How do English learners think in English?
I have a habit of speaking English, that is, when I talk to other people in English, I usually translate their sentences to Vietnamese then find the answer, translate from Vietnamese to English and answer them. All process are done on my mind, however it takes me a lot of time and can communicate well. I searched on the Internet and asked some of my foreign friends and they said that I need to learn how to think in English. I tried so many ways such as watching movies, learning the common sentences but I still can't stop thinking in Vietnamese. Please help me :((
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 5
1
Technically true, thinking in English comes with time and mastery, with two exceptions -
First is how much time you spend immersed in the language. That is, the more you talk exclusively in English, the better able you will be to think in English.
Second is finding ways to 'trigger' the target language thinking. So for example, having different conversational patterns that you always say in English. If I were to say, "Co khỏe không?" and you always say, "I am doing good, how are you?" then with extensive practice you can see your mind thinking in English. Once you understand how that feels through a number of phrases, figuring out how to turn your mind to pure target language is easier (with sufficient vocabulary and grammatical understanding before of course).
1
I agree with Vu Anh Tuan. There is no how-to on these things.
As you study and practice, your brain cells get more and more steeped in English.
At some point there will be enough English in your brain that it'll start to think in it, make phrases and sentences in it, and eventually it will become fluent in the language.
It is a wishful thinking to imagine that there might be a special method or shortcut. It is 100% determined by how much time and effort you put into it. So just read, read, read, and listen, listen, and listen. That is all there is to it.
1
Focus on becoming conversational. That is, don't learn lots of vocabulary. Learn necessary vocabulary (and grammar) and become an expert at using it. Having conversations will become intuitive and learning new vocabulary will become intuitive as well. Just talk as much as possible in English and you'll start thinking in it soon enough. It's easier for some people and harder for others, so as long as you're learning and improving then don't worry too much.
0
Hi,
I'm learning English too.
The problem is the difference between English grammar and native grammar.
For the beginner, they can't re-act immediately with an English sentence(s) because of this problem. So don't worry or hurry about it, pls try to accumulate your grammar and vocabulary as much as possible. When they are accumulated enough, they themselves become your skill.
Tks.
0
I have never figured out how to think in English either.
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