English Instruction to be Improved in Costa Rica.

Of all the countries of Central America, Costa Rica is on top in regard to call centers and industrial parks. Intel was what really tipped the balance upon its arrival in 1997. Today it is the largest electronic components manufacturer in the entire world. Making products here and exporting them to countries such as China has proven to be a great success.

Thanks to Intel, Costa Rica was able to position itself in the industry of high-technology products. Microchips are no longer just assembled here, they are also designed: 100 out of 3400 workers work in design within the company. Other companies have since followed including IT bigwig HP, which also has a large call center in the company.

Overall, the success of call centers here is overwhelming. New offices are popping up like mushrooms around the Central Valley. What is a call center exactly? It is simply a large telephone receiving station, giving voice-based support to the customers of various companies and corporations. Toll-free lines link the customers to the help and support that they need as well as relevant information. The call center handles all parts of inquiries for its clients, including orders and complaints. Trained bilingual consultants, together with adequate technology, aim to provide customers with product and service satisfaction.

However, only 10% of Costa Ricans can hold a conversation in English. Why?
President Oscar Arias launched a new national plan to improve the teaching of English in this country. While signing the decree Arias proclaimed that he would create a multilingual population, giving this plan the name of “Costa Rica Multilingue”.

This can actually lead to confusion, as the plan’s only objective is to create a more bilingual working force. Public schools do teach English in Costa Rica but the level is so low that by the time they leave school, students can barely put two words together in the language.

The government plans to have at least 35,000 bilingual speakers by 2010, with a minimum of 5000 reaching the C1 level, which would indicate that they can speak the language fluently. By 2017, all graduates should excel at English, with at least 25 percent of those reaching the C1 level.

It is estimated that so far some 40,000 ticos are employed by companies which are outsourced and where English is the only language spoken. If Costa Rica wants to keep its place in the rat race, it had better get its act together and provide children with a higher level of education, with teachers better prepared and qualified for the task.

Will Arias keep his promises? It is not unusual to hear of schools with missing desks, chairs and boards, with no bathroom facilities and with leaking ceilings. When looked at it from this point, it certainly seems like there is still so much to do. And what about the isolated groups, the out of the way schools? Will they benefit too with this new plan, or will it only serve the central valley, where most foreign investment settles and a bilingual force is most needed? It is the country as a whole that needs to grow, not just the Central Valley.

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on March 12th, 2008