Chat Like a Native - Episode 54 - Talk Without Translation: Think English, Speak English

hey everyone and welcome back to chat like a native you know how sometimes when you're speaking English it's like you hit a wall yeah today we're going to dive into that yeah we're going to talk about thinking in English and why that's so important for fluency it's interesting right we learn a language and the first thing we do is try to translate everything oh yeah word for word I can totally relate to that yeah like I remember this one time I was in Italy I was trying to order some food M and I just I

knew what I wanted to say I just couldn't get the words out because I was stuck translating the menu in my head I think we've all been there it was awkward yeah and it's this mental block that really slows you down right it's like you're so focused on getting the translation perfect that you lose that that natural flow of conversation it's like driving with the parking brake on exactly okay so how do we like release that break and start thinking directly in English well I think the first step is just being aware of it okay

you know like catching yourself when you're translating okay so that's step one but then what like can we just like will ourselves to think in English I wish it was that easy it's more about retraining our brains yeah you know like when we were kids we didn't learn our native language by memorizing rules we just heard it all the time yeah we were immersed in it right exactly so we need to kind of create that immersive environment for English as well yeah like surround yourself with as much English as possible movies music podcast even just

switching your phone settings to English I like that even if we don't understand everything at first just that constant exposure yeah really helps absolutely okay so that's the passive approach right but what about actively practicing thinking mhm in English like are there any exercises we can do have you ever tried talking to yourself in English yeah sometimes in the shower okay no one's listening that's exactly it just narrate your day your thought everything in English so be our own commentator and you know it's kind of funny because you don't have to worry about making mistakes

when it's just you it's a safe space exactly and and I've heard that visualizing the words can actually help as well yeah like try to picture those words in your mind as you're saying them oh interesting it strengthens that connection that makes sense Okay so we've got immersion selft talk what about writing does that help writing is a great tool you know like journaling in English doesn't have to be perfect oh good yeah because I'm not a writer just get those thoughts flowing okay yeah I can do that yeah and I've also heard that using

visual aids can be helpful oh for sure our brains love connecting images with words yeah try this label stuff around your house with their English name there like sticky notes on everything yeah why not okay it's like building a visual dictionary in your head I like that yeah okay so so we've got immersion selft talk writing visual aids anything else any other tricks up your sleeve well this one might sound a little daunting but trust me it works try practicing speaking in front of a mirror oh yeah the mirror technique it's like giving a presentation

exactly but to yourself yeah so it can help you feel more comfortable speaking out loud right okay so now let's talk about one of the biggest roadblocks people face when trying to think in English Okay the fear of making mistakes that fear that's a big one it can be really paralyzing it is and and what happens is you overthink everything right you worry about grammar pronunciation and you just get stuck exactly but here's the thing mistakes are inevitable yeah they happen to everyone even native speakers so you're saying we should embrace the mess ups exactly

okay mistakes are how we learn that's true and I think it's helpful to remember that fluency isn't about being perfect it's about being able to communicate effectively okay so don't let the fear of making mistakes hold you back it's like learning to ride a bike yeah you're going to fall a few times before you get the hang of it exactly but eventually become second nature it does okay so mistakes are our friends yes but what about those moments when you're in a conversation uhhuh and you just can't think of the right word oh I hate

those moments it's like your mind goes completely blank oh the tip of the tongue tongue moments it happens it's the worst but instead of getting flustered try describing the word okay using other words you know like game of Charades exactly that's a good idea and it keeps the conversation going that's a good point and speaking of mindset shifts I think it's really important to let go of that need for Perfection oh yeah you know because I think a lot of times perfectionism that can really hold us back absolutely from being fluent idea that we have

to speak perfectly to be fluent but you know like a native speaker even native speakers make mistakes it's okay to have an accent to make a few grammar errors what matters most is that you're getting your message across that's so true so try to be kind to yourself okay and focus on progress not Perfection it's like dancing yeah you don't need to know every single step perfectly to enjoy the music and move with the Rhythm I love that analogy so let's embrace the imperfections and have fun with the language absolutely and speaking of fun how

