A few months ago, a statistic raised alarms: 79% of secondary school students in Mexico have no proficiency in English, according to the study “Sorry: Learning English in Mexico,” conducted by the organization Mexicanos Primero. Adding to this picture is the finding of a national study by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the country’s largest public university, which revealed that less than 50% of undergraduate graduates are proficient in English. These figures reflect a persistent educational gap and an urgent challenge for competitiveness and professional development in Mexico.
This is especially concerning given Mexico’s geographical proximity and strong economic, commercial, and cultural ties with the United States, the world’s leading English-speaking country.
It’s worth pausing to reflect on what these figures mean beyond the academic realm. Because when we talk about children who don’t have access to a second language, we’re also talking about opportunities that are lost before they even begin. In a globalized world where English has become a key tool for connection, knowledge, and development, not mastering it often means starting from a disadvantage.
Learning English from childhood has gone from being a bonus to a necessity. It impacts not only academic development but also social, cognitive, and emotional skills. A child who learns a second language acquires new words and ways of thinking, communicating, and relating to the world.
The challenge isn’t just incorporating English at an early age, but doing so effectively and in accordance with new learning styles. Today, children are exposed to digital content from a very young age, which has transformed how they engage with knowledge. In this context, traditional memorization-based methodologies have been superseded by more dynamic approaches, where play, interaction, and experience take center stage.
When learning is fun, children engage naturally and lose their fear of making mistakes. This is key to developing confidence and fluency in a second language. There are English holiday courses where the approach is completely different from traditional programs. Rather than focusing exclusively on raising language proficiency, these programs are designed for children and teenagers to have fun, connect with others, and learn naturally, using English as a tool for interaction. Through playful activities and group exercises, the language is experienced in a real and relatable context, where the most important aspects are peer communication, participation, and the confidence to express oneself, making learning a meaningful and enjoyable experience.
Added to this is the importance of creating immersive language experiences from an early age, where continuous exposure facilitates the development of proper pronunciation and greater fluency. These approaches, adapted to different ages and learning styles, aim to make the process natural, dynamic, and meaningful, integrating both in-person sessions and digital tools with live support.
This also implies a shift in the role of adults. Rather than pressuring for results, it’s about supporting and integrating the language into daily life through songs, stories, games, or even well-chosen digital content. Consistency, exposure, and playful learning are now key factors for achieving real progress.
Gradual Changes in the Gap
Despite the existing gap, positive signs are beginning to emerge. In 2025, Berlitz Mexico recorded a 10% increase in enrollments for children compared to 2024, reflecting a growing interest among families in incorporating English learning as part of their children’s holistic development.
This change is significant considering Mexico’s geographic, economic, and cultural proximity to the United States, one of the world’s leading English-speaking countries. In this context, strengthening language learning from childhood not only broadens individual horizons but also emerges as a national necessity.
Because, ultimately, talking about English in childhood is talking about equal opportunities. It’s about asking ourselves what tools we are giving children today to help them thrive tomorrow. And in that reflection, language ceases to be just another subject, becoming a key that can open—or close—many doors throughout life.
By: Alejandro Martín del Campo, Marketing Director of Berlitz Mexico, a center with 148 years of global experience in language teaching, operating in more than 70 countries.
