A lot of students have the “I want to speak fluently” goal, actually probably about 100% of my students want to achieve this goal.  Most of them have an extensive vocabulary base — but lack the most important thing — English expressions — and I’m not talking just the “top 10 common ones” I’m talking about the ones that native speakers use on an everyday basis — without thinking about it.

Before I started teaching English — I didn’t realize how often I would use common expressions in my speech.  I don’t normally use a lot of slang words — but I do use many expressions that can change their meaning depending on the situation.  One of my favourite words to teach is “SKETCHY” — this word can be used in a variety of situations and its not one that you’ll find in a “Learn English like a native speaker” book.

Usually how expressions come up is either through random conversation — or in an article (students tend to pick out the most obscure words to ask about sometimes) or just a question because they heard it somewhere (TV, movie, book) and wanted to know what it really meant.

Of course learning and MASTERING using English expressions are 2 entirely different things.  I have a few students who are able to use the new expressions in the right situation — and others who don’t quite get it right away — but its always encouraging to hear them use an expression that I’ve taught them a few weeks after the fact — and especially when they use it in the right situation!  I know my job as an English teacher is working and their English is actually improving.

So the next time you hear a non native English speaker use an expression in their speech let them know that you think it’s awesome that they are able to do it!