LANGUAGE POLICIES IN COLOMBIA: WHICH FACTORS DO INFLUENCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE POLICIES IN COLOMBIA? Aura Viviana Díaz Guzmán Lubin Franco Master in English Didactics

The discipline of language planning has been defined as systematic, future-oriented change in language code (corpus planning), use (status planning), learning and speaking (language-in-education planning) and/or language promotion (prestige planning) undertaken by some authoritative organisation –most frequently by governments, but increasingly by other organisations –with some community of speakers. Baldauf, 2012, p. 234

THE NATIONAL BILINGUAL PROGRAM - COLOMBIA OBJECTIVES To have citizens able to communicate in English with international standards with which we can insert to the country in the processes of the universal communication, global communication and cultural openning.

The vision of increased productivity in a globalized world The use of new information and communication technologies knowledge and scientific development The imitation of European, British and American education models Better international and national opportunities Professional development: to fulfil university requirements; other key drivers are employability Commercial exchange The influence of international organizations: BRITISH COUNCIL, AMERICAN LANGUAGE INSTITUTE, Institutions of Education, etc. DIFFERENT FACTORS

S UPRA NATIONAL UNIONS The scope of language planning and policy Supra- national unions: As international allegiances and multinational agreements emerge, new economic and political blocks emerge (the EU or Mercosur). Then: How many members does the supra- state polity have? What languages do they speak? What languages are used in meetings? In what languages are documents published?

THE HIERARCHY OF LANGUAGE The ´elite´ bilingualism, and the bilingualism of the indigenous communities and the speakers of Creole languages. There is a direct correlation between English language proficiency and educational attainment, private schooling, income and occupation. Colombians who have not learned English attribute this to the cost and a lack of access; however, they would undertake study to improve their employability and quality of life or to travel abroad. Colombian employers recognize English as the universal language of business and globalization and an essential tool for communicating with clients.

COLOMBIAN CONTEXT T.L.C: Tratado de Libre Comercio External debt Strong Relations with U.S.A and British government Plan Colombia

C OLOMBIAN LANGUAGE POLICIES The Engish Syllabus The COFE Project General Law of Education Curricular Guidelines for foreign language PROGRAMA NACIONAL DE BILINGUISMO ESTÀNDARES DE INGLÈS COMO LENGUA EXTRANJERA

STRATEGIES TO ATTAIN THIS AIM “Fellowship program” Bunny Bonita Speak very well I Speak Sena sofia plus

ASPECTS TO REFLECT the imposition in the Colombian context of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, the disregard of local knowledge and expertise in informing glocal perspectives, as well as the exclusion of other types of bilingualism (in other foreign languages and in the indigenous and Creole languages spoken in the country). How to face different forms of bilingualism and multilingualism present in the country in order to language policies. There is currently no national or standardized curriculum. The homogenization of education. At various times minority languages have either been promoted or banned in schools, as politicians have either sought to promote a minority language with a view to strengthening the cultural identity of its speakers

«…el hecho es que los políticos, no muy sofisticados en asuntos lingüísticos, son quienes toman las decisiones, y las toman en gran medida de acuerdo a sus propias e individuales lealtades lingüísticas» (Kaplan, 1992, p. 151)

CURRENT ISSUES The internationalization of English Exclusion and inequality through language The death of languages Intercultural communication