A Research Proposal

Preliminary Study Title: Bilingualism in Colombia

Author(s): Jennyfer Acevedo Sanchez

Alyson Daniela Sanchez Benavidez

Maria Alejandra Morales Forero

1. Problem statement
Comments (by the teacher)
Provide a clear and concise description of the issues that
need to be addressed. What is the specific problem in that
research area that you will address.

What are the obstacles that Colombians go through to

know another language (English)?

Only 37.83% of Colombian students have a basic level of

English and only 5.51% have an intermediate level of
English. The figures are overwhelming. "With the previous
data one can see that the teaching of English with Colombian
children and young people needs a rethinking and an urgent
redirection".

2. Objectives

Provide a list of 3 goals that will be achieved through the proposed research.
1. Identify what are the reasons why Colombian people do
not learn a second language (English).

2. Propose different types of strategies that can carry out the

solution of the investigation.

3. Determine if the research problem is based on the

application of the teaching of English at the Colombian level.

3. Preliminary literature review

Provide a summary of previous related research on the research problem and their strength and
weakness and a justification of your research - What is known/what have been done by others?
And, why is your research still necessary?

What is known?

In the ranking of the EF English Proficiency Index (EPI)

study carried out by EF Education First, Colombia went from
position 60, in 2018, to position number 68, in 2019. The
country has a low command of English, and borders on the
level is very low, with a score of 48.75 points out of 100.

What have been done by others?

English programs have been implemented at the national

level, such as Colombia very well, Programa nacional de
bilingüismo EFL, Programa de Formación para el trabajo en
el área de idiomas 2012, Programa Bilingüe colombiano
2018, etc...

Why the research is still necessary?

There are three main areas in which bilingualism contributes

to the development of students' competences: in the formation
of solid structures of thought and citizenship and scientific
competences, and in the stimulation of the investigative spirit.

As the Constitution recognizes, Colombia is a multilingual

and multicultural country. This wealth constitutes a solid base
to face the challenges in a globalized world. Today Spanish is
an international communication language, like English,
French and German, among others. A Colombian student who
achieves a good command of his mother tongue and skills in
another, a bilingual student, will be well positioned to face the
new demands of this increasingly interdependent world.

4. Research Methodology

Research methodology defines the research methods and logic steps - What to do and how to
solve the problem and achieve proposed objectives?

What to do and how to solve the problem and achieve

proposed objectives?

A census diagnosis is required to determine the real

competencies of teachers in all skills. A * TEACH
CHALLENGE Study is required (analysis of voluntary
diagnostic tests for teachers.

Basic and medium

● Teacher training
● variety of pedagogical model
● make use of technologies
● Involvement of society

Higher education

● Strengthening language degrees

● Support for IES language centers
● Face-to-face and intensive English with ICT support for
targeted SENA programs
Labor force

● Subsidies and financing for training in English

● Motivation for training in English
● Availability of information