Challenges and experiences in teaching English as a foreign language: Reflections from didactic experiences in Ecuador

The purpose of this study involves discussing the didactics of English language teaching, in connection with strengthening conditions that promote the importance of this language as a fundamental competency for students and professionals in developing their career profiles. This is approached through reflection and experiential experience from the applicability of educational materials, using a playful approach, based on the Pick Up the Idea methodology. Employing a qualitative approach, within a documentary design, a bibliographic review was conducted, using an analytical matrix as the basis for the content analysis present throughout the study. In accordance with these premises, legal contexts and relevant theories are examined. The findings highlight a critical perspective towards the traditional model of language teaching, especially regarding grammatical instruction. This approach has long dominated second language teaching methods, focusing primarily on structural accuracy and linguistic rules as the basis for language acquisition. However, there are currents that propose a revision and expansion of this approach to include a broader range of competencies and knowledge that are significant for effective communication.