Abstract:

The Regional Ministry of Education in the Region of Madrid started the Bilingual Programme in 2004 in 26 elementary and primary public schools. In this school year 2010/2011 there are 242 bilingual public schools, and 32 high schools have received the first students who did their primary education in the bilingual programme. More than 70000 students receive bilingual education this school year.

The Region of Madrid is making huge economical effort in allowing teachers who work in this programme to receive quality training in the best universities, in Madrid, Canada, United States and the United Kingdom. At the same time the Language Assistants Programme reinforces the students English language learning and offers great support to teachers. Almost 900 native Language Assistants are working in the schools of the Region.

At the same time the language level of the students is being assessed by prestigious external institutions such as Trinity College London and Cambridge University.

For the Region of Madrid Government the bilingual programme is a political priority in itself. Among its main aims are to offer a Spanish English bilingual education, a high quality English teaching and to guarantee Madrid students access to the labour and academic world in the best conditions.

My presentation will deal with the implementation and development of the programme in the Region of Madrid.

Keywords:

Bilingual, Madrid, Primary, Secondary, Programme.