can we make thinking in English a more enjoyable experience because if it feels like a chore we're less likely to stick with it exactly one of the best ways to make an enjoyable is to Simply find topics and activities that you're genuinely interested in and explore them in English so instead of forcing ourselves to read boring textbooks we should be reading about things that we actually enjoy absolutely if you love cooking watch cooking shows in English read cooking blogs if you're into fashion follow fashion influencers read fashion magazines whatever you're passionate about make it a

point to experience it in English it's like turning your hobbies into language learning opportunities exactly and you know this ties into another important aspect of thinking in English active listening so it's not just about hearing the words but really paying attention to how native speakers use the language precisely active listening involves focusing not just on the content of what's being said but also on the delivery the intonation the Rhythm the pauses even the subtle changes in tone that convey meaning it's like listening to a piece of music you're not just hearing the individual notes but

paying attention to how they flow together to create a Melody I love that analogy and just like with music the more you listen actively the more attuned you become to those subtle nuances of the language you start to develop an ear for what sounds natural and fluent so how can we practice active listening should we just sit in coffee shops and Eaves drop on conversations you could try that okay but there are more targeted ways to practice choose audio materials that you enjoy like podcasts audio books or even Ted Talks right and instead of just

passively listening really try to dissect the language try to identify the main ideas pay attention to the speaker's tone of voice true notice how they connect their thoughts don't be afraid to rewind replay sections you didn't quite catch got it or to slow down the playback speed if it's too fast it's like hitting the pause button on a movie yeah so you can really Savor a particular scene exactly okay active listening check what about those times when we feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of English we need to learn oh I know that feeling it

can feel like trying to climb a mountain with no end in sight it's true but remember you don't have to conquer the whole Mountain at once yeah break down your learning into smaller steps okay smaller steps so instead of trying to memorize every word in the dictionary we should focus on the words and phrases that we need for our everyday life exactly and don't be afraid to start small even a few new words or phrases each day can make a big difference so it's about consistency absolutely it's like building a house you know right Brick

by Brick each brick might seem small but together they create this strong structure I love that okay so you've got immersion selft talk writing visual aids active listening yeah breaking our learning down into smaller steps right anything else yes one very simple but often overlooked tip is to Simply set reminders reminders to do what to think in English oh okay you can set alarms on your phone oh little sticky notes around your house so we're basically tricking our brains into thinking in English more often yeah little nudges throughout the day I like that and another

thing to remember is that you're not alone in this journey yeah there are so many resources available that's a good point there are tons of online communities language exchange partners and apps exactly that can really help and you know sometimes just talking to someone else who understands the challenges of learning English can be really motivating yeah it's like having a cheerleader in your corner exactly Okay so we've talked about a lot of great techniques for thinking in English we have but I'm curious what are some of the most common Challen Alles people face when trying

to make this shift one of the biggest challenges is simply forgetting to think in English you know like we're so used to thinking in our native language it takes a real conscious effort yeah it's like our brain wants to default back to what's familiar exactly so how can we remind ourselves to think in English more often well like we talked about earlier yeah those reminders can be really helpful okay those little nudges another thing you can try is to create visual ual cues oh interesting like put sticky notes around your house or maybe even wear

a bra out that says think in English yeah whatever works for you okay I like that and another challenge is feeling overwhelmed oh yeah by the amount of English you need to learn that's a big one it's like oh my gosh I have to learn all of this it could be really intimidating but remember you don't have to learn everything at once just take it step by step okay smaller chunks again smaller chunks focus on the vocabulary you need for every every day situations and gradually expand from there and I think it's also important to

