Chele sets first international TESOL conference in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu Hub for English Learning Excellence (Chele) has organized a conference that will help enhance the skills of professionals who have good command of the English language for them to join this new promising career that awaits them.

The 1st Cebu International TESOL (teachers of English to speakers of other languages) conference that will be held at the Cebu International Convention Center from August 12-14 is an event organized most especially for English teachers, students, unemployed graduates, call center employees and others with good English proficiency who want to be accredited as English teachers and tutors to foreign students or open a language center

"Cebu is sitting on a gold mine. The Philippines has a competitive advantage in our high literacy rate, our strong educational tourism program, our cultural diversity, affordability in cost of living and education, and the diverse activities available for rest and recreation, among others," according to Chele in a statement.

Chele an association formed after a workshop that was held to brainstorm ideas on how to put Cebu as an English learning hub on the world map, is a brainchild of the Cebu Leads Foundation (CLF), a multi-sectoral coalition organized by a group of businessmen, corporate executives and civic leaders who are committed to help Cebu move forward by promoting livability, prosperity and good governance for all Cebuanos.

International language experts from 34 countries will talk during the conference which adopts the theme, "The English Language: The Power to Connect." Topics including ESL (English as second language) and ESP are covered, as well as specific topics for call centers.

Cebu Business Club has been working with other organizations for a roadmap for the materialization of the vision to make Cebu as the international English city within the next five years.

"We need to be ready for this opportunity for business and local and overseas employment".

In the (DCOA) conference in Kunming last July 26, China's Minister of Education said that China will start to look at sending Chinese students to Philippines for Junior High, High school and college education.

This is why Chele is also encouraging all local schools and universities to send as many delegates and students to this conference as possible, as this will be a great opportunity for future employment and international linkages.

Tesol was incorporated in 1966. It is a global association for English language teaching professionals headquartered in Alexandria , Virginia , USA . Tesol encompasses a network of approximately 60,000 educators worldwide, consisting of more than 14,000 individual members and an additional 45,000 educators within the 100 plus Tesol affiliate associations.

Representing a multifaceted academic discipline and profession, Tesol offers members serial publications, books, and electronic resources on current issues, ideas, and opportunities in the field of English language teaching. Tesol also conducts a variety of workshops and symposia, including an annual convention, regarded as the foremost professional development opportunity for English language educators worldwide.

Tesol's mission is to develop and maintain professional expertise in English language teaching and learning for speakers of other languages worldwide. (THE FREEMAN)