Mexican Education Systems 102

English classes in Mexican public schools have only recently become part of the daily curriculum. Most English teachers only know the basics, such as numbers and the simplest vocabulary. Educators I have spoken to are acutely aware of the shortcomings of English teachers’ capabilities. Ideas that remedy the problem are many, but practical solutions are few.

Private schools abound in number and quality throughout Morelia as well as other cities in Mexico. Parents that can afford to send their children to a private school, do. Private bilingual schools offering dual-immersion programs in Spanish and English are especially popular, with teachers who have much higher levels of English proficiency.

In contrast, there are relatively few bilingual programs in the US, and school districts are phasing out many that still exist. The majority of bilingual programs that remain are intended for students who speak a language other than English; the goal isn’t necessarily bilingualism, but to transition students from their native language to English. In general, US students aren’t expected to start learning a foreign language until high school, when the optimal time to learn a language has already passed.