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During the course of the academic year 2004-2005, 26 state primary schools in the Comunidad

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de Madrid embarked upon a bilingual Spanish-English program. At the beginning of 2005-2006, 54

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new schools were incorporated into the same program, and during 2006-2007, another 42

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schools will follow suit. This year, we'll see the fulfillment of the implantation program

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of 122 state schools in the area, all of which will impart at least one-third of their

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subject matter in English.

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Can you tell everyone?

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Today is Friday.

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And tomorrow will be?

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And tomorrow will be Friday.

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Good.

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This program is not only unique to Spain, but also to a great many European countries.

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Amongst their objectives, these bilingual schools propose to help their pupils throughout their

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primary education develop an adequate command of both spoken and written English and Spanish.

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Pupils should not only be able to recognize the different possible expressive styles in

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both languages, but also should acquire enough communicative competence in English to be

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able to interact naturally in everyday situations.

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Now, Nerea, what questions did you ask Alejandro to know the animal, to guess the animal?

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Is it a big animal?

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Is it a big animal, Alejandro?

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Yes.

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So, animal?

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Yes.

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The bilingual schools of the Comunidad de Madrid are in the process of developing a quality

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bilingual curricula, the results of which can be evaluated and homologized throughout

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the European community.

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From kindergarten onwards, the pupils begin to slowly acquire an excellent grounding in

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both the English and Spanish languages.

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The pupils of these centers receive daily tuition in English, Spanish and Mathematics.

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Furthermore, they have additional conversation practice with native language assistants and

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are also able to carry out interchanges with children from their British twinned school.

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At the end of the first cycle, the pupils should be able to hold a simple conversation

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in English.

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They will be introduced to the skills of reading and writing, both of which will be reinforced

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during the second cycle.

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Over the last two years of their primary education, the pupils will develop and perfect all of

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the communicative competences.

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The content of those courses taught in English throughout the primary education period will

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enable the pupils to obtain certificates recognized at a European level.

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I'm not eight years old.

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I'm eight years old, good.

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And when is your birthday?

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The 7th of January.

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7th of January, ok.

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And how old are you, Ruben?

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I'm eight years old.

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Very good.

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And when is your birthday?

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24th of February.

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24th of February, good.

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The Comunidad de Madrid's bilingual school program is an ambitious one in which the Consejería

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de Educación is determined to succeed.

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However, it recognizes that such successes can only be achieved through the cooperation,

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dedication and effort of teachers, parents and pupils alike.

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While parents may sometimes have difficulty in helping their children with homework assignments,

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monitoring their daily progress or maintaining contact with teachers, such obligations are

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undoubtedly vital if the students are to benefit fully from a bilingual education.