Since 2013, the Faculty of Engineering of Universidad del Valle has been making a strong commitment to the English language as a mechanism to strengthen the skills of our students and offer them tools to improve, refine and put into practice their skills in a second language. In addition, within the proposals of the Faculty Development Plan 2018-2025, a high value is given to the multilingualism program, not only in English but also in French, German and Portuguese. However, to achieve the goals it is necessary to define and promote aggressive strategies to improve communication skills in these languages. This commitment has been led by the Continuous Improvement Program of the Academic Vice-Deanship of the faculty.
How have students responded to the different proposals for the improvement of English skills?
The university community has always shown a positive attitude towards this type of activities because they feel the need to improve their communication skills in the foreign language. In addition, it is important in their personal development and in their performance in the labor, professional and social fields. Knowing the foreign language gives many advantages when applying for a job, a postgraduate degree in Colombia or abroad. Through these activities of reinforcement of the foreign language, our students feel motivated to advance in their learning and to make incursions into information and communication in English.
Why is it important to strengthen our students' English skills?
Nowadays, this language is the most used worldwide due to globalization, which allows the creation of links with people from other countries through the Internet, with academic, commercial or social interests. The main reason for this is to develop all the language skills: speaking, listening, writing and reading. With these skills our students will be able to face an increasingly competitive world.
Let's talk about the Saber Pro tests in English, what is their impact and importance?
The English component aims to evaluate students' reading proficiency in English. The test includes graphic and written texts to evaluate interpretative and argumentative competencies. The test measures the ability to deduce vocabulary from the text, as well as the use of cohesive elements such as contextual references and logical connectors. Likewise, the student must make inferences from the information presented explicitly or implicitly.
In order to provide students with the opportunity to take the English test, the PMC of the School of Engineering has been conducting a series of virtual exams for students in Cali and Zarzal for several semesters.
At the moment, there are simulations that students can take in order to know the type of exam they will encounter in the real test. In addition to this, video and listening activities are being designed to strengthen listening skills.
But we want to go beyond the English test. This semester, with the support of a Systems Engineering student, we have designed the training camp for specific tests in Mechanical Engineering and Systems Engineering. In addition, the reading comprehension test has been developed.
We hope that the results of this proposal will be reflected in a better performance of our students in the test.
