Journal
CEFR Journal - Research and Practice
Volume: CEFR Journal - Research and Practice Volume 8 (February 2026)
Date: 2026
Title: Implementation and impact of the CEFR in Costa Rica’s foreign language education system
Page: 93 - 104
Authors: Ana C. González-Ramírez (University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica), Walter Araya-Garita (University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica)
https://doi.org/10.37546/JALTSIG.CEFR8-11
NOT YET ACTIVATED
This article is open access and licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license.
Abstract: This article explores the implementation of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR; Council of Europe [CoE] 2001) and its impact on Costa Rica’s syllabus reform of the foreign language education system. Since its official adoption by MEP (Ministry of Public Education of Costa Rica) in 2016, the CEFR has guided curriculum reforms, shifting from traditional content-based teaching—focused on grammar and vocabulary—to a student-centered, communicative approach. Findings highlight improvements in students’ proficiency levels and teacher professional training, though challenges remain, such as unequal resource distribution and lesson-time constraints. The article underscores the need for systematic teacher training, ongoing policy adjustments, and implementation in higher education. Recommendations include increasing lesson time and data-driven resource allocation to enhance language education reach, particularly in underserved regions.
Keywords: CEFR, Costa Rica, English language learning, bilingual education, language testing
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(Update March 10th, 2026 MGS)
