Celebrating English as a Global Language

The ELT community hails from all over the world, with many teachers speaking English as a second – or even third – language. The benefit to having global representation in the language classroom allows learners to be exposed to new cultures, traditions, and diverse uses of the English language from around the world. Join us as we explore the concept of being a Global English Teacher and learn about practical strategies such as conscientious materials selection and cultural coaching that can help you teach responsibly and embrace the concept of English as a lingua franca.  

Speakers

Jake Young

Jake Young is the founder and lead materials writer at Fluentize.com — an online resource with a library of 400+ engaging video-based lesson plans for ESL teachers. With 10+ years teaching ESL in Prague and fluent in Czech language, Jake has a passion for both teaching and learning languages.

Andrea Beatriz

Andrea is an ESL/EFL teacher, global educator, lecturer, intrepid traveler, and photographer. The many years of teaching English and Spanish in Argentina, the USA, Andorra, China, Japan, Sudan, and Germany helped her develop a more global and multicultural perspective over the implications of being an educator. In 2021 she graduated from the MA Las Américas / The Americas at FAU in Germany and she’s currently working as a freelancer focusing on B2B and also teaching general English to learners from across the globe.

Umut Ergöz

Umut Ergöz brings a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for education to his role as Academic Operations Coordinator at Bridge Education Group. With five years of English teaching experience and a background in translation and interpretation studies, Umut has seamlessly transitioned into various roles within the organization over the past three years. Based in Istanbul, he not only fulfills his daily responsibilities with dedication but also extends a helping hand to teachers worldwide, offering support and guidance to enhance their teaching skills. Umut's commitment to professional development and his human-centered approach make him a valued asset and mentor within the Bridge Education community.

Shelynn Riel

Shélynn Riel is Bridge's Expert Series Moderator and regularly contributes articles and ELT news reports to the BridgeUniverse blog. She has served as an English language instructor for over a decade, a program coordinator in both university and community-based programs, and an English Language Fellow with the U.S. Department of State. Her interests include holistic teacher development, learner identity, and decolonial ethics in the language classroom. She is the co-creator of The Teacher Think-Aloud Podcast, which focuses on reflective practices for teachers around the world.

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Reach a global audience of over 100,000 teachers