The United States Embassy and the Domínico Americano University (UNICDA), through its Teacher Development Center (TDC), inaugurated the 2025 Annual English Teachers Conference, an academic gathering that fosters innovation, reflection, and the exchange of best practices in English language teaching.

With the theme “SMART Teaching in ELT: Strategies for Effective Teaching Practices”, the conference seeks to strengthen teachers’ pedagogical competencies through an approach that integrates five essential dimensions: Strategic teaching, Measurable learning assessment, Adaptive methodologies, Contextual relevance, and the use of Educational technology.

The opening ceremony was led by Chelsia Hetrick, Public Affairs Counselor of the United States Embassy in Santo Domingo, and Darys Estrella, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Instituto Cultural Domínico Americano, together with distinguished authorities from the Ministry of Education (MINERD), the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (MESCYT), and the National Institute for Teacher Training and Development (INAFOCAM).

In her welcoming remarks, Ms. Estrella emphasized that “learning English has been, since the origins of our institution, a tool for connecting cultures, a path to professional growth, and a bridge to a world of greater opportunities. This conference celebrates the vocation of those who make this transformative process possible: the teachers.” For her part, Chelsia Hetrick affirmed that the United States Embassy continues to support the community of English teachers in the Dominican Republic with training, resources, and professional networks such as this one. She also highlighted that turning pedagogical intent into processes and results is key to advancing toward teaching that is more strategic, measurable, adaptive, relevant, and technological.

The opening plenary session was delivered by Dr. Marvin Cardoza, an economist with expertise in macroeconomics, taxation, and labor, who addressed the impact of the English Immersion Program on the competitiveness of the Dominican Republic. Other plenary speakers include Dr. Joan Kang Shin and Brenda Pineda, experts in pedagogical innovation and technology applied to language learning.

The three-day program —from November 13 to 15— combines virtual and in-person sessions, including workshops, lectures, presentations, and spaces for exchange among educators from across the country. The Saturday, November 15 program featured more than 20 simultaneous sessions at the Catalonia Hotel Convention Center.

Through this conference, the Domínico Americano University reaffirms its commitment to contributing to teacher professionalization and the continuous improvement of English language teaching in the Dominican Republic, strengthening the institutional mission of the Instituto Cultural Domínico Americano as a binational benchmark of educational excellence and cultural cooperation.