Teaching Across Cultures: Inclusive Strategies from Global Classrooms

Umut Ergöz is passionate about creating meaningful experiences for teachers worldwide. As Teacher Experience Manager at Bridge Education, Umut focuses on supporting, engaging, and empowering teachers through recruitment, onboarding, mentorship, and community building. With years of experience developing teacher-centered initiatives, Umut has worked to design systems that not only improve teaching quality but also help teachers feel valued and connected across the globe. Dedicated to building strong, supportive communities, Umut believes that teachers are at the heart of lasting educational change.

Michelle is an experienced English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher from South Africa with 25 years of teaching expertise in China, Saudi Arabia, and South America. She has helped numerous students achieve fluency for academic and business goals through tailored communicative lessons. Michelle is passionate and dedicated to teaching, prioritizing rapport with students in a safe, relaxed learning environment. Her student-centered classes use the communicative approach. Michelle holds various TEFL certifications in teaching grammar, pronunciation, and Business English. Michelle's goal is to keep her students engaged through humor and physical language practice by talking about a variety of topics and allowing the students to take the reins of their own learning.

Pablo, Paul, Paweł Góraj is a global-minded educator based in Chile, with leadership experience in both classrooms and corporate spaces. Having lived in four countries, he brings a richly multicultural perspective to teaching. When he’s not helping students connect across cultures, you’ll find him blazing off the beaten path on a run, chasing his next cycling adventure, swimming in the freezing waters of Patagonia, or enjoying time with his family and a good book — proof that teaching, parenting, and triathlons all demand multitasking superpowers, patience, and a healthy sense of humor.