Big Tex is waiting to greet you at the state fair of Texas in Dallas this Friday afternoon.  He's had quite a year since the fire that damaged this friendly landmark.  New duds in Fort Worth.  A complete makeover for this 61-year-old.  A sight to see: Big Tex-welcoming fair goers at the State Fair of Texas.

Another TEX has had a busy year, too.  The Literacy Connexus approach to training volunteers to speak English is also known as TEX--Teaching English with Excellence.  Developed by Robin Feistel of Nacogdoches, TEX is a combination of several methods of teaching ESL (English for speakers of other languages), ideas, resources, and years of experience.

The training prepares volunteers who have no teacher certification or experience and do not speak a language other than English to teach effectively.  The emphasis in the initial TEX Basic training (usually nine hours taught on a Friday evening and Saturday) is teaching the beginning student.  However, many of the teaching activities introduced are applicable to higher level students, and future teachers of those levels can also benefit from the Basic training. An additional 12-plus hours of training cover teaching higher level students, pronunciation, cross-cultural witnessing, and writing English lessons from the Bible. 

TEX has covered more of the state than Big Tex this year.  In August and September alone, TEX trainings have been conducted in Fort Worth, Garland, Georgetown, Houston, Kingwood, Midland, San Antonio, Weslaco, Wichita Falls, and Tyler.  More than 250 persons have completed TEX training.  These energetic, equipped volunteers are now beginning to teach ESL in their communities--most through church-based programs.  That's a story in itself.  If each teaches just five students, then a thousand persons will be impacted.