At Bridge, every advancement achieved by a collaborator (a clearer presentation, a better-structured email, an international meeting without fear), is the result of teamwork between methodology, technology, and, above all, people. Among them, our teachers.
This month, we highlight Nelson Gutiérrez, a Colombian Global Teacher who has helped professionals across the region close the year with more confidence, more tools, and English that is truly useful for work.
A Teacher Who Connects Cultures to Build Trust
When Nelson describes his role, he doesn’t talk about grammar or textbooks. He talks about people.
He explains that his job is to “connect cultures through English and Spanish” and guide students from different backgrounds “towards more confident communication.”
For him, being a Global Teacher means creating a space where language becomes a bridge, not a barrier. That’s why he highlights that what makes his work special is “the intercultural exchange, which fosters global understanding, adaptability, and empathy,” something that, according to him, goes far beyond what a traditional class allows.
2025 Learning: Practical English is What Transforms
This year, Nelson confirmed something that HR and L&D teams have been observing for a while: employees want applicable English.
“Professionals value practical, contextualized English more than grammatical theory” he says.
And this demand has led him to constantly adjust and refine his approach.
For him, teaching professionals means doing things differently. It requires “flexibility and cultural sensitivity” because communication changes depending on whether it’s an email, a meeting, or a negotiation.
It also requires personalization, as “integrating real tasks and authentic feedback” allows the student to gain confidence and develop authenticity in their global interactions.
A Moment That Defined the Year: When Fluency Appears
Every teacher remembers those moments when something clicks for their students.
In Nelson’s case, that moment arrived when a group began to fully express themselves in English during their daily work.
“When they started facilitating discussions and presenting their work entirely in English, I noticed a remarkable improvement” he says.
What was once resistance transformed into fluency; what was doubt became confidence. For Nelson, this visible change is the clearest proof that learning is indeed impacting professional performance.
The Methodology That Accelerates Progress in Corporate Contexts
Nelson attributes these advances to the combination of two key approaches that Bridge integrates into its programs. On one hand, CLT, a methodology that “fosters critical thinking, active communication, and cultural awareness,” allowing English to be used just as it is in real work situations.
On the other hand, CLIL, which links language with professional content:
“The hyper-personalized materials provide an immediate sense of relevance” he explains.
For Nelson, this mix makes learning stop being abstract and becomes a daily tool.
What Motivates Him: Supporting Real Transformations
What inspires Nelson the most is seeing how learning changes the way his students perform and relate to their own work.
“Seeing my students achieve mastery of English is my biggest source of inspiration” he shares.
His satisfaction comes when he observes progress in real situations:
“They negotiate, apply new vocabulary, express ideas clearly in meetings or emails.“
And at the same time, he also grows with every class:
“I learn from their experiences and cultural perspectives” he says.
It’s this exchange that drives him to adapt methods, explore new strategies, and keep refining his teaching approach.
Learn more stories from Global Teachers and their impact on the Bridge community.
