I learned that one of the primary differences between public and private schools in Colombia is how much English is taught. Students in private schools begin learning English very early on during their elementary school years. They also receive many more hours of English instruction at school. Volunteers are placed in public schools to try to address this inequity and balance the playing field.
The main reason that community members are interested in learning English is to improve their work opportunities. Knowing English leads to more opportunities and a greater variety of jobs. For example, one is more likely to get a job working for an international company if one knows English. It also opens up a variety of jobs in the tourism industry. Tourism has increased in Colombia in recent years, and the government is actively promoting this growth. When places can advertise that their employees speak English, they are more likely to get international visitors.
Students are also interested in learning English to improve their I.C.F.E.S. (Instituto Colombiano para la Evaluación de la Educación) Saber 11 test scores. Saber 11 is similar to the S.A.T. in the U.S. It is an exam that students take in their senior year of high school. This test, however, is by far the most important metric to determine if students are able to go to a public college and where they will be admitted. One of the sections tests their English level. Learning English is important for students who want to go to college.
Finally, others are interested in learning English to connect with others. Some want to just learn about a different culture or are interested in American pop culture.
