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Introduction:
"Step by Step" is the name of the pilot project of the Foundation. The project emphasizes English, the use of Information Technology, and teacher training in innovative, creative teaching methods.
English Projects
1. English classes from Pre-school through 11th grade
The children from pre-school through 5th grade currently have three hours a week of English class. We hope to increase their schedule to daily English classes in the near future. The secondary students have English class for 4 hours a week. English studies follow the National Standards recently issued by the Colombian government.
2. English Competition
English competitions are held in each grade to evaluate what has been learned during the previous school year. The winners take home prizes. Each year there is a different emphasis, such as grammar, spelling, conversation, etc.
3. English Song Festival
To emphasize creative learning, students learn to sing as well as speak English. Singing teaches memorization and pronunciation. Students also learn public speaking/performing skills and build their confidence.
4. English Short Story for Students
This activity seeks to get the students to begin writing in English. Students begin by studying basic verbs and progress to the rules of short story writing while increasing their vocabulary. In the end, students who have followed the process diligently can complete stories in English which they illustrate themselves.
5. English Classes for Teachers
The on-going training of teachers is an essential part of the process of transforming the school. Starting in 2005, all of the teachers attend one hour of English training weekly and one hour of training in Information Technology weekly.
6. English Club
The English Club is designed to provide extra practice in the language for students with a special interest in learning English. Information Technology Techniques on the computer are emphasized. The English Club enables students to practice what they have learned, especially oral communication.
7. English Short Story for Teachers
The teachers use this activity to practice what they are learning in their weekly English classes. It is another way of familiarizing them with the language and stimulating their creativity.
8. Increase of the number of classes of English:
In 2009, thanks to our volunteer native English-speaking teachers, we have increased the amount of English classes in the secondary school by two hours per week for each grade. Each grade of the secondary school attends an extra English class in the morning once per week.
In addition, the volunteer teachers have allowed us to divide the secondary grades into three groups for English class. The students are divided into these groups based on their current level of English. In smaller groups, the students have more opportunities to participate and practice their speaking. With groups divided based on ability, no student is left behind and no student is bored with a curriculum that is not sufficiently challenging.
9. Revision of the curriculum
During the second semester of 2009 and advised by the academic coordinator of the children’s program of the Colombo Americano Center in Medellín, English teachers of the Rural Educational Institution Marina Orth attended several directed activities to improve their techniques in educating English as a second language topics such as: class management, English clubs for Teachers, and redesigning of the curriculum were seen in order to implement improvements for the 2010.
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