Santo Domingo, Wednesday, November 15, 2023 – The Embassy of the United States and the Dominican-American University (UNICDA), through its professional development center, the Teacher Development Center (TDC), inaugurated the Annual Conference for English Teachers, with the theme “A Powerful Synergy in English Language Teaching.” The opening ceremony was attended by teachers from various public and private educational institutions across the country.

The inauguration was led by the Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the United States Embassy, Bryan Larson; the Executive Director of the National Institute of Teacher Training (INAFOCAM), Andrés de las Mercedes; the Vice Minister of Education, Jorge Adalberto Martínez; the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Instituto Cultural Domínico Americano, Lucy Threan de Lamarche; and the Executive Director of ICDA and Rector of UNICDA, Eng. Ramón Sosa.

During her welcoming remarks, Mrs. Lucy Threan de Lamarche stated that this event “acts as a catalyst for excellence, fostering an environment where teachers can perfect their craft and inspire the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and communicators.”

The opening plenary session was delivered by Ricardo Azarcoya, a National Geographic explorer, and Mary Scholl, founder and member of the Institute for Collaborative Learning in Costa Rica.

The conference also included various workshops and concurrent sessions presented by national and international expert speakers, covering topics related to creating synergy in English language teaching to optimize learning.

Over the past year and a half, the Embassy of the United States, in collaboration with the Dominican-American University and its Teacher Development Center, has trained more than 1,500 English teachers nationwide in English language instruction, focusing on communicative approaches, evaluation, and reflective teaching practices. Additionally, a teaching support guide for English teachers titled “American English Guide” was created, featuring lessons tailored for each function of the national curriculum.