BILINGUAL
PROGRAMS IN
EXTREMADURA
An experience for improving
linguistic skills in primary and
lower secondary school.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
Last year, our Regional Education Authority
launched a two year experimental bilingual
programme for four lower secondary schools
and six primary schools, located in the two
main cities of Extremadura (Cáceres and
Badajoz). At the beginning of this term the
spreading of this programme was considered
for other towns across the region ...
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
...as a result six new secondary
schools, among them PEREZ
COMENDADOR school, and a similar
number of primary schools joined the
project last September .
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
Where is
Extremadura?
Bilingual schools
in the region.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
Three different possibilities were offered to
schools in order to develop a bilingual
experience: The French-Spanish, the EnglishSpanish and the Portuguese-Spanish
sections.
PEREZ COMENDADOR (located in Plasencia)
chose the English/Spanish option and nowadays
is working in a close cooperation with a primary
school in the city (EL PILAR) that is launching a
similar programme.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
PEREZ
COMENDADOR
SECONDARY
SCHOOL
(PLASENCIA)
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
The aims of the bilingual programmes in
our region are :



Improving communicative skills of students in
foreign languages.
Learning contents included in non linguistic
areas in foreign languages.
Making a cultural immersion in countries
whose first language is the one chosen in the
bilingual section.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
PROGRAM STRUCTURE (1/2)


This program is intended in its first year for
students who have just left primary school at
the beginning of lower secondary studies,
when they are 12 years old and it will extend
in the first two academic courses of the level.
Up to three non linguistic subjects can be
taught using the foreign language of the
bilingual section.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
PROGRAM STRUCTURE (2/2)



In each non linguistic subject considered in
the programme, the foreign language must be
used in at least one weekly period.
The weekly schedule and contents of these
non lingüistic subjects are the same as those
followed by the rest of the students.
In this programme students must study a
second foreign language with an additional
hour in its weekly timetable.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
STUDENTS (1/2)



They volunteered to take part in the
programme.
Schools developing this project are allowed to
establish selection procedures in order to
incorporate students in the programme.
Parents sign a compromise on behalf of their
children to stay in the program for two years.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
STUDENTS (2/2)


Students with a good level of the foreign
language used in activities may be authorised
to enter the programme at the beginning of the
second year. Such level will be determined by
the staff in charge of the programme.
At least twenty students are required to begin
with the project. Only one bilingual group is
allowed in each level.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
TEACHERS (1/2)


Teachers in the project are staff members of
schools involved in the bilingual programme
who have agreed to participate for a two years
period with no extra payment.
They must have an adequate level of English.
This level is assessed by a University degree
in the foreign language or external certificates
issued by other institutions (Cambridge
University Proficiency test, Official Spanish
School of Languages. DELF, etc.)
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
TEACHERS (2/2)


Among the teachers involved in the program,
there is a coordinator, usually a teacher with a
degree in the chosen foreign language.
He/She is in charge of:





the surveillance of the program.
teachers coordination.
resource making.
everything concerned with the program.
courses aimed at improving linguistic skills of staff
members.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
OFFICIAL SUPPORT





Schools involved in this bilingual program are provided
with a full time native assistant teacher.
They are also funded with an extra amount of money .
They have priority in the development and funding of
European projects such as those included in the
Socrates program(Comenius, Arion, etc.).
Teachers are encouraged and supported to increase
their language skills and methodological knowledge
abroad.
Profesional development for teachers that take part in
the pregramme.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
ACTIVITIES DEVELOPED IN BILINGUAL
PROGRAMME AT PEREZ COMENDADOR
SCHOOL.

As previously mentioned the program began in
our school last september. Since that moment
the teachers involved in the project have been
working in a number of fields...
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
ACTIVITIES DEVELOPED IN BILINGUAL
PROGRAMME AT PEREZ COMENDADOR
SCHOOL.
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Contribution
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gramatical
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in thesewith
local community,
subjects. etc.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
ACTIVITIES DEVELOPED IN BILINGUAL
PROGRAMME AT PEREZ COMENDADOR
SCHOOL.
We are also about to embark in other activities in the
next few months...
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schools
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students and teachers, etc.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
SOME POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE
PROGRAMME ACCORDING TO SCHOOLS
WORKING IN IT SINCE LAST YEAR
After
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one
assistant
year
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teacher
bilingual
provides
teaching,students
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is
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knowledge
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of
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are
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speaking
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by
culture
Familiar
commitment
withinschool
improves
in the case
of
parents
perfomance
staff
members
in
oral
involved
communication
the
project
both
in
in
everything
English
and
concerning
in
the non
streghtened
with
this
project.
that
contributes
to
a
better
community.
understanding
of
world’s
current
who have
agreed areas
toresource
takeincluded
partsearching
in this
bilingual
experience. of
linguistic
in the
program.
material
development,
and
improvement
situation.
communicative skills.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
SOME NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF THE
PROGRAMME ACORDING TO SCHOOLS
THAT LAUNCHED IT LAST YEAR
Additional
More
printed
economical
educational
funds
resources
for
schools
are
needed
involved
ininnon
the linguistis
program
Promoting
more
meetings
between
schools
engaged
in the
Streghtening
teacher
training
programs
in foreign
languages.
subjects.
Too
much in
work
has
developed
in and
this field.
should be
revised
order
tobeen
do more
activities
buy
project.
educational materials.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
OTHER ACTIONS DEVELOPED BY
REGIONAL EDUCATION AUTHORITY TO
IMPROVE FOREIGN LANGUAGE
KNOWLEDGEMENT AMONG ALL PRE
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS (3-18).
this20%
academic
year
threetoprimary
in
the region
are a
At
least
of primary
schools
includeschools
in
theirthey’re
educational
offer
A In
foreign
language
is taught
children
since
three years
developing
the learning
and (two
teaching
processes
in the
second foreign
language
a week)described
for students
old.lessons
European
Portfolio.
attending
higher
levels.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
SOME PICTURES OF PLASENCIA.
BILINGUAL PROGRAMS
IN EXTREMADURA
SOME PICTURES OF THE SURROUNDINGS