Monitoring a case study of the level of English and the degree of awareness of the group of high academic performance

During the academic year 2010/2011, the Department of Education of the Valencian Government promoted an academic teaching program focus on the use of English as a medium of instruction for outstanding students. This program was articulated through the creation of High Academic Performance groups (‘Alto Rendimiento Academico’, ARA groups) in most of the Valencian Public Universities. The objective of this work was to assess the degree of awareness regarding the existence/way to work of the ARA groups of both teachers and students belonging to different degrees of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Alicante, in which there is an ARA group in the degree of Biology. Furthermore, they were aimed to be aware of the different English levels between the degrees surveyed and if there are differences over the years, besides others aspects as the advantages of belonging to ARA groups, among others. Our results indicate that the level of English of the students has increased with respect to the last year in all groups and the ARA group still has the highest level. Finally, the degree of awareness has not changed almost anything, so improving the visibility and dissemination of ARA groups is still necessary. These types of monitoring studies are necessary and prior step to define strategies to increase the awareness and promotion of ARA groups.