Knowing the different learning abilities of children and the different ways of teaching effectively according to these abilities, in addition to the use of songs and art that motivate them to speak and understand English, were some of the strategies that the attendees learned about. of the 4th International Seminar on English Teaching Expanding Opportunities, which was held with the collaboration of the University of La Serena.

One of the main economic activities of the IV Region is tourism, an area that generates the arrival of nearly 2 million tourists every year, of which 15% are English-speaking foreigners. This is why mastering English is so necessary and its teaching from the earliest years is essential to promote the appreciation of intercultural exchange.

In this context, for the first time in La Serena, the 4th International Expanding Opportunities English Teaching Seminar was held, which was held at the University of La Serena. The activity was a meeting point with teachers, school directors, heads of UTP, supporters, academics and students of pedagogy in English, who learned about innovative and successful teaching experiences to apply both at the classroom and school level. At the meeting, experiences of both teachers and directors were also presented, involving different establishments such as cultural or musical events, which even included the parents themselves.

The activity featured two prominent international speakers who led plenary sessions and four experts who gave educational talks and entertaining workshops. The talk “Effective use of songs in the English class” by Luciana Fernández, learning and reading consultant at National Geographic Learning, kept all attendees attentive and participating. “I hope there are more instances where teachers can get together, learn from others and not feel so alone. “I am very happy to have been part of this event,” said the presenter.

David Crabtree, professor at the University of Westminster in London, was another of the main speakers and shared with attendees some models of inclusive learning and their relationship with good practices in the classroom.

María Escobar, an English teacher at the Cardenal Caro school in Coquimbo, highlighted the level of both talks: “they were a very playful way of giving us knowledge,” she said, highlighting the Foundation's concern for the early teaching of English.

Additionally, poster presentations were carried out on successful experiences of teaching and learning processes of this language, by teachers from different regions of the country. Martina Garay, a teacher from the commune of Coinco, O'Higgins Region, was one of these panelists and she showed the plays that they have performed with her students in the commune. For her, this instance “is incredible and showing what we do in such small communities to other teachers is very motivating.”

In addition to the main presentations, attendees were able to participate in one of the four workshops that were held: “Storytelling”, “English through art”, “Cultural events in English and “Guidelines for the effective management of English at an institutional level”, all of them related to the axes of the seminar.

Fernando Castro is a graduate of Pedagogy in English from the University of La Serena and participated in the workshop “Guidelines for the effective management of English at an institutional level”, one of the most requested of the day and he considered it very good, “because in general "We always show what to do in the classroom, but this workshop sought to motivate management teams to work on English globally."  

Meanwhile, English teacher Katherine Galleguillos from the Abel Inostroza Gutiérrez school in Monte Águila, in the VIII Region, participated in the “English through art” workshop and stated that “I really liked this workshop, a very interesting idea that aims to teach from the littlest ones. The speakers were incredible and really give a boost to the pedagogy.”

During the opening ceremony of the seminar, the Dean(s) of the Faculty of Humanities of the ULS, Mg. Sandra Santander delivered her greetings and thanked her for the opportunity to be present at this important meeting. She also congratulated the alumni of the University of La Serena who currently work at the Foundation, highlighting the collaborative work that has been manifested between the state institution and the organization.

The seminar is organized for the fourth consecutive year by the Oportunidad Educational Foundation, which has been promoting early English teaching for 12 years through its We Learn program in the Elqui Valley. Marcela Marzolo, executive director of the Foundation, explained that “this year we wanted to invite participants to broaden their view in relation to the teaching of English, showing that this is not only the responsibility of the English teacher, but of the entire educational community. , who with very simple strategies can get involved in teaching this language. “It is not enough to have successful teachers, good practices must be installed, for which leaders play a fundamental role.”

Marzolo also highlighted the relationship they have with the ULS, which he considers vitally important because it is the entity that generates professionals who contribute to the fundamental task of the organization. “We have alumni working with our organization and they actively participate in 'We learn', a program that belongs to our Foundation and whose objective is to teach English in public schools,” he said.

The Oportunidad Educational Foundation activity was carried out in conjunction with the University of La Serena, with the collaboration of the British Council and National Geographic Learning and with the participation of Bukku Education, Grupo Educativo Inglesa, Colegio Cervantes and English Arts.