ENGLISH TEACHING CURRICULUM

English teaching in Panama face a big challenge in the current government especially because of the poor English curriculum. Also for English classes characterized by the use of Spanish as a language of instruction in many schools in Panama which affects the learning and the students´ interest to acquire English as a second language.

This issue has been studied in many countries as for example, one study made by the University of Laos investigated the factors that causes low English language learning in students. Some of the findings included: the curriculum isn´t appropriate for help students improve their English proficiency, the use of their native language instead of English in their classes, the lack of interest in learn a new language and also inappropriate teachers preparation. These findings of University of Laos can be also be applied to Panamanian education because of the similarities that exist among these findings and the present reality.

However, since its approval in 2003 to the present, this law has never accomplished its original purpose that was, to increase the learning and use of English by students in Panama.

Panama is a country known for the service that it provides through the Panama Canal to the International commerce and where the amount of foreign companies has been growing in the last yearsncreasing the necessity of bilingual employers that can fill the different positions that is required by them. However, the reality is that the lack of bilingual people is big.

Through the last seventeen years, I have experience to see the lack of interest and motivation of many students in learning English because, much of their previous teachers used more Spanish in class than English, due to the poor curriculum that exists at present. It shows, how it is affecting the acquisition of the language or the students’ interest to learn this as it should be. It is probably the main problem that affect the English learning in public schools in Panama.

The English curriculum is the main part in any teaching process and that is the reason why it is fundamental that it must be focus in complement or the necessities of the students in order to prepare them to be competitive, on contrary it isn’t good.

One of the main changes must be done in order to improve this problem is the review and also transformation of the curriculum that is currently used. Also, going back to the basics, adding English as a mandatory subject since kinder garden because, at present it is not like that and, it is in the childhood when a second language can be acquired in an easy and better way.

Secondly, teachers who are the most important part in this process also need training and motivation by part of the government. It should start a program to supply schools with more resources to help teachers and students in the learning process.

Government commitment is a basic tool to reach this goals because something that it is a main concern, “Education is the door that give people a better life” and speak English is the one that give opportunities in any area to those who want to become successful in life.

Finally, changes are not easy in any area but, sometimes are necessary to improve and reach goals; increasing the acquisition of English as a second language and change the face of a country like Panama where the bilingualism is not just important but necessary.