The English-Speaking Union (ESU) recently organized two workshops for English teachers in Puerto Montt, Chile, at the University Austral of Chile (UACh) campus. The workshops were focused on enhancing the pedagogical strategies of local English teachers. The initiative aimed to provide them with updated teaching methodologies and tools to improve English language education in the region. The event reflects the ongoing efforts of the ESU and UACh to support local educators and strengthen English language teaching in southern Chile.

Similar workshops can be arranged with us upon request. 

We provide below the write up by Universidad Austral, published on their website. You can read the original article in Spanish by CLICKING HERE.

“In the Auditorium of the Vice-Rectory at the Puerto Montt campus of the University Austral of Chile, the English Department of the Academic Directorate, in collaboration with the Primary Education Teaching program and the Community Outreach area, held two English workshops for about thirty English teachers from schools in Puerto Montt, as well as for students enrolled in the Primary Education Teaching program with specialisations.

The workshops were led by Lynnann Lovejoy, a representative of the English Speaking Union (ESU) in Chile, an organisation founded in Great Britain in 1918 that has promoted the development of English communication worldwide, including in Chile since 2006.

This year, the ESU expanded its activities to southern Chile, specifically to Puerto Montt, with the support of the University Austral of Chile, organising two competitions open to primary and secondary students from any school.

During the workshops, the American teacher detailed the steps for teachers to prepare their students for the competitions. The first workshop focused on the “Poetry Recitation Competition” for students aged 7 to 14, while the second was for the “Public Speaking Competition” for young people aged 15 to 19.

Students from British Patagonia School and Patagonia College participated in the workshops, assisting with demonstrations of the activities for each competition.

The event was streamed live on YouTube and is available for teachers who could not attend and are interested in participating.

Regarding the event, Marcelo Andrade, a teacher in the English department and one of the organisers, appreciated the initiative, stating, “This type of activity brings our campus closer to the work of English teachers in the area and how students are prepared to communicate in English, which is relevant since our University trains primary school teachers with a specialisation in English, who can adopt these methodologies in their future careers.”

Meanwhile, Albina Cifuentes, Coordinator of the English Area at UACh Puerto Montt, highlighted the value of supporting “the English teachers in the community and, through them, the students, which is a rare and valuable opportunity in the English field, making this activity significant. Additionally, the fact that the UACh Puerto Montt campus was chosen to initiate this partnership with the ESU is a unique opportunity for the university.”