celebrate those small winds along the way absolutely because it can be easy to get discouraged when you don't see results immediately it's true it's a journey not a race yeah celebrate every Milestone that are house small I love that so it's about enjoying the process yeah and not just focusing on the end goal exactly Okay so we've talked about the challenges but let's shift gears and talk about the benefits of thinking in Ang because honestly it can feel like a lot of work sometimes it can so it's helpful to remember why we're doing this in

the first place yeah what are some of the most rewarding aspects of mastering this skill well first and foremost thinking in English will make you a more fluent speaker okay so that's the big payoff because when you're not translating yeah you can just speak without hesitation and this in turn leads to more confidence so it's like a domino effect exactly the more fluent you become the more confident you feel and the more you'll want to use the language that makes sense and I think another benefit is that it can actually help you understand English better

absolutely when you're thinking in the same language that you're hearing or reading it just clicks you don't have to go through that extra step of translation so it's like you're finally able to experience English yes in its purest form yeah it becomes a part of you and I think that's really the ultimate goal I think so too of learning any language it's not just about speaking it it's it's about thinking in it exactly it's about becoming one with the language and you know another fascinating thing is that learning a new language can actually make you

understand your native language better oh really how so well when you're learning a new language you start to pay attention to how language Works in general okay the grammar the structure the nuances and this can give you a whole new perspective on your own native language it's like you're seeing it with fresh eyes exactly that's really cool okay and last but not least yeah let's talk about the social benefits of thinking in English oh those are huge because when you can think in English you can connect with people from all over the world it opens

up so many doors you can travel more easily make new friends even Advance your career it's like you've unlocked A Whole New World it really is so learning English is not just about the language itself it's about the connections and the experiences that it opens up for us exactly it's about expanding your horizons it's about expanding your horizons and I think sometimes we forget about the fun part of learning a language oh yeah you know like when we were kids learning our native language was all about playing and experimenting yeah we weren't afraid to make

mistakes right we're just excited to communicate exactly and I think it's important to try to recapture that sense of playfulness as we're learning English okay so how do we do that how do we make learning English fun again well well one way is to engage with content that you're genuinely interested in so instead of forcing ourselves to read boring textbooks we should be reading about things that we actually enjoy exactly if you love cooking watch cooking shows in English if you're into fashion read fashion blogs the key is to make English a part of your

everyday life not just something you study that makes so much sense when we're interested in something our brains are more engaged absolutely and we're more likely to remember what we learn EXA exctly it becomes an enjoyable experience rather than a chore okay so find something you love and do it in English got it now what about those times when we're listening to English but we just can't seem to keep up that's where active listening comes in so it's not just about hearing the words yeah but really paying attention to how native speakers use the language

precisely it's about focusing on the nuances of pronunciation the Rhythm the intonation even the pauses it's like when you're listening to a song yeah you're not just hearing the individual NOS you're paying attention to how they all flew together exactly and just like with music the more you practice active listening the better you'll become at understanding spoken English so how can we get better at active listening any tips one tip is to choose audio materials that you enjoy okay like podcasts audio books or even Ted Talks okay and as you're listening yeah don't be afraid

to pause rewind or even slow down down the playback speed if you need to it's like hitting the pause button on a movie yeah so you can really catch every detail exactly it's not about speed it's about comprehension another helpful technique is to take notes while you're listening oh so like jot down new words or phrases exactly create your own little vocabulary notebook and don't just write down the word try to come up with an example sentence using that word in context that's a great idea it's like creating our own personalized phrase book precisely and

it can be really helpful for remembering new vocabulary Okay so we've got active listening note taking what else can we do to make this whole thinking in English thing a more consistent habit one simple but effective technique is to set reminders reminders like little sticky notes all over my house that could work but you can also use technology to your advantage okay set alarms on your phone or computer throughout the day okay just to remind you to switch your thinking to English so it's like giving our brains A little nudge exactly stay on track okay

