Above / Six English teachers will showcase their “teach, travel and explore” experiences around the world to compete for cash prizes, travel vouchers and a trophy in the juried International TEFL Academy Teach Abroad Film Festival. The benefit for LEAP Innovations to be held at the 276-seat Davis Theater in Chicago beginning on April 2, 2020, has been postponed. (PN File Photo)
UPDATE, March 12, 2020 / Given the covid-19 context right now, we’ve decided today to postpone the Film Festival. We will let you know as soon as we announce the future date for the event! Thank you. —Stéphane Le Mentec for International TEFL Academy.
Original Post, March 7, 2020 / On Thursday, April 2, 2020, Chicago-based International TEFL Academy will host its 2nd Annual Teach Abroad Film Festival at the historic Davis Theater in Lincoln Square in support of local charitable organization, LEAP Innovations.
This film festival is the first of its kind to highlight the work of incredible people teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) to non-native speakers around the world, organizers said.
The 90-minute event will feature six finalist films of 2-8 minutes and will include entries from Vietnam, Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand and other nations across the globe. Every film demonstrates the benefits of teaching English abroad through personal testimony, stunning footage, and scenes from inside the classroom. An esteemed jury of 12 professionals from the international education, travel and film industries (including representatives from Northwestern, DePaul, Columbia College, Chicago Public Schools, and Univision Chicago) will select the three winners before an audience of 200-plus people.
More information about the six finalists featured in Film Festival, click here.
To order tickets ($15 each) online, visit Teach Abroad Film Festival.
Built in 1916, the Davis Theater, located at 4614 N. Lincoln Avenue, is an historic landmark and the longest continually-operated theater in Chicago, creating the perfect venue for this benefit film festival.
Film festival benefits LEAP Innovations
One hundred percent of ticket proceeds from the Teach Abroad Film Festival will be donated to LEAP Innovations, a national organization headquartered in Chicago that connects innovation and education to transform how students learn. LEAP helps create access to equitable, high quality personalized learning experiences for all learners, particularly those in under-served communities.
“At International TEFL Academy, we believe it is our responsibility to leave the world a better place than how we found it,” noted Bruce Jones, International TEFL Academy President. “Our staff, instructors, and students are Global Citizens, and we realize how fortunate we are to travel and live abroad. We are committed to helping those in need, locally and around the world, and the Film Festival is a fun way to contribute to a greater cause.”
International TEFL Academy
International TEFL Academy offers the gold standard in TEFL certification for teaching English abroad both online and in-person, in 25 locations across the globe. The school certifies 6,000 people per year and has graduates teaching in over 80 countries. https://www.internationalteflacademy.com/
International TEFL Academy President & Co-Founder Bruce Jones
A native of Chicago, Bruce Jones quit his job at age 35 and left the U.S. in 2001 on a 2-year, 20-nation adventure around the world. Upon his return in 2003, Bruce was inspired to commit his career to provide others with opportunities to realize their dreams of living abroad & traveling the world through teaching English abroad. His company, International TEFL Academy, has certified over 25,000 people who now live around the world and those teachers have touched the lives of an estimated 1 million English students.
Thanks to sponsors, 100 percent of ticket sales will benefit LEAP
International TEFL Academy expressed gratitude to its generous sponsors for their support and for their commitment to international travel & education: GoAbroad.com, GoOverseas.com, Training Qualifications United Kingdom (TQUK), STA Travel, and Founders Brewing.
Members of the Rotary Club of Chicago Lakeview, a group of business leaders that provides humanitarian service aimed to advance goodwill and peace around the world, will be volunteering to help raise awareness for LEAP Innovations the night of the event.
For more information, contact Stéphane Le Mentec at stephane@internationalteflacademy.com or (630) 418 8226.
Story submitted by Jeff Penick, Admissions Advisor, for International TEFL Academy. Penick is a 2001 graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School. Stéphane Le Mentec, Senior Marketer for International TEFL Academy, also is a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago Lakeview.
FYI: TEFL stands for “Teaching English as a Foreign Language.”
RELATED POST / 2019 International TEFL Academy Teach Abroad Film Festival at historic Davis Theater
