŽƌ͕ĞƚĐ͘ͿƚŚĞĐŚĂŶĐĞ
to class demands and the procedural rules for of improving their command of English by living
ĂĐĐŽŵƉůŝƐŚŝŶŐƚŚĞŵ͘^ĞĐŽŶĚůLJ͕ƚŚĞ/ŶƚĞƌĂĐƟŽ- for nearly a month in the one and only English
ŶĂůĐŽŵƉĞƚĞŶĐĞ that is the ability to respond speaking environment of Colombia.
both to classroom rules of discourse and social
77
Jesús Yurgaky
ƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ƟŵĞ͕ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂŶƚƐ ƚĂŬĞ ĂŶ
academic English course according to the results
ŽĨƚŚĞWƌĞůŝŵŝŶĂƌLJŶŐůŝƐŚdĞƐƚ;W͘͘d͘Ϳ͕ƵƐĞĚƚŽ
ĐůĂƐƐŝĨLJƚŚĞůĞǀĞůŽĨĞĂĐŚŽŶĞ͘ƐĂƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂŶƚ
ŽĨƚŚŝƐĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕/ǁĂŶƚƚŽƚĞůůƚŚĞƌĞĂĚĞƌƚŚĂƚ/ĨĞůƚ
ǀĞƌLJŚĂƉƉLJŝŶ^ĂŶŶĚƌĞƐ/ƐůĂŶĚĨŽƌŵĂŶLJƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ͗
ŝƚƐďĞĂƵƟĨƵůůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞƐ͕ŝƚƐƐĞĂ͕ŝƚƐĐƵůƚƵƌĞ͕ŝƚƐ
architecture and especially for its people.
&ƌŽŵƚŚĞǀĞƌLJďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ/ŚĂĚĂŐƌĞĂƚĞŵƉĂƚŚLJ
ǁŝƚŚDƌ͘ŵďƌŽƐƐĞ͕;ŽƵƌǀĂŶĚƌŝǀĞƌͿǁŚŽƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚ ŵĞ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĂŝƌƉŽƌƚ͕ ;ŽĨ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ƐƉĞĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ
ŶŐůŝƐŚͿ͕ĂŶĚƚŚĞŶŚĞƚŽŽŬŵĞƚŽďĞůŽĚŐĞĚĂƚĂ
ŶĂƟǀĞĨĂŵŝůLJ͗dŚĞ'ŽŵĞnjĞŶƚ͕ĂůŽǀĞůLJĨĂŵŝůLJ͘
&ĞǁŚŽƵƌƐůĂƚĞƌ͕ĂŌĞƌƌĞĐĞŝǀŝŶŐƚŚĞƌƵůĞƐƚŽƐƚĂLJ
ƚŚĞƌĞ͕/ŵĞƚŵLJŽƚŚĞƌƌŽŽŵŵĂƚĞƐ͕ƉĞŽƉůĞĨƌŽŵ
ŽƚŚĞƌ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞƐ͗ ĨƌŽŵ YƵŝŶĚŝŽ͕ ƚůĂŶƟĐ ŽĂƐƚ͕
ĂƵĐĂ͕ ƵŶĚŝŶĂŵĂƌĐĂ ĂŶĚ ŶƟŽƋƵŝĂ͘ ŶĚ ƚŚĞ
ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞďĞŐĂŶ͘>ŝƩůĞďLJ>ŝƩůĞŝĐĞǁĂƐďƌŽŬĞŶ
and we started to talk about our places of origin
exchanging opinions and forming a society by
means of English.
DLJŐƌŽƵƉǁĂƐĨŽƌŵĞĚďLJƉĞŽƉůĞĨƌŽŵƚŚĞWĂĐŝĮĐ
ŽĂƐƚ͕ĨƌŽŵŚŽĐŽĂŶĚEĂƌŝŹŽĚĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚƐ͘Ɛ
ƐŽŽŶĂƐǁĞŐŽƚƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ͕ǁĞďĞŐĂŶƚŽŵĂŬĞĂŶ
ŝŶŝƟĂůƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞŝŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽďĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚŝŶ
public to all the teachers and organizers. The
team considered very important to present the
song “tĞĂƌĞWĂĐŝĮĐ͕͟LJŚŽƋƵŝďƚŽǁŶ͕ĂĨĂŵŽƵƐ
ŐƌŽƵƉĨƌŽŵŚŽĐŽ͕ǁŝƚŚǁŚŝĐŚǁĞƚƌŝĞĚƚŽƐŚŽǁ
the culture of our region in English.
