As part of its new cooperation programme with the English-speaking Caribbean, the Government of Spain will be sponsoring a seminar for Spanish Teachers´ Associations and Senior Education Officers responsible for foreign language training on New Strategies for the Teaching of Spanish as a Second Language. The seminar which is organised through the Latin American Economic System (SELA) working in close collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, will take place in Caracas, Venezuela, December 13-14, 2001.
The main objective of the seminar is to review and discuss ways in which the teaching of Spanish in Secondary schools, Colleges and Universities can be made more effective as well as programmes for the popularisation of Spanish within the English-Speaking Caribbean.
This is in keeping with the decision of CARICOM Heads of Government that priority should be given to the teaching of foreign languages as part of the Region´s strategy to achieve global competitiveness. As a follow up to that decision, the Ministerial Committee on Human and Social Development (COHSOD) at its meeting in 2000 agreed on the need for popularising Spanish outside of the walls of the regular class rooms, and in effect, bring Spanish to the people.
The Spain/CARICOM Cooperation Programme follows the signing of a cooperation agreement between Prime Minister of Spain, His Excellency José María Aznar and CARICOM Heads of Government in 1999 when the Spanish Prime Minister visited the Region.
Other activities planned under the cooperation programme with Spain include tourism and export development as well as a seminar for Fishers´ Associations on Fisheries Management and Biodiversity.
For further information on the seminar on the Teaching of Spanish as a Second Language please contact Dr. Carol Bishop at the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown or Maxine Harris at the SELA Secretariat in Caracas, Fax (22-58212) or 9515292.
