The Development of the English Language Teaching in the High Schools of Ecuador during the last two decades

Resumen

Before the year 1912, the English Language Teaching in high schools of Ecuador was completely strange.  It was after that year that this language started to be taught in many schools of this country.  It became mandatory all over in Ecuador in 1950, under the government of Galo Plaza Lasso.  At first, there were fewer hours of English teaching and there were not enough English teachers, but with the course of time, this situation changed favorably.  Twenty years ago, the English Language Teaching in Ecuador improved thanks to the project CLADLE, implemented by the Ministry of Education of Ecuador.  Later on, the education experienced positive changes when Rafael Correa became the new president of Ecuador in 2007.  His government also made some changes regarding teacher and student rights.  Now English teachers have to take a TOEFL test and get a B2 level certificate or higher.  Fortunately, over the last twenty years, the English Language Teaching in Ecuador has gradually developed, to such an extent that it is now taught in every school, either public, private or parochial schools.