Enhancing Bilingual Education in Ecuador: Evaluating the Impact of Two Immersion Programs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61616/rvdc.v6i2.661Palavras-chave:
bilingual education, Ecuador, Two-Way Immersion, EFL, language policyResumo
This paper explores the benefits of implementing two immersion programs in Ecuador to improve English language proficiency among students. Despite national mandates requiring English instruction and professional development standards for teachers, Ecuador ranks low on global English proficiency indices. Traditional instruction has failed to foster bilingual competence, highlighting the need for more effective models. Two-Way Immersion (TWI) programs provide a promising alternative by integrating language learning with academic content across both English and Spanish. This study reviews key literature on the cognitive, academic, linguistic, and socio-affective benefits of TWI, and proposes a framework for implementing these programs in Ecuador. It also discusses the instructional strategies necessary for success and presents a critical reflection on the potential for bilingual education to contribute to educational equity, global citizenship, and intercultural understanding. The paper concludes with recommendations for policymakers and educators to adopt and sustain these programs.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Gabriela Villavicencio Gordon , David Enrique Montenegro Montenegro
Este trabalho está licenciado sob uma licença Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
