SIXTH TAKS

What methods are being used to teach English here in Neiva in public and private schools?

As a student teacher doing my practicum in public schools here in Neiva, I could notice teachers did not have a clear methodology to teach English, as they worked with books given by the government, which were not accurate in terms of topics and students’ age and critical thinking, therefore it can be said that here in Neiva, English is being taught without following clear methods.

Firstly, English is being taught without having a clear organization of topics taking into account students’ skills, needs and knowledge. The books given by the government tackle topics that may be too advance or too easy for most secondary students, doing our job more difficult as students have poor academic English background.

Secondly, many argue that here in Neiva teaching English has become a matter of grammar as teachers just follow what government books say, and most of them do not promote communicative skills, and as a result, students go through a difficult time trying to understand grammatical issues without context and sense. In other words, teachers have forgotten the real purpose of learning a language, which is communication, goal that is not being targeted in public schools at all.

In conclusion, I think Universidad Surcolombiana should reinforce its English program in terms of academic preparedness, so that its graduate students could change these educational situations taking place here in Neiva in public schools. Moreover, the Education Department should stop using and designing books that are not accurate to the real education context here in Colombia, as they do not apply to students’ needs and academic background.