I like that what about those times when we feel like we're just not making progress fast enough I think we all experience that at some point yeah it's easy to get discouraged it is especially when we see other people who seem to be progressing much faster but it's important to remember that everyone learns at their own pace and that comparison is the thief of Joy so true you know so focus on your own Journey celebrate your own milestones and be patient with yourself okay so patience is is key patience is key and celebrate those small

wins no matter how small exactly did you Lear a new word today fantastic did you manage to hold a short conversation in English amazing give yourself credit for those accomplishments it's like giving ourselves a little pat on the back exactly it's all about positive reinforcement okay so focus on the progress not the Perfection exactly and speaking of perfection I think it's important to let go of that need to be perfect oh per perfectionism the ultimate fluency killer it's like setting the bar so high that we're afraid to even try it is and it's so important

to remember that nobody's perfect even native speakers make mistakes it's all part of the learning process so we should embrace those mistakes embrace them learn from them okay and keep moving forward okay so mistakes are our friends but what about those moments when we just can't seem to find the right word in English you know those dreaded tip of the tongue moments oh oh this can be so frustrating but instead of giving up or resorting back to your native language try to describe the word using other words that you do know so like playing a

mental game of charade exactly it's a great way to keep the conversation flowing and to challenge yourself to think more creatively and it also shows that you're really trying to use the language even when you're struggling it does it shows that you're engaged and that you're committed to improving okay so Embrace those tip of the tongue moments got it yeah now what about accents do you think it's a important to try to sound like a native speaker that's a great question and honestly there's no right or wrong answer some people feel more confident when they

can speak with a native likee accent While others are perfectly happy with their own accent the most important thing is to be able to communicate effectively and to feel good about the way you sound so it's all about finding our own voice and embracing our individuality exactly and remember there's no such thing as a perfect accent even native speakers have different Regional accents and dialects the beauty of language is in its diversity I love that so let's celebrate our uniqueness and not be afraid to let our personalities shine through in our English absolutely and speaking

of personalities one thing that can really help you connect with others in English is to use the language expressively so don't just focus on the words themselves but also on how we use our voice and body language to convey meaning exactly use intonation facial expressions gestures all those things that help us communicate more effectively it's like adding color and spice to our language I love that analogy and speaking of spice don't be afraid to add a little humor to your English as well so tell jokes be playful and just have fun with the language exactly

laughter is a universal language and it can help you relax connect with others and even learn more effectively okay so be expressive be humorous and most importantly be ourselves yes and you know one more thing I want to mention is the importance of Silence silence why is that important when we're trying to improve our speaking skills silence can actually be a very powerful tool in communication it gives you time to think to process information and to formulate your thoughts in English so instead of feeling pressured to fill every Silence with words yeah we should embrace

those pauses and let them work their magic exactly silence can create emphasis build suspense and even make you a more effective listener think of it as a punctuation mark in a conversation okay so embrace the silence got it now what about those times when we just don't have a lot of time to dedicate to practicing English well the good news is that you don't need hours and hours of study to make progress even small pockets of time can be incredibly valuable yeah like those 5 minutes while we're waiting in line at the grocery store or

those 10 minutes while we're commuting to work exactly use those little Snippets of time to review flashcards listen to a short podcast or even just think about your day in English it's about making the most of every opportunity exactly and remember consistency is key okay so consistency over intensity exactly even a little bit of practice each day can make a big difference over time so it's like that saying little drops of water make a mighty ocean I love that and you know another great way to practice thinking in English is to find a language partner

or join a conversation group so put ourselves out there and actually use the language in real life situations exactly and don't worry about making mistakes everyone makes mistakes and most people are incredibly understanding and supportive especially if they know you're learning English so it's about finding a safe and supportive environment where we can practice without feeling self-conscious exactly and remember the more you practice the more confident you'll become it's like anything else in life Yeah the more you do it the easier it gets okay so find a language partner join a conversation group and just

