First, it is very important to note that we are not part of the Executive Board of VenTESOL, but we are very involved in the different activities planned by the organization in our region and nationwide. Now, let us introduce VenTESOL. Its mission is “to develop expertise in English teaching and learning in Venezuela, and its main objectives are to:

• promote ELT issues,
• strengthen English language teaching and learning at all educational levels inVenezuela,
• promote and spread research in the ELT field, and
• work collaboratively with other teacher organizations with the same interest.

To find more information you can visit the website www.ventesol.org and live the VenTESOL spirit.

Now, what does it mean to be a VenTESOLer? For us, members of this amazing team since 2004, we have really lived the VenTESOL spirit, which means you become part of a huge family, and experience these meaningful words: “Teachers helping Teachers.” VenTESOL exists thanks to volunteer work prepared by its members who are involved and devoted to its mission. Such level of commitment and voluntarism is not easy because most members are full-time teachers, sometimes holding two or more jobs, and even pre-service students. From that dedication and hard work, VenTESOL organizes conventions, mini-conventions, specialist tours, immersion English camps for students, and more, throughout the country.

In 2015, 75 students, along with 25 coordinators and experts, converged in Barrera, State of Carabobo, for a four-day adventure to build communicative skills, develop as teachers, and celebrate language and culture. This English Summer Camp 2015, organized by VenTESOL and sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, was held September 14–17. The camp gathered students from different institutions such as Carabobo University, UPEL-Barquisimeto Campus, and Universidad de Los Andes in Trujillo. Professors José Franco and Álvaro Jordán took part of the camp as coordinators with our students from Trujillo. This was an amazing opportunity for both students and teachers to share their love for English language teaching with fellows from other universities in a fun way.

Among the activities organized by VenTESOL and the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela, Trujillo has had the opportunity to hold a series of workshops given by Mary Scholl during May 2015 at Universidad de Los Andes to teachers in high schools, universities, and pre-service students. Trujillo State Representative Freddy Vanegas, alongside professors Daniel Castillo and Evelyn Urbina, prepared the activity (before the National Convention) in our region, so those teachers who could not attend the convention had the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. Furthermore, Trujillo is going to hold a new VenTESOL Tour of Specialists next September, where Venezuelan teachers that have been part of the programs supported by the U.S. Embassy share their experiences in programs such as Access, online training, webinars, and more.

Continuing this great work, The Annual National Convention is the most important event of the year; however, this year was even more relevant since The TESOL International Symposium, entitled “Best Practices in English Language Teaching,” was brought for the first time to our country, and took place on May 27^th, one day before the National Convention in Valencia, Carabobo State. During the Symposium, more than 200 professionals had the opportunity to share with Daniel Lopez, Christel Broady, Mary Scholl, and Sarah Sahr about practices in the English classroom. During the next two days of the Convention more than 700 professionals participated and lived the VenTESOL spirit. It is important to say that more than 40 people from our university (ULA-NURR) were there.

VenTESOL activities go beyond the borders of our country. Thanks to the support of the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela and the good work of VenTESOL, 28 teachers from all over the country had the amazing experience to attend the 50th TESOL International Convention 2016 held in Baltimore, Maryland, last April. Most teachers, including members of the Executive Board of VenTESOL, Mary Allegra (President), Jesús E. Lisboa (1st Vice President), Jurate Kukanauza (2nd Vice President) and Miguel Pérez (Communications Coordinator) were presenters at the Electronic Village Event. Once again, ULA-NURR was part of the event, as five teachers participated with three presentations in the Technology Fair. Professors Freddy Vanegas, Daniel Castillo, and Evelyn Urbina presented “Premiere Skills English: Podcasting as a Tool for the Classroom of the Future” and “Using Online Training and Development to Keep Your Teaching Skills Updated.” Professors José Franco and Álvaro Jordán presented “ICT in the English Classroom: A Venezuelan Experience at Universidad de Los Andes, Trujillo, Venezuela.” Besides the presentations made by the Venezuelan teachers, on the final day of the convention VenTESOL hosted the affiliate booth in order to show attendees all the programs and projects organized throughout the year.

The impact of all these efforts is felt, most importantly, by the students. All of the training we received from these gatherings is not only to be better teachers, but also to give our students tools for their English learning and their lives. VenTESOL has played a major role in the professional development of English teachers in Venezuela. Despite economic and political adversities, VenTESOL, with its Board of Directors, and the support of the U.S. Embassy, organizes more than 40 teacher training events each year. They have organized academic events in partnership with educational institutions, the British Council, publishing houses, and teacher-training universities in Venezuela. VenTESOL empowers all educators to train their colleagues to use innovative and meaningful strategies in their classrooms to achieve excellence in English language teaching.

Evelyn URBINA is a Foreign Languages Professor at Universidad de Los Andes– Venezuela, Magister Scientiae in Latin-American Literature. She has participated in several National and International Conventions as a speaker and organizer.

Álvaro JORDÁN is a Venezuelan foreign language teacher with nine years of experience teaching English. He has taught in public and private high schools, and he is currently working at Universidad de Los Andes. He has also participated in national and international conventions as an attendant and a speaker.