Introduction

For Mexican IT professionals with advanced English skills, the journey of language learning can be both exciting and challenging. Many of you may find it difficult to continue progressing in your language proficiency when you take traditional group classes that ignore your personal and professional needs.

Utter Frustration: A Personal Anecdote

As someone who has experienced language learning firsthand, I can relate to the frustration that can come when language teaching methods ignore the student's needs, interests, and cultural context.

Not too long ago, I found myself in a language class in Milan, assigned to discuss Princess Kate's wedding dress with a group of men who could care less about her dress. We all just stared at each other blankly until I asked the obvious question: Could we have discussed this topic in our own languages?

The answer: an obvious no. The class had missed the mark by ignoring the student’s interests or needs. It didn’t even take advantage of the fact that they may have been able to teach us something relevant to our location.

In addition, I often found myself listening to complicated grammatical and vocabulary explanations, only to realize that I would have understood the concepts much faster if the teacher could have explained how Italian was similar or different from one of the three language I knew before taking the class: English, French, and Spanish.

The Merits and Shortcomings of Language Teaching Methods

I see proof that the methods used in Mexican private High School work fairly well every day with my students. My students are quite proficient in English, but I can see how these methods are no longer necessary for my students to advance. Why?

The Traditional Class Waste Time on Irrelevant Topics: Like my experience in Milan, you may find yourselves grappling with conversations and exercises that have little real-world application in your IT careers or lives. You may also find out that you could save time and frustration learning complex vocabulary and grammatical concept in English, only to realize that they were easier to understand in Spanish.

Ignoring Cultural and Societal Context: Certain language teaching methods often overlook teaching about the culture and society of the countries where the language is spoken. This omission can leave learners without the insights needed to navigate social interactions and the nuances of language in different professional and cultural contexts.

A More Effective Language Learning Approach for Mexican IT Professionals

To cater to the needs of Mexican IT professionals with advanced English skills, a shift in language instruction is essential. Here's how we can create a more effective language learning experience:

Practical Relevance: Language classes should prioritize real-life situations, ensuring that Mexican IT professionals can apply what they learn in their daily professional and social lives.

Cultural and Societal Understanding: A holistic language learning experience should encompass the culture and society of English-speaking countries, focusing on how these aspects relate to the professional world.

Incorporate Spanish into the Class When Necessary: My students often learn new vocabulary quicker when the words are translated into Spanish. In addition, I have had many students understand difficult grammatical concepts more quickly when we discuss how a grammatical concept is similar or different from Spanish.

A Call to Action

As Mexican IT professionals with advanced English skills, it's essential to share your experiences and thoughts on this topic. Have you encountered similar frustrations in your language learning journey? What approaches have worked best for you in your professional context? Your comments and insights are invaluable in shaping the future of language education for Mexican IT professionals.

As an educator, I also spend a significant amount of time designing classes that are based on everyday English used in the US and Canada.

My commitment is to ensure that every hour of my students' time, especially Mexican IT professionals, is spent learning something relevant to their professional needs. It's time to reshape language education to meet the demands of the real world, and I encourage you to join the conversation and share your perspectives. Together, we can create a more effective and fulfilling language learning experience for Mexican IT professionals and professionals worldwide.