tŝƚŚ ƚŚŝƐ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ǁĞ ŽďƚĂŝŶĞĚ ƚŚĞ dŚŝƌĚ
WůĂĐĞ͕ĂŶĚƚŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞĂƉƌŝnjĞ͘ĚĂLJĂŌĞƌ͕ĚŝǀŝĚĞĚ
ŝŶ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ůĞǀĞůƐ ĂŶĚ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ͕ ǁĞ ƚŽŽŬ Ă ƚƌŝƉ
ĂƌŽƵŶĚƚŚĞ/ƐůĂŶĚĂŶĚǁĞďĞŐĂŶƚŽůĞĂƌŶĂďŽƵƚ
ƚŚĞĐƵůƚƵƌĂůŚĞƌŝƚĂŐĞŽĨƚŚĞ/ƐůĂŶĚĞƌƐ͘dŚĂƚŝƐƚŽ
ƐĂLJƚŚĂƚǁĞůĞĂƌŶƚĂďŽƵƚƚŚĞŚŝƐƚŽƌLJ͕ůŝĨĞͲƐƚLJůĞ͕
ƚŚĞĨŽŽĚŚĂďŝƚƐ͕ƚLJƉŝĐĂůŵƵƐŝĐ͕ƌĞůŝŐŝŽƵƐĂŶĚŵĂŐŝĐ
ďĞůŝĞĨƐ͕ĚĂŶĐĞƐ͕ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞƐ͕ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ͕ĐŽŵŵĞƌĐĞ
and a great deal of things related to the sea and
ƚŚĞƉŝƌĂƚĞƐ͘tĞĞŶũŽLJĞĚƚŚĞĂĐƟǀŝƚLJĂůŽƚ͘
ϳϴ
ƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚŽĨƚŚĞ/ŵŵĞƌƐŝŽŶWƌŽŐƌĂŵ͕ǁĞŚĂĚĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚƚƵƚŽƌƐĂŶĚǁĞĐĂƌƌŝĞĚ
ŽƵƚ ŵĂŶLJ ĂĐĂĚĞŵŝĐ ĂŶĚ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘ /Ŷ
ƚŚĞŵŽƌŶŝŶŐǁĞƌĞĐĞŝǀĞĚĐůĂƐƐĞƐ͕ĞŵƉŚĂƐŝnjŝŶŐ
ĂďŽƵƚĨŽƌŵĂůĂƐƉĞĐƚƐŽĨŶŐůŝƐŚ͕ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐƚŽƚŚĞ
learning -teaching process; games and permanent
ĂĐƟǀĞƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ͘dŚĞƵƐĞŽĨd/^ǁĂƐĐŽŶƐƚĂŶƚƚŽŽ͘/ŶƚŚĞĂŌĞƌŶŽŽŶ͕ǁĞƉůĂŶŶĞĚĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ
ƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚƚŽƚŚĞĮŶĂůƉƌŽũĞĐƚ͕ĐŽŶƐƵůƟŶŐůŝďƌĂƌŝĞƐ͕
ĂƐŬŝŶŐĨŽƌŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶŝŶŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶƐĂŶĚǁŝƚŚ
ŽƵƚƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐƉĞŽƉůĞĨƌŽŵƚŚĞ/ƐůĂŶĚ͘/ŶŽƵƌĨƌĞĞ
ƟŵĞǁĞƚŽŽŬĂǁĂůŬďLJƚŚĞďĞĂĐŚĞƐĂŶĚĂůƐŽ
we went to shopping centers and many other
important sites. Every Sunday in small or in large
ŐƌŽƵƉƐǁĞǀŝƐŝƚĞĚƚŚĞĐĂLJƐĂŶĚƚŚĞĂƋƵĂƌŝƵŵ͕
ĂŶĚŽĨĐŽƵƌƐĞƚŚĞDŽƌŐĂŶDzƐĂǀĞ͘
ƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞĐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐǁĞŐŽƚƚŚĞĐŚĂŶĐĞƚŽƐĞĞ
ƚŚĞƚLJƉŝĐĂůĚĂŶĐĞƐ͕ŵƵƐŝĐĂůŐƌŽƵƉƐĂŶĚŵĂŝŶůŽĐĂů
ƐŽŶŐƐ͘dŚĞƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂůůLJƌŝĐƐŽĨ͞dĂŬĞDĞĂĐŬƚŽ
DLJ^ĂŶŶĚƌĞƐ” what taught by the family and
by the program.
ZĞůĂƚĞĚƚŽƚŚĞůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ͕ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞƉĂŝŶƚĞƌƐĂŶĚ
ĞĚƵĐĂƚŽƌƐ͕ŝƐŝƚǁŽƌƚŚLJƚŽŵĂŬĞĂƐƉĞĐŝĂůŵĞŶƟŽŶ
ƚŽƚŚĞďŝŐŐĞƐƚ͗DƐ͘>ŽůŝĂWŽŵĂƌĞ͕:ƵĂŶZĂŵŝƌĞnj
ĂǁŬŝŶƐ͕,ĂnjĞůZŽďŝŶƐŽŶďƌĂŚĂŵ͕ůŝŐŝŽŽƌƉƵƐ͕
/ƌŝƐďƌĂŚĂŵ͕ĂƌůĞLJ:ĂĐŬƐŽŶ͕^ŽŶŝĂZŽũĂƐ͕ĂŶĚ
DĂƌŝĂŶŽ'ſŵĞnj͕ĞƚĐ͘/ŶŵLJŽƉŝŶŝŽŶ͕ĂůůŽĨƚŚĞŵ
have played a powerful role within the culture of
this community. They have dedicated their lives
and their talent to the cultural and intellectual
development of the island.
