English Language Education In Cuba: Gaining Momentum in Society

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English Language Education In Cuba Gaining
Momentum in Society
D. Corona Y. Lucas

• 11th LABCI-ABCI Conference
• Sao Paulo
• July 2007

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THE YEAR 2000

• New stage in the process of universalization of
  knowledge in Cuban society

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TV PROJECT UNIVERSITY FOR ALL

• A comprehensive cultural program
• Broad selection of courses
• Language courses
• (Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, Italian
  and German)

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ENHANCEMENT OF LANGUAGE EDUCATION

• Citizen education
• Professional training
• Sustainable development
• Integration and collaboration

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English reaffirmed as first foreign language
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ELT in primary secondary education

• Aim to start English in Grade 3 reached in 2004.
• Video lessons and TV language courses.
• Encouraging 12th graders to enter Pedagogical
  Universities.

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Language education in Cuban universities

• Shift in learning outcomes
• From reading competence to integrated
  communicative competence
• Shift in the learning process
• From face-to-face traditional courses to
  distance learning with on-site practice sessions

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English as curricular subject with an
interdisciplinary approach in all undergraduate
programs
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Main features of the English learning process in
Cuban universities

• Self-access to knowledge
• Emphasis on learning strategies and study skills
• Program approach
• Open and flexible to meet students individual
  needs

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Main features (cont.)

• Participatory evaluation
• Self-evaluation, peer evaluation, teachers
  evaluation
• Situational thematic contexts
• Basically with reference to Cuba. Broader vision
  of the English-speaking world

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Main features (cont.)

• Context of use
• Basically in a Cuban context
• Materials
• Devised and developed for self-study
• Oriented to meet Cuban educational outcomes
• Compatible with our spending capacity

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At Your Pace

• English language distance learning course
  written by Cuban ELT developers
• September 2005

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Lessons learned with the new changes in ELT

• Moving from face-to-face English language
  courses to distance learning courses is feasible
  in the context of Cuban institutions of higher
  learning.

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Lessons learned with the new changes in ELT

• Most organizational problems are overcome more
  easily when students, intitutional authorities
  and language teachers believe in the change.

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Lessons learned with the new changes in ELT

• Well-planned, challenging and rewarding
  practice sessions enhance students motivation
  to self-study and contribute to the fulfilment
  of learning outcomes.

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Training professional development of language
professionals

• In Pedagogical Universities
• 5,347 undergraduates in the English Program
• In Comprehensive Universities
• 888 undergraduates in the English Language
  Professional Major (Broad Profile)
• 2006-2007

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Training Professional development (cont.)

• Professional development is an integral part of
  the teachers work load.
• Graduate couses
• Masters Degree programs
• Ph.D. programs

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The role of the British Council in the
development of ELT in Cuba

• ELTeCs Latin American meeting in Havana (2000)
• Two Hornby Trust regional summer courses held
  in Cuba (2001/2002)
• Project for developing Self-Access Centres
  (SACs)
• Scholarships for graduate studies in UK
  institutions

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• Support to GELI (Association of Cuban English
  Language Professionals)
• Promotion of Cuban academics in BC international
  seminars
• Fostering Cubas participation in regional ELT
  projects
• Enhancement of the teaching of English to young
  learners

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2007