Sociocultural characteristics through the experiences of students and teachers of the Kamëntŝá indigenous community in bilingual learning environments in the Putumayo

Abstract

One of the most essential characteristics of Colombia is its diversity in which different cultures can be found. For this reason, the government has tried to promote the preservation of cultures through Law 115. The present research paper refers to a study about bilingualism presented in an indigenous community in the southwest of Colombia: The Kamëntŝá community, located in Sibundoy Valley, Putumayo, which has its own language, territory, and costumes. The objective of this research is to determine (Interpret) the language teaching and learning experiences of a group of teachers and eleventh-grade students immersed in a bilingual learning environment at the Institución Educativa bilingüe rural artesanal Kamëntŝá in the region of Putumayo. Initially, a theoretical review is made of the definition of the concept of bilingualism, and interculturality among others. The research is developed taking into account the qualitative approach because this is a phenomenological study based on the lived experience of individuals. The results are obtained from the interviews and narrative frames that both teachers and students did during the research