Abstract
While learning is an ongoing process, it is subject to specific educational policies and curricular frameworks in schools. The objective of this research is to explore administrators’ and teachers’ perceptions of language policies and programs related to the teaching and learning of English as a foreign language in Mexican public primary schools. The significance of this undertaking lies in its capacity to inform policy makers and educators in the design, implementation, and evaluation of language policies, curricula, and teaching strategies that contribute to the enhancement of language learning in educational institutions. Our investigation, situated within the fields of policy and second language learning, employs a qualitative methodology, framed within a phenomenological approach, that incorporates documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews as data collection techniques. The results of a pilot study have revealed significant discrepancies between policy rhetoric and operational realities, highlighting key findings such as inequities in resource allocation, programmatic discontinuity, limitations in teacher training, and the recognition of linguistic hierarchies. These findings suggest that the implementation of language policy in Mexico is hampered by structural contradictions that require a profound reconceptualization. Effective reforms require the formulation of policies that are responsive to local needs; the active involvement of educators in the design and evaluation of policies, curriculum, and teaching strategies; and the equitable distribution of resources to ensure effective implementation. Addressing these issues demands systemic change rather than superficial adjustments, with an emphasis on structural equity, recognition of linguistic and cultural diversity, and teacher training adapted to contextual realities.
Presenters
Martha ValenzuelaStudent, Doctoral Student, University of Sonora, Sonora, Mexico Jose Luis Ramirez Romero
Professor, Foreign Languages, University of Sonora, Sonora, Mexico Juan Pablo Durand
University of Sonora
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Educational Organization and Leadership
KEYWORDS
POLICY, LANGUAGE, SECOND OR FOREIGN LANGUAGES, ENGLISH, PRIMARY EDUCATION, MEXICO
