The Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture announced on March 16 that it held the “Ecuador Speaks English 2026” convention in coordination with the United States Embassy in Ecuador. The event aimed to improve the pedagogical skills of English teachers working in the country’s public education system.
The convention took place from March 13 to 15 in Quito and brought together 80 teachers from various provinces who are part of the teacher training program “Ecuador Speaks English.” The main theme was “Artificial Intelligence in English Language Teaching and Learning: Innovation and Freedom 250,” which was part of activities marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. Organizers said the event promoted sharing teaching experiences, updating methodologies, and using innovative tools such as artificial intelligence for teaching and learning English.
According to the ministry, this initiative is part of an educational cooperation agreement established through a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Embassy and Ecuador’s Ministry of Education. The agreement aims to strengthen English language teaching through training programs, academic exchanges, and joint professional development activities for teachers.
Since June 2020, the “Ecuador Speaks English” program has offered linguistic training for public school English teachers nationwide. Over its implementation, there have been eleven training cycles that have improved language skills for 2,540 teachers—2,199 of whom are currently active in public schools. As a result, 345 teachers achieved international B2 certification and three reached C1 level after passing the iTEP Academic Plus exam.
The ministry said these efforts demonstrate significant progress in strengthening English proficiency within Ecuador’s public education system. It also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting teacher development by promoting ongoing training opportunities, pedagogical updates, and academic exchanges that contribute to better educational quality for children and adolescents across the country.
The convention also highlighted achievements from the program while creating collaborative learning spaces among teachers, specialists, and strategic partners.
