The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso has announced the beginning of the second cycle of English, developed by the General Directorate of International Affairs in collaboration with the English as a Foreign Language Program (PILE) of the Academic Vice Rectory (VRA) of that university. The main objective of this program is to strengthen the language skills of the university community for more effective communication in a globalized environment. The importance of this lies in the fact that, in a university context, language cannot be a limiting factor, so it is important for the purpose of internationalization of the PUCV that students, professors and administrative staff can communicate better in English and enrich themselves with the possibilities that knowing another language opens up.
The "PUCV2English" classes were conducted in face-to-face mode. Students, academics and administrative and management staff will have at their disposal a team of highly qualified teachers, as well as updated teaching materials and a practical approach that promotes meaningful learning.
In this context, Daniella Guerra, associate professor of the PILE PUCV Program, explains that it seeks to "reinforce previous knowledge of the language, integrating all the skills, in order to strengthen not only the knowledge, but also the confidence to face international professional challenges in the future". This is an initiative in which the university invests in the development of the personal and professional skills of its members with the firm purpose of promoting internationalization and being in a better condition to serve a globalized society.
At the end of the semester, students, academics and administrative staff can opt for the B2 First certification, which is one of the best known of the University of Cambridge and accepted worldwide by thousands of companies and educational institutions. This is thanks to the fact that the PUCV is an Internal Certification Examination Center of the British institution. "Today, English is not only useful for English-speaking countries, but for the whole world and a certification is required to prove it. So, with this English program, we at the International Affairs Department want to provide all the opportunities that may exist for the PUCV community," says Daniella Guerra. Ivania Yáñez, director of PUCV International Exchange, agrees, pointing out that the main objective of this program is to "reduce the English language barrier, which we have seen is an important factor when carrying out activities abroad and which limits the possibilities of choosing different destinations". He adds that these courses have been "designed to provide tools in obtaining the language, which will allow members of the PUCV community not only to participate in academic and professional opportunities at an international level, but also to contribute to strengthen mobility and global integration".
