Speak no Turkish, hear no Turkish in Istanbul café as teacher seeks to improve English language skills
Speak no Turkish, hear no Turkish in Istanbul café as teacher seeks to improve English language skills - Turkish Daily News
According to the 31-year-old teacher, improving language skills requires consistent practice rather than a temporary visit abroad, which may last just three to six months. “Some people go to Britain or to the United States to improve their spoken English,” Çarıkcıdoglu said. “However, they are unaware that they will lose their skills within a certain period of time if they do not speak English after they return home.” The café offers several tools to help clients use English as they are engaged in their activities. Each table has an English-Turkish dictionary and music video clips with subtitles are projected on the wall all day long. The café also has a small bookcase with English-language books for readers of every level. “You can listen, you can speak, you can watch. Everything we do here is in English. I cannot imagine a better way to learn language at home,” said Onur Turk, a fresh Istanbul University graduate. The café does not impose a regular system or timetable, as a language school does and visitors learn grammar rules spontaneously as they repeat a sentence and see when and how it is used, the Istanbul newspaper said. The café, however, is not only a meeting point where people gather to improve their language skills, and serves as a social network hub It uses its page on Facebook, the Internet social-networking site, to inform visitors about special sessions or discussions, held at 3 and 6 pm. every day and are open to the general public. “The teacher announces a topic over the Internet the day before a discussion session and those who are interested in the topic get ready for it,” said Neşet Tüter, a 24-year-old industrial engineer.