dŚĞƌĞĂƌĞůŽƚƐŽĨƚŚŝŶŐƐƚŽŵĞŶƟŽŶďƵƚŶŽƚĞŶŽƵŐŚ
ƟŵĞ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ŝĨLJŽƵƚƌĂǀĞůƚŽ^ĂŶŶĚƌĞƐ/ƐůĂŶĚ
ĚŽŶDzƚĨŽƌŐĞƚ͗
ͻ dŽ ǀŝƐŝƚ :ŽŚŶŶLJ ĂLJ͘ Ŷ ĞdžŽƟĐ ƉůĂĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ
from the beaches of San Andres
ͻ To enjoy swimming in Rocky Cay and visit the
aquarium
ͻ To live the experience of the blowing hole
English Immersion: an excellent strategy to qualify English language teaching
ͻ To taste the delicious food of the island
ͻ dŽƐŚĂƌĞǁŝƚŚƚŚĞ/ƐůĂŶĚĞƌƐ
;ůĞĂƌŶĞƌƚŽůĞĂƌŶĞƌͿ͕ĂŶĚďƌĂŝŶƐƚŽƌŵŝŶŐďĞĨŽƌĞ
ǁƌŝƟŶŐĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͕ĂŵŽŶŐŽƚŚĞƌƐ͘
/ŶĂĚĚŝƟŽŶƚŽƚŚŝƐ͕ĂŌĞƌĐŽŵŝŶŐďĂĐŬĨƌŽŵƚŚĞ
/ƐůĂŶĚ͕/ŐĂǀĞĂƌĞƉŽƌƚƚŽŵLJŝƌĞĐƚŽƌĂďŽƵƚƚŚĞ
ĂĚǀĂŶƚĂŐĞƐŽĨƚŚĞƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞ͘dŚĞŶ͕/ŵĞƚŵLJ
colleagues in order to share this meaningful expeƌŝĞŶĐĞ͕ƉŽŝŶƟŶŐŽƵƚƚŚĞŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞŽĨƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ
ŶŐůŝƐŚǁŝƚŚƚŚĞƉƵƌƉŽƐĞŽĨĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŶŐŝŶ
the language than teaching it without clear obũĞĐƟǀĞƐ͘DŽƌĞŽǀĞƌ͕ǁĞŚĂǀĞƵŶĚĞƌƐƚŽŽĚƚŚĂƚďLJ
ĚŽŝŶŐƚŚŝƐ͕ŽƵƌƐĐŚŽŽůƐǁŽƵůĚŐĂŝŶƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚƐŽĨ
KŶƚŚĞŽƚŚĞƌŚĂŶĚ͕/ŚĂǀĞƚƌŝĞĚƚŽďĞĂŵŽƟǀĂ- ƋƵĂůŝƚLJŝŶƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐŶŐůŝƐŚƵƐŝŶŐĞīĞĐƟǀĞŝŶƐƚƌƵĐtor; a monitor of my students learning process ƟŽŶĂůŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐĂŶĚĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟǀĞ
ĂŶĚĂƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƌŽĨĂĐĐƵƌĂƚĞůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞŵŽĚĞůƐ͘/ competence in all levels.
have also tried to make changes in my classes
ďLJƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚŬŝŶĚƐŽĨĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐƐƵĐŚĂƐ
pair work or group work (learner to learner); References
ƉƌĂĐƟĐŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƚĞdžƚ ;ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌ ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶĞƌͿ͖
ŚĂǀŝŶŐĨƌĞĞĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶƐ;ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƚŽůĞĂƌŶĞƌƐ dŝŬƵŶŽī;ϭϵϴϯͿĞŶRichards,:ĂĐŬ͘;ϭϵϵϬͿ͞dŚĞ
ͬůĞĂƌŶĞƌƚŽůĞĂƌŶĞƌͿ͖ŚĂǀŝŶŐƉƌŽŶƵŶĐŝĂƟŽŶĞdžĞƌLanguage Teaching Matrix” Cambridge
ĐŝƐĞƐ ;ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌ ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶĞƌƐͿ͕ ŵŝŶŐůŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ
University Press
dŚĞŝŵƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐŽĨƚŚŝƐƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞŝŶŵLJŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶŚĂǀĞďĞĞŶƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ͘KŶƚŚĞŽŶĞŚĂŶĚ͕/
ŚĂǀĞĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚŵŽƌĞŇƵĞŶĐLJǁŚĞŶƐƉĞĂŬŝŶŐƚŚĞ
ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞĂŶĚƚŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ͕ƚŚĞƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐĂƌĞŵŽƌĞ
ŵŽƟǀĂƚĞĚƚŽůĞĂƌŶŶŐůŝƐŚĂŶĚƚŽƐƉĞĂŬŝƚƚŽŽ͘/
ŚĂǀĞďĞĞŶŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƟŶŐŵŽƌĞŽƌĂůĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐƚŚĂŶ
ŐƌĂŵŵĂƟĐĂůŽŶĞƐ͕ĂŶĚ/ŚĂǀĞĂŝŵĞĚŵLJĐůĂƐƐĞƐ
ĂƚŐĞƫŶŐŵŽƌĞĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟǀĞŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ͘
ϳϵ