Bilingual Radio for Colombia

Bilingual Radio for Colombia (Bilingüismo Radial para Colombia) is a pilot project providing basic English skills to rural Colombian children. Through the program, EDC is helping Universidad del Norte (UniNorte) to develop and produce Interactive Radio Instruction programs for English as a Second Language and to train primary school teachers to use the programs.

UniNorte is producing 90 radio programs which use dramas, songs, games, and more to help students meet the most international standards for learning foreign languages. Rural teachers and students in grades 1 through 3 in the department of Boyacá and the city of Cartagena participate in the programs, with the potential for nationwide expansion in the future.

Recognizing that the tourism industry and international trade are major sources of economic activity in Colombia, the project offers young learners a strong start in English, which will give them the opportunity to prepare for a much broader range of careers in future years.