Ozlem / Turkiye 
Who do you speak English with?
Hi. I'm Ozlem and I'm from Turkey. Here is my question: Who do you speak English with?
I work as an ESL teacher in a private school here in Turkey. At school, as a general rule, we do not speak our native language because we believe our students should be surrounded by the second language they learn, which is English in our case. So, we try to speak English everywhere anytime we are with them. In the process of language learning, there are four skills students should acquire: Reading, writing, listening, and speaking, and speaking is the productive skill. This means if students, if they need to improve this skill, they need to produce.
Anyway, apart from that, I have many other colleagues and native friends, so we always speak English together. But if you do not have people around you speaking English, you can also find friends online or you can have an English tutor to practice online. That's it. Thank you and see you. Bye.
How to Practice Vocabulary
- Review the vocabulary.
- Complete the blanks below with correct words.
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as a general rule
Meaning: Usually; in most situations.
Examples:
- As a general rule, I try to exercise three times a week.
- As a general rule, students should complete their homework on time.
surrounded by
Meaning: To have things or people all around you.
Examples:
- She loves being surrounded by nature when she goes hiking.
- At the party, I was surrounded by friends and family.
in our case
Meaning: In our specific situation.
Examples:
- In our case, learning English is very important for work.
- Some people prefer big cities, but in our case, we enjoy small towns.
in the process of
Meaning: While doing something; during an activity.
Examples:
- She is in the process of moving to a new apartment.
- We are in the process of improving our English skills.
acquire
Meaning: To get or learn something over time.
Examples:
- It takes time to acquire a new language.
- He acquired many skills while working abroad.
productive skill
Meaning: A skill that requires creating something, like speaking or writing.
Examples:
- Speaking and writing are productive skills in language learning.
- To improve a productive skill, students should practice every day.
anyway
Meaning: A word used to change the topic or return to the main point.
Examples:
- I was busy all day. Anyway, how was your weekend?
- It was raining, but we went to the beach anyway.
apart from that
Meaning: Besides that; in addition.
Examples:
- I have a lot of homework. Apart from that, I need to clean my room.
- She studies English every day. Apart from that, she also practices Spanish.
Vocabulary Quiz
process • acquire • apart from
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