What is the best way to think in English and stop translating in your head? 

Do you have the issue that you are able to understand English speakers speaking in English, or maybe you can understand a lot of written English, but when it comes to speaking in English, you simply get stuck translating and you CANT speak in English?

It’s probably because you are stuck translating in your head!

In this English lesson, I will share with you 5 steps to help you STOP in your head to enable you to improve your confidence speaking in English!

This video is a continuation of my video lesson on how to think in English.  In that video, I shared many tips, and suggestions you can use to improve your ability to think in English.

Now, I do suggest that you watch that video lesson before you continue with this video, as in order for you to use these tips I share in this video lesson.

By you watching this video lesson, I assume the following:

• You can understand 60-70% of what I am saying
• You are able to watch and follow TV shows in English (maybe with English subtitles)
• You need to improve your confidence in English
• But you are stuck playing the translation game… 🙁

Friends before we begin, I want to tell you the problem with translating….

Friends, these problems I have experienced first hand improving my fluency in my second language and also have seen my students experience the same issues!

• If you are constantly transiting words in your head, this takes up too much time, and you are doing double the work and you won’t sound fluent or confident speaking in English

• if you are translating words, some words you may use in your native language are not used in the same way as in the English language, for this reason, its a problem in communication

• it is too hard! It takes to long for your brain to do this and process information and at the end of the day, do you want to be a translator or do you want to be able to speak English fluently and confidently?

So what are the 5 steps to STOP TRANSLATING to improve your confidence speaking in English

1. Immersion

I’ve mentioned this hundred of times in my video lessons.  You need to surround yourself with the English language as much as possible to improve your ability to stop thinking in English.

Immersion means to surround yourself in the English language.  Make English a part of your everyday life, by listening, reading, writing and speaking in English on a regular basis, so that you can see words, phrases, and expressions being used naturally.

2. Use simple words, and words you know!

As I mentioned before, I said that I assumed that you can understand 60-70% off my videos and English speakers, but you are translating when speaking in English and your spoken confidence is LOW!

You need to use simple words; you know and have heard through immersion when making sentences in English.

Don’t overcomplicate it… use simple sentences

This is especially important if you are shy if you are an introvert and you are scared of making mistakes and sounding silly!

Do not translate complex sentences from your native language to English!  It doesn’t work!

Through immersion, you’ve got to a level, where you can understand and you DO know words!

Remember I assumed you can understand 60-70% of this video, so you do know words!

SO STOP TRANSLATING WHEN SPEAKING!

You know words in English, you know phrases and expression in English…. but you simply don’t use them!

When speaking with people, construct simple sentences using the words you know when speaking in English.

Do not think in your native language, but think and use the words you currently know in English and construct simple sentences to express yourself using them.

3. Avoid long complex sentences

Do you know how many times I have taught very intelligent people in their native language, and they want to sound smart in English?

I have been a victim of this too, using the Croatian language…

Maybe you don’t want to sound dumb in English by using simple sentences, so you translate such long, complex and SMART sentences they think from their native language to English.

BUT you translate a word from their native language wrong in the English language, and they appear not so intelligent?

It doesn’t work!  DO NOT translate complex sentences from your native language to English, as it doesn’t work. Period!

Use the words you already know, are familiar with 100% to make smart simple sentences in English and avoid sounding dumb

4. Do not be lazy!

This sounds pretty simple right?  WRONG!

Do you know how many times it is simply EASIER to translate from your native language to English… instead of actually thinking about that word you have heard in English?

If you think for a few minutes about that word, I am sure you will find it, as you have already followed step one an immersed yourself in the English language, and you KNOW THAT WORD!

DO NOT BE LAZY! Use your brain, think of that context you have heard that word before, and use it when speaking in English.

 5. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes

Sometimes it can be difficult to put all those rules and words together into a simple sentence. Don’t let the fear of saying something wrong stop you from speaking at all.

Even if you think you’re making a mistake, keep speaking anyway.

Most of the time, people will understand what you’re trying to say, even if you make a mistake.

Plus, the more you speak, the easier it gets, and the more quickly the right words will come to mind.

There you have it, friends!

Use these 5 steps to STOP translating to improve your confidence speaking in English!

They work, period!

I would love to hear from you, what tips do you have to help others learning English from stopping translating to improve their confidence speaking in English?

 Share them with us in the comments below