English in Guatemala: The Use and Implementation of Duolingo in a Bilingual and Intercultural Curriculum

• In Event: Roundtable Session 47
  In Roundtable Session: Liberal Studies and Citizenship Education: Hong Kong, Guatemala, New Zealand, and the United States

Abstract

In 2014, Guatemalan born Luis von Ahn, founder of the language learning app Duolingo, partnered with the Guatemala Ministry of Education to include Duolingo as part of the teaching of English curriculum. This paper stems from a ethnographic study in a bilingual and intercultural escuela normal in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.. At the time of my study, the school unveiled its computer lab, and began the first use of Duolingo in its curriculum. In addition to contextualizing the school setting and environment, this presentation will share data results for the Duolingo unit in the L3, English, courses: how Duolingo was introduced, how it was used and how students interacted with the app, and the impact it has had.

Author

• Lydia A Saravia, University of Illinois at Chicago