English Opens Doors Program

The English Opens Doors Programme (Spanish language: Programa Inglés Abre Puertas Spanish pronunciation: [iŋˈɡles ˈaβɾe ˈpwertas]) is an initiative of the Chilean Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) to apply technical expertise and improve English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching, making it more accessible to Chilean people. The English Opens Doors programme was launched in 2003 and has been constantly supported since the first government of President Michelle Bachelet.

In 2014, the English Opens Doors Programme was transferred from the Curriculum and Evaluation Unit to the Division of General Education. This structural change reflects the Educational Reform of the second Bachelet government, as the Programme has been tasked with carrying out the English component of the reform and reaching 1000 schools over the course of Bachelet's term.

Sponsored by the United Nations Development Program and the English Opens Doors Program (EODP) of the Ministry of Education, the National Volunteer Center seeks native and near-native English speakers to work as English teaching assistants in public schools throughout Chile. The National Volunteer Center runs a fee-free volunteer program.

The full-time volunteer program began in 2004 with a pilot project consisting of 14 volunteers placed in the Antofagasta Region. The project was evaluated by the Adolfo Ibáñez University Business School. The number of volunteers has considerably extended, and the program now covers all regions of Chile, with the specific focus of benefiting socially-vulnerable school communities. The National Volunteer Center annually recruits approximately 200 - 300 international English speaking volunteers to work in partnership with Chilean English teachers, helping students develop their communicative English abilities through dynamic and game-based learning.

Since 2004, over 2,100 English-speaking volunteers have been assigned to schools in every region of Chile, including the islands of Rapa Nui, Chiloe, and more. Over 650 municipal and state-subsidised private establishments have benefited from the program.

Total immersion English camps take place during students' summer and winter holidays. Camps are designed to give Chilean public secondary school students the chance to practise English through interactive activities including role-playing exercises, group projects, and competitive games.

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