INCORPORATING ENGLISH AS A PRIMARY LANGUAGE INTO THE ANDORRAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to propose how to incorporate English as a main language into the Andorran educational system starting in primary school, using a combination of Content and Language Integrated Learning and traditional language classes, in order to address the increasing need for Andorran students to be proficient in English as a result of the global spread of the English language and Andorra´s situation within Europe. Although English is taught as a foreign language within the Andorran educational system, students are not graduating with a sufficient level of proficiency in English to meet today´s demands. The primary method of data collection was acquired through the review of literature concerning language education, plurilingualism and the role of the English language in globalization. We also conducted a semi-structured interview with the director of the Andorran school system as well as with a local primary school principal in order to gather relevant data regarding the reality within the country. As a conclusion, we will demonstrate that students´ linguistic proficiency will improve, not only in children at a high socioeconomic level, but also in students that cannot afford to study English outside of school.       

Keywords: Global English, Multilingual Education, CLIL, Language Education 

REFERENCES

Álvarez, I. (2015, July 15). El Govern vol tenir l´anglès com a llengua vehicular. El Periòdic. Retrieved from https://www.elperiodic.ad/noticia/45286/el-govern-vol-tenir-langles-com-a-llengua-vehicular

Beacco, J.C., Byram, M., Cavalli, M., Coste, D., Cuenat, M.E., Goullier, F. and Panthier, J. (2016, August). Guide for the Development and Implementation of Curricula for Plurilingual and Intercultural Education. Strasbourg: Council of Europe. Retrieved from https://rm.coe.int/guide-for-the-development-and-implementation-of-curricula-forplurilin/1680702437

Björklund, M., Björklund, S. and Kav, S. (2013). Multilingual Policies and Multilingual Education in the Nordic Countries. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 2013, 6(1), 1-22. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1053769.pdf

Consell General d´Andorra. (2017, Apr. 27). Comissió Legislativa d´Educació, Recerca, Cultural i Esports, [public appearance]. Retrieved from http://www.consellgeneral.ad/aplics/Butlleti_Consell.NSF Council of Europe. (n/d). Common European Framework of reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from https://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/source/framework_en.pdf 

Delvin, K. (2015, July 13). Learning a Foreign Language a ´Must¨ in Europe, not so in America. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/13/learning-a-foreign-language-a-must-in-europenot-so-in-america/

Educació Aposta Per l´Anglès com a Llengua Vehicular. (2013, Oct. 6). Diari D´Andorra. Retrieved from https://www.diariandorra.ad/noticies/nacional/2013/10/06/educacio_aposta_per_angles_com_llengua_vehicular_42 667_1125.html

Esteve, O., Fernández, F., Martín-Peris, E., and Atienza, E. (2015). The Integrated Plurilingual Approach: A didactic Model Providing Guidance to Spanish Schools for Reconceptualizing the Teaching of Additional Languages. Linguistics and the Human Sciences, 11.1. Equinox Publishing. Retrieved from http://mon.uvic.cat/aula-investigaciollengua/files/2015/12/Esteveetal.pdf

Farràs, J. (2003). La realitat sociolingüistica andorrana a debat, Segons else resultats d´estudis no impulsats per l´Administració. Noves SL. Revista de Sociolingüística. Retrieved from http://www.gencat.cat/llengua/noves/noves/hm03primavera/catalana/farras.pdf

Global English: The European Lessons. (2001, March 30). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/education/2001/mar/30/tefl1

Govern d´Andorra. (2017). Educació Website. Retrieved from http://www.educacio.ad/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=168:230610-deu-centres-participaranen-la-prova-pilot-del-projecte-escoles-verdes&catid=50:premsa&Itemid=114

Govern d´Andorra. (1993, Sept. 3). Llei Qualificada d´Educació de 3-9-93. Bulletí Oficial del Principat d´Andorra. Retrieved from https://www.bopa.ad/bopa/005051/Pagines/645A.aspx?pDataInici=&pDataFi=&pSearchWord=&pOrdre=rellevanc ia Govern d’Andorra Ministerio de Finanzas Departamento de Estadística. (2015). Andorra en Cifras 2015. Retrieved from http://www.estadistica.ad/serveiestudis/publicacions/Publicacions/Andorra%20en%20Xifres_cast.pdf

