The Anglo Mexican Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization located in Mexico. Its main activities are associated with English language teaching, examination preparation, teacher training, scholarships for teachers and cultural activities.[1] The Foundation began as the Instituto Anglo Mexicano de Cultura A.C. in 1943 with the aim of strengthening ties between Mexico and Great Britain through cultural exchange. The Foundation took on its current name in 2003, which was accompanied by a reorganization.[2] .[3]
Most of the instruction associated with the Foundation is through The Anglo school, which gives classes in the English language, standardized test preparation and teacher training.[4] English language teaching has been the most successful effort of the foundation with The Anglo operating for over forty years. Most of this success comes from the need for English in business.[2] .[5] These include in-house classes or general language and standardized test preparation and specialty courses for businesses. Teacher training and scholarship programs mainly focus on the development of Mexican national teachers of English. Programs offered to these teachers include The In-Service Teacher Training Course,” “The Teacher Training Course” and “The Teacher Development Course.”[4]
The school also is a testing center for a number of international examinations and certifications.[4] Tests include the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), most often taught to students looking to study abroad. Other tests offered include the Key English Test for the basic level, the Preliminary Test for intermediate, the First Certificate in English for advanced, the Certificate in Advanced English for specialized purposes and the highest levels of Certificate of Proficiency in English.[5]
In 1998, the Foundation established The Churchill School and The Churchill College. The School serves young students from kindergarten through primary/middle school. The College focuses on high school/preparatory students. These schools are bilingual with a British focus, supported by UNAM and the University of Cambridge. The school is a member of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) .[6][4]
Since 1943, the Foundation has supported cultural events with the purpose of strengthening ties between Mexico and Great Britain. These include music, theater, dance, visual arts, cinema and conferences. The Foundation also develops cultural materials for both its own and other schools, which occur both in Mexico and the United Kingdom.[4] The Foundation sponsors regularly occurring film events with a schedule available online.[7] Cultural and educational exchanges include representing the GAP Project in Mexico, .[4][2] and offering scholarships as part of the United World Colleges program. Selected candidates complete the sixth form studies in different places in the world.[4]
In 2010, the “An encounter with Bob Geldof” conference was held at the National Auditorium. Geldof was accompanied by José Areán, an internationally recognized Mexican musician.[8] Another event in the same year was the presentation of a compilation of letters written in the 19th century about Mexico by Scotswoman Fanny Calderón de la Barca. This was a joint event between the Foundation and the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes .[9]
In 2011, cultural offering include readings by Welsh writer Owen Sheers and recitals by pianist Ann Martin-Davis and mezzo-soprano Susan Legg. In collaboration with the Museo Nacional de Arte, the Foundation presents the documentary “No Distance Left to Run” by Will Lovelace and Dylan Southern.[10] With theatre magazine “Paso de Gato,” the Foundation sponsored an event dedicated to English theatre inviting critics such as Aleks Sierz of In-yer-face theatre, Scottish critic Mark Fisher and Michael Billington, a critic based in London. The event was dedicated analyzing British theatre since World War II .[11]