Our student, Joaquín Saldaña (12th D), has brought great distinction to The International School La Serena by being crowned National Champion of the ESU Chile Public Speaking Competition. To earn this exceptional international opportunity, Joaquín competed against and outperformed some of the most talented students from numerous prestigious schools across Chile during the highly demanding National Final held in Santiago.
His remarkable victory earned him the exclusive honor of representing both The International School La Serena and Chile at the International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC), organized by the English-Speaking Union (ESU). Accompanied by Miss Paola Morgan, Joaquín travelled to London, United Kingdom, to participate in the International Finals Week, held from 13 to 18 July 2026. Throughout the competition, he showcased his outstanding public speaking abilities on the stage of the historic Royal Institution, alongside delegates representing more than 50 countries from around the world.
This international milestone is not an isolated accomplishment but rather the culmination of a sustained record of academic excellence. In 2022, Joaquín had already demonstrated his exceptional linguistic talent by winning First Place Nationally in the ESU Poetry Recitation Competition. These two national titles reflect not only his extraordinary command of the English language but also his exceptional written and oral communication skills, critical thinking, and confidence as a speaker.
Behind this outstanding achievement lies years of dedicated teaching, institutional commitment, and academic excellence. We extend our sincere appreciation to the entire Language Arts Department at TISLS, whose teachers have played a fundamental role in Joaquín’s language development throughout his school years.
We would also like to express our special recognition and heartfelt congratulations to Miss Paola Morgan, who has coached, mentored, and supported Joaquín throughout his public speaking journey since he was in 11th Grade. Her dedication, expertise, and encouragement have been instrumental in his preparation, providing him with the skills and confidence needed to excel on one of the world’s most prestigious public speaking stages.
We warmly congratulate Joaquín on this extraordinary accomplishment and thank him for representing The International School La Serena and Chile with excellence, integrity, and distinction. He is a true ambassador of the TISLS spirit, inspiring our entire school community through his commitment, perseverance, and passion for learning.
Joaquín Saldaña (12th D) representa a TISLS y a Chile en Londres tras coronarse Campeón Nacional de Oratoria en la ESU Public Speaking Competition
¡Un orgullo para nuestra comunidad escolar! Nuestro alumno, Joaquín Saldaña, ha llevado el nombre de TISLS a lo más alto tras coronarse como el flamante Campeón Nacional de la Public Speaking Competition de ESU Chile. Para alcanzar esta oportunidad internacional, Joaquín debió enfrentarse y demostrar su superioridad ante los mejores talentos de una gran cantidad de prestigiosos colegios de todo el país en una exigente final nacional en Santiago.
Esta contundente victoria le otorgó el derecho exclusivo de representar a TISLS y a Chile en la prestigiosa International Public Speaking Competition (IPSC), organizada por la English-Speaking Union (ESU). De esta manera, Joaquín viajó a Londres, Reino Unido, acompañado de Miss Paola Morgan, para participar en la gran semana de las finales mundiales que se llevó a cabo del 13 al 18 de julio de 2026, donde se midió en los escenarios de la histórica Royal Institution frente a delegados de más de 50 países.
Este hito internacional no es una coincidencia aislada, sino la consolidación de una destacada y constante trayectoria formativa; ya en el año 2022, Joaquín había demostrado su enorme talento innato al adjudicarse el primer lugar nacional en la ESU Poetry Recitation Competition. Ambos triunfos consecutivos son el reflejo directo de las grandiosas habilidades de Joaquín para el idioma inglés, así como de su impecable capacidad de comunicación tanto escrita como oral.
Detrás de este gran éxito existe también un trabajo formativo y un compromiso institucional de excelencia, por lo que agradecemos profundamente la dedicación de todo el Departamento de Inglés de nuestro colegio, cuyas profesoras han contribuido de manera fundamental en su aprendizaje y dominio lingüístico a lo largo de su trayectoria escolar.
De manera muy especial, hacemos un reconocimiento y felicitación a Miss Paola Morgan, quien ha guiado, preparado y acompañado de cerca a Joaquín en esta emocionante aventura de la oratoria pública desde que cursaba 11° grado, transformándose en un pilar clave en su preparación y dándole las herramientas necesarias para brillar en los escenarios más exigentes del mundo. ¡Felicitamos a Joaquín por este tremendo logro y por ser un embajador del espíritu TISLS!