Hamid, M.O. and Honan, E. (2012, April 24). Communicative English in the Primary Classroom: Implications for Englishin-Education Policy and Practice in Bangladesh. Journal Language, Culture and Curriculum 25(2), 139-156. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07908318.2012.678854

Herzog-Punzenberger, B., Le Pichon-Vorstman, E., and Siarova, H. (2017). Multilingual Education in the Light of Diversity: Lessons Learned. NESET II report, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union. doi: 10.2766/71255. 

Howard, E. and Sugarman, J. (2009). Program Models and the Language of Initial Literacy in Two-Way Immersion Programs. Center for Applied Linguistics. Retrieved from http://www.cal.org/twi/initialliteracy.pdf

International Baccalaureate Organization. (2004). Information on Language Use in the IB Diploma Programme English Courses. Retrieved from http://www.ibo.org/contentassets/599acfec42b94ad9a2e0a351fd7f02d5/engsupportdoc.pdf

Johnson, A. (2009). The Rise of English: The Language of Globalization in China and the European Union. Macalester International: Vol. 22, Art 12. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1447&context=macintl

Marsh, D. and Frigols Martín, M.J. (2012). Introduction: Content and Language Integrated Learning. Retrieved from https://www.unidue.de/imperia/md/content/appliedlinguisticsdidactics/lingon/marsh__frigols__clil_intro__ts_me.pdf

Marquet, M. (1997, June 26). Tendències Recents de la Política Lingüística a Andorra: Ensenyament i Usos Lingüístics. 151158. Retrieved from http://publicacions.iec.cat/repository/pdf/00000052/00000100.pdf

Mayans, P. (2015, May 1). La Llengua de l´ensenyament a Andorra. Retrieved from https://blocs.mesvilaweb.cat/pmayans/?p=268213

Micò, J. (2006). Els estudis De Sociolingüística a Andorra. Treballs de Sociolingüística Catalana. pp.269-290. Retrieved from http://www.raco.cat/index.php/TSC/article/view/249213/333546

Ministeri d´Educació i Ensenyament Superior. (2015, Sept). Informe de Plantejament Metodològic. Govern d´Andorra. Retrieved from  http://en.calameo.com/read/0010059478d1a4f5dc1d3

Pavón Vásquez, V. (2010). The Introduction of Multilingual Teaching in Andalucia: Heading Towards a Newly Proposed Methodology. Journal of Border Educational Research (8), 31-42. Retrieved from https://journals.tdl.org/jber/index.php/jber/article/download/7183/6428

Phillipson, R. (2003). English-Only Europe? Challenging Language Policy. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. London and New York. Retrieved from https://books.google.ad/books?id=9HiCAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=Business+Week++article+“The+Gr eat+English+Divide:+In+Europe,+Speaking+the+Lingua+Franca+separates+the+Haves+from+the+HaveNots.”&source=bl&ots=ofhGwnERIx&sig=hJ2ik8dB67aP00FjiqzVmwtN54c&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onep age&q=Business%20Week%20%20article%20“The%20Great%20English%20Divide%3A%20In%20Europe%2C %20Speaking%20the%20Lingua%20Franca%20separates%20the%20Haves%20from%20the%20HaveNots.”&f=false

Teba Fernández, E. (2017). Content and Language Integrated Learning [PowerPoint Slides and Lecture]. Retrieved from https://ucjc.blackboard.com/webapps/bb-collaborate-BBLEARN/list?course_id=_82269_1

Vez, J.M. (2009, June 12). Multilingual education in Europe: Policy Developments. Porta Linguarum (12), 7-24. Retrieved from http://www.ugr.es/~portalin/articulos/PL_numero12/1JM%20Vez.pdf