COLOMBIAN CONTEXT: CEFR.

NAME: LILIBETH OROZCO CERPA.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an
international standard. This was designed to provide a transparent, coherent and
comprehensive basis for the assessment of foreign language proficiency,
development of language study plans, design of teaching and learning materials.
Describes beginning, intermediate, or advanced language ability or on a six-point
scale, from A1 for beginners, to C2 for those who are fluent in one language. This
makes it easy for anyone involved in language teaching and assessment, such as
teachers or students, to see the level of different qualifications. This in turn helps
employers and educational institutions to learn about the applicant's level of
English.
The level of English in Colombia attracts more and more the attention of
academics, students and businessmen because the level of English is still low and
it is a pending task for Colombians because the figures are not encouraging and
require that educational institutions, companies and all Colombians contribute a
great effort to improve the current ones.
The country currently shows a critical figure in the world ranking according to the
EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) as it is ranked 77/100 countries and has a
“very low” level of proficiency.
This shows that the number of Colombians with minimal skills in the language is
small, almost non-existent, and this in turn reduces the competitiveness of the
country in the workplace and academia, which is of my personal interest.
Colombian youth and adults do not have communication tools to compete with
people from other countries due to their low knowledge of the English language.
It is fundamental and indispensable that educational institutions at all levels of
training give the teaching-learning process of English the position it deserves in
terms of endowment of resources and a lot of dedication. From there, children,
youth and adults will begin to learn English as a necessity and not as a
requirement, which is the important role of the language today.