Students from municipal schools in Villarrica enjoyed an engaging English-language immersion experience through storytelling presentations that combined storytelling, songs, rhymes, movement, and various playful activities to introduce children to second-language learning.
The activity took place as part of the We Learn program, an initiative of the Oportunidad Foundation that has been implemented for the past four years in schools administered by the Villarrica Municipal Department of Education.
Currently, the program is active in 11 municipal schools in the district and serves more than 700 children, primarily from pre-kindergarten through the early years of elementary school, promoting early English language learning while simultaneously strengthening the skills of teachers and school administrators.
LEARNING ENGLISH FROM AN EARLY AGE
We Learn is a professional development initiative for teachers and administrators that aims to help improve the quality of English instruction from an early age, particularly in municipalities with a strong tourism industry, such as Villarrica.
Their proposal calls for ongoing support for teachers to strengthen their teaching practices, the provision of educational supplies and materials, as well as tools that promote an effective, student-centered, and motivating teaching-and-learning process.
Mónica León, technical advisor for the We Learn program, explained that one of its main goals is to introduce a second language from the earliest years of schooling. “English can be taught to young children through play, songs, and stories. All of this helps them develop language skills in a way similar to how they learn their mother tongue, but by incorporating a second language. Our goal is to strengthen teaching practices to provide new learning opportunities for our children,” she said.
STORYTELLING: LEARNING THROUGH STORIES, SONGS, AND MOVEMENT
As part of this project, storytelling presentations in English were held on Monday, August 24, led by María Francisca Kelly, a teacher, author, and creator of teaching methodologies.
About 150 students from the José Abelardo Núñez School, the Mariano Latorre School, the Alexander Graham Bell Bicentennial Arts High School, the Valentín Letelier School, and the Voipir School in Ñancul participated in the event.
The activity aimed to provide a meaningful language immersion experience, primarily for first-grade students, by exposing them to English through storytelling, thereby promoting listening comprehension, familiarity with the language, and a fun and motivating approach to learning.
Olga Pizarro, director of the We Learn program, emphasized that the methodology aims to bridge the gaps that still exist regarding early exposure to the English language. “We are focused primarily on what happens inside the classroom, promoting teaching practices that are effective for learning English from an early age,” she explained.
AN EXPERIENCE THAT MOTIVATES LEARNING
María Francisca Kelly, who led the sessions, particularly praised the students’ participation and enthusiasm during the presentations. “It was a tremendous honor to be with such engaged children. They answered some questions in English, sang, and were happy. Having a different kind of experience with the language also fosters their love for English,” she said.
In fact, one of the goals of the methodology is for students to perceive second-language learning as a relatable, enjoyable, and natural experience, building their confidence to listen, understand, and gradually express themselves in English.
FOUR YEARS OF STRENGTHENING MUNICIPAL EDUCATION
Psychologist Cecilia Villagrán, a representative of the Municipal Department of Education, highlighted the partnership that has enabled the program to be implemented in Villarrica’s educational communities over the past four years. “The We Learn program, run by Fundación Oportunidad, is carried out through an agreement with the Municipality of Villarrica and the Department of Education, which allows us to strengthen English language acquisition skills in our educational communities. We’ve been working with 11 of our schools for four years,” she noted. She added that the program not only provides direct support to students but also offers guidance to those responsible for teaching and leading educational processes. “There is support for the teachers who deliver this training and guidance for leadership teams so they can sustain the program in their educational communities. One of our greatest challenges as the Department of Education is to ensure that all the learning that has been consolidated over these four years can be sustained over time,” she emphasized.
IMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITIES
The progress achieved through the program is also valued by the schools themselves. Cecia Montalva, principal of the José Abelardo Núñez School, highlighted the change experienced by teachers, students, and families alike since the implementation of We Learn. “Being part of this program is a tremendous privilege. I’ve seen the impact it’s had on our teachers; there really is a before and after. Today they are more confident about incorporating and speaking English, and our parents have also rediscovered their enthusiasm for the possibility of their children learning the language from a young age,” she said.
In this way, the collaboration between the Villarrica Municipal Department of Education and the Oportunidad Foundation continues to strengthen early English instruction in the local public school system, providing new tools to teachers and school administrators and, above all, creating meaningful experiences that allow children to approach a second language in a natural, fun, and engaging way.