About Us & Activities

History of the ESU

The English-Speaking Union of the United States was created to fulfill a mission.  It was formally organized in the United States in 1920 and arose from the conviction of its founder, Sir Evelyn Wrench and a group of like-minded American and British friends, that maintenance of the close personal and national ties forged during World War I was necessary for the preservation of peace. He imagined the ESU as an inclusive organization "founded in no narrow attitude of race pride, in no spirit of hostility to any people."  Its educational mission would be carried out by a host of activities allowing for personal contact between peoples at every level.

The Central Florida Branch supported the following programs in 2021-2022:

• Middle School Battle of the Books - A national "brain bowl" style competition
• Florida Council of Teachers of English - Student Writing Awards at the Annual Convention
• National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Convention Scholarships
• Central Florida Debate Initiative- Local Middle-High School Debate Program
• Shakespeare With Heart Scholarships - Joint program between the Orlando Shakespeare Theater and United Cerebral Palsy
• Educational Programs at Hannibal Square Heritage Center, Winter Park, FL.
• Orange County Public School Media Festival
• The Literacy League of Orange County
• Jessie Drey UCF Scholarship Program
• ESU National Shakespeare Competition
• ESU Travel and Learn Abroad (T-Lab) Program

Our Activities

National Shakespeare Competition

Teachers Learning Abroad