start talking now what about visualization I've heard that can be a helpful technique for learning a language visualization can be incredibly powerful as you're learning new words and phrases yeah try to create Vivid mental images in your mind oh interesting for example if you're learning the word Beach okay imagine yourself walking along the Sandy Shore feeling the warm sun on your skin hearing the waves crashing against the shore so it's like creating a mini movie in our minds exactly the more senses you can Engage The Stronger longer the connection will be between the word and

its meaning I like that so we're not just learning the word yeah we're experiencing it we're experiencing it okay visualization check what about those times when we just feel completely stuck like our brain is fried and we can't think in English no matter how hard we try I think we all have those days it's important to be kind to yourself and to recognize when you need a break sometimes the best thing you can do is to Simply step away from the language for a while and come back to it when you're feeling refreshed so give

ourselves permission to rest and recharge exactly and you know sometimes just changing up your routine can help Okay if you've been focusing a lot on reading try listening to some music in English yeah or if you've been spending a lot of time studying grammar uhh try watching a movie or TV show so mix things up and keep it interesting exactly and most importantly don't give up learning a language takes time and effort yeah but the rewards are well worth it it's so true keep practicing keep learning and most importantly keep believing in yourself I love

that keep believing in ourselves so we've talked a lot about the mental side of thinking in English but what about the physical side does our body language play a role in how we think and speak in English absolutely our body language and our thoughts are interconnected so if we stand up straight and make eye contact it can actually help us feel more confident and speak more fluently exactly and it's not just about how we present ourselves to others it's also about how we feel internally so our body language can actually influence our thoughts and emotions

precisely when we adopt a confident posture our brains release hormones like testosterone and dopamine oh well which make us feel more powerful and in control so it's like faking it till we make it in a way yes but it's more than just faking it it's about creating a positive feedback loop between our body and our mind okay when we feel confident we project confidence and when we project confidence we feel even more confident it's like a virtuous cycle yeah so Stand Tall make eye contact and let our body language boost our confidence exactly and remember

even small changes in our body language can make a big difference okay so pay attention to our posture our gestures and our facial expressions got it now what about those times when we're in a conversation with someone in English and our mind suddenly goes blank you know those dreaded tip of the tongue moments we've all been there those moments can be so frustrating but instead of panicking try to relax and remind yourself that it happens to everyone so just take a deep breath and try to regroup exactly and instead of just giving up and saying

I can't remember the word try describing the word you're looking for using other words you do know so like playing a mental game of Charades exactly it's a great way to keep the conversation flowing and to challenge yourself to think creatively and it also shows that you're actively engaging with the language it does even when you're struggling exactly it shows that you're resourceful and that you're not afraid to think outside the box and it shows that you're resourceful and that you're not afraid to think outside the box and you know speaking of thinking outside the

box one of the things I found really helpful is to remember that fluency isn't a destination it's a journey oh yeah it's not about reaching some perfect end point where you never make mistakes it's about constantly learning growing and becoming more comfortable using the language yeah it's about embracing the journey and embracing the journey and enjoying the ride so true well I think we've covered a lot of ground today we have we've talked about the power of thinking in English the challenges we might face and a whole bunch of techniques to help us make that

shift it's been a fantastic conversation I've learned so much me too and you know one thing that really stands out to me is that all of these techniques are interconnected oh yeah they all work together to create this holistic approach to language learning it's not about choosing one technique over another right it's about finding what works best for you and creating your own personalized approach absolutely and remember consistency is key oh yeah even if you can only spare a few minutes each day make it a habit to engage with the language in some way right

like read a news article listen to a podcast talk to yourself in English yeah those little things add up over time they really do you know I think one of the biggest takeaways from today is that learning a language is so much more than just memorizing words and grammar rules it is it's about connecting with a new culture yeah expanding your worldview and ultimately becoming a more well-rounded individual beautifully said well that's about it for this episode of chat like a native we hope you enjoyed this deep dive into thinking in English and we hope

you feel inspired to start thinking in English more often absolutely remember the power to unlock fluency lies within you so go out there Embrace The Challenge and start thinking in English today until next time happy learning