“There’s a process to everything.” 

English Instructor and a Building Bridges Strategic Initiative team member, Betty Stack, shares that in one English course an automotive student demonstrated how writing mirrors the work he does in the shop. 

Using a simple example, making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, he walked classmates through the importance of sequencing and precision. Then he connected it back to automotive work: if steps aren’t communicated clearly, the result can go wrong. 

Suddenly, writing wasn’t just an English assignment, it was a real-world skill. 

This is contextualization. 

When students connect what they’re learning to how they’ll use it, concepts click. Writing becomes process. Communication becomes safety. Clarity becomes essential. 

The impact goes beyond understanding content, it builds confidence and respect across disciplines as students learn from one another’s experiences. 

General education isn’t separate from career learning, it strengthens it. And through contextualization, students don’t just learn skills, they see why they matter.