About me

I know what it is like to have the knowledge and still struggle to express it in English.

I’m Santi, a lawyer and CELTA-qualified English teacher. I hold Cambridge C2 Proficiency and achieved an overall 8.5 in IELTS Academic.

Santi in formal attire outside a stone building in Perth

My story

English went from being a limitation to becoming my profession.

Before becoming an English teacher, I trained as a lawyer at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and completed a postgraduate specialisation in Competition Law. My legal education taught me to analyse complex information, build clear arguments and adapt a message to its audience. I now use those same skills when planning lessons and explaining language.

For a long time, however, English was also a professional limitation for me. Reaching the final stage of a selection process at a law firm made that especially clear: I had the legal knowledge, but not yet the confidence to communicate it in English. That is why I understand professionals who know what they want to say but feel that their English does not fully reflect their abilities.

I later travelled to Perth, Australia, to study English. I prepared for Cambridge C2 Proficiency alongside classmates from many countries. The experience strengthened my English and gave me a first-hand understanding of what it means to navigate daily life and build connections in another language.

Back in Colombia, I completed CELTA, Cambridge’s qualification for English-language teachers. Since then, I have worked with adults and professionals, helping them express clearly ideas they already understand. My legal background remains especially useful when they need to explain technical information, build an argument or find the right tone.

Qualifications & experience

Lawyer

Pontificia Universidad Javeriana

Postgraduate specialisation in Competition Law

Pontificia Universidad Javeriana

IELTS Academic 8.5

500+ hours of English taught

Adults & professionals

I have taught professionals working at organisations including Unilever, Scotiabank, Barrick Gold, BYD, GHD and DIRECTV Latin America.

* Organisations are mentioned only to describe some learners’ professional backgrounds; there is no affiliation or endorsement.

Beyond the classroom

Language learning changed how I connect with people.

Living and studying in Australia, learning Japanese, and travelling through Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Chile and other places have shaped how I think about language, culture and communication. These experiences have shown me that understanding one another goes beyond speaking the same language or mastering its rules. It also requires listening, noticing context, adapting to different ways of communicating and being patient with the process. All of that influences how I teach.

How I teach

Clear, purposeful teaching built around how you actually use English.

Purpose

Lessons are built around the situations, decisions and language you genuinely need.

Clarity

I help you understand why English works the way it does, not just memorise the answer.

Progress

Support, precise feedback and meaningful challenge help you notice patterns and self-correct.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Why learn with you instead of relying only on AI?

AI is useful for practice, examples and quick questions. A teacher can observe how you communicate in real time, identify recurring patterns, choose priorities and adapt the learning plan as you progress. I can also help you use AI critically between lessons.

Are you a native speaker?

No. I am a Cambridge-certified C2 English user and have personally experienced the process of reaching an advanced level.

Do you only teach lawyers?

No. I also work with adults who have general, academic or professional goals.

Let your English reflect what you know.