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True to its commitment to innovation, Bridge is once again at the forefront of education technology. Thus, reaffirming its position as a leader in the ELT industry. Today’s global business environment is rapidly changing and this requires effective communication. In response, Bridge is seeking smarter ways to implement its curriculum. This led to the development of a new training program with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).
BridgeConnect: The new frontier in teaching
BridgeConnect is a pioneering program for corporate English language training focused on enhancing the communication skills of our corporate language students. This endeavor is using the latest education trends to develop an AI-driven conversational platform.
BridgeConnect will offer more adaptive and interactive practice, as well as real-time feedback. The structure focuses on practical Business English through interactive group conversation classes across five proficiency levels, ensuring tailored instruction.
The levels are divided into Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, and Advanced. Each one includes 63 targeted lessons with 21 business topics, such as negotiation tactics, and public speaking, among others.
Nelly Segura, Academic Operations Assistant at Bridge, is spearheading this initiative, drawing on her more than ten years of teaching experience in both Chile and the United States.
Reflecting on the project, Segura explains, “Language is like any other skill. You need to practice a lot. The more opportunities learners have to engage meaningfully with English, the more confident and fluent they become.”
According to Segura, there’s an increasing number of research findings supporting this.
Second language acquisition studies indicate that practicing a language more frequently leads to more effective results in long-term retention and fluency. Yet in a face-to-face or online classroom course, speaking may be highly problematic.
Common difficulties when practicing English speaking skills
Unfortunately, many language learners struggle to improve their conversational skills due to several challenges that limit their practice opportunities. Here are the main obstacles they face:
- Time constraints. Many employees struggle to find time for language training amid their daily work responsibilities.
- Content irrelevance. Standard training materials often fail to align with specific job roles or industry demands. This can lead to disengagement among students.
- Engagement challenges. Conventional classroom methods can be monotonous, making it difficult to keep learners actively involved.
To overcome these obstacles, language learning has increasingly embraced online platforms, multimedia content, and virtual exchanges. Yet, while these tools are powerful, AI introduces a dynamic element that benefits both students and educators.
“AI presented us with an opportunity to make learning more dynamic, adaptive, and personalized. With a way for students to practice their speaking in realistic business scenarios,” Segura shared. “AI lets us use its capabilities to deliver interactive, live speaking experiences.”
BridgeConnect at a glance
Recognizing that language acquisition requires consistent practice, Bridge began exploring AI to offer a game-changer initiative in Business English communication. BridgeConnect employs dynamic teaching approaches designed to overcome barriers such as reliance on native languages, and varied proficiency levels.
Through role-playing, interactive discussions, and comprehensive support materials, learners actively participate and build the confidence essential for business communication. The program allows students to review essential topics from workplace etiquette to crisis management.
AI is a core component of BridgeConnect, particularly in three key areas:
- It helps develop and refine learning materials that are both structured and naturally engaging, guided by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the Global Scale of English (GSE).
- It enables customization which ensures that students will receive content based on their levels. It also tracks progress allowing the program to adapt to their needs.
- AI powers the interactive speaking practice tools, allowing learners to engage in simulated conversations. The program provides immediate feedback, replicating real-world business communication. As part of this initiative, Bridge has developed Conversation CoPilot, a tool designed to help English learners enhance their communication skills.
BridgeConnect is more than just a training program – it’s a supportive community that fosters ongoing professional development for teachers. It also provides a network for student support, ensuring that everyone has access to the resources they need to succeed. By optimizing available tools, BridgeConnect helps educators teach smarter, not harder, with a focus on real-world, day-to-day scenarios.
Discover why intelligibility matters more than perfection in Business English communication.
Benefits and challenges of this endeavor
While AI greatly enhances learning experiences, language acquisition is inherently human – emotional, contextual, and deeply personal. Although AI excels at generating content, human oversight remains crucial to ensure lessons are pedagogically sound and culturally appropriate.
The benefits, however, are significant. AI has delivered tangible improvements in efficiency, personalization, and overall learner outcomes. It frees up valuable time, enabling educators to focus on creating engaging and impactful experiences.
According to Segura, “One of the biggest wins has been efficiency. With AI, we’re able to produce high-quality content faster, allowing us to focus on refining the learning experience.”
Another advantage is the ability to personalize materials. Segura explains, “AI lets us tailor activities to each learner’s needs, making practice far more relevant and effective.”
BridgeConnect also serves as a toolkit for success. Teachers receive detailed lesson plans outlining clear objectives and structured activities, while students benefit from worksheets that reinforce vocabulary and key concepts through practical exercises.
Of course, challenges exist. AI-generated content, while efficient, still requires human insight to ensure it aligns with best teaching practices and cultural nuances. Data privacy and ethical AI use are also top priorities, with Bridge maintaining strict guidelines to uphold transparency and integrity.
As Segura puts it, “Technology is a powerful tool, but language learning will always be a deeply human experience. AI enhances what we do – it doesn’t replace it.”
Next steps for BridgeConnect
Although Bridge Connect is still in its early stages, it has great potential. Segura sees it evolving into an AI-driven conversational platform that offers even more adaptive and interactive practice.
“Our goal is for AI to track learners’ progress and adjust lessons on the go. Thus, helping them build fluency in a more natural and intuitive way,” says Segura.
As she explains, “We know that one of the biggest challenges learners face is to practice speaking consistently. AI is giving us a way to fill that gap. Being able to simulate workplace conversations with AI-driven feedback may be a game-changer. Not just in terms of language acquisition but for real-world communication skills that professionals actually need.”
