Hello listeners and welcome back to the English with Neil Learn English podcast.
How was everyone doing today?
I had a pretty good day today.
My family and I took a trip to Tokyo and we visited the Olympic Stadium where the 2021 Olympics were held.
So that was pretty nice to visit that stadium.
But today I wanted to answer a question that was asked in the comments a while back.
This Comment was asked by, I think her name is Madiel Rodriguez.
Please excuse me if I'm pronouncing that wrong.
But Ms.
Rodriguez asked Neil, when you have time, please talk to us about how to stop translating when a person is learning a new language.
Greetings from Dominican Republic.
So Miss Rodriguez, I think it's Miss.
It could be Mr. I think it's Miss Rodriguez.
Please again, I'm sorry if I'm pronouncing your name wrong, but thank you for this question.
And so in this episode, I'd like to talk about how to stop translating in your head when learning a new language.
So I like to think about learning languages.
Like creating a second brain in your head.
Obviously, we cannot create two separate brains, but I want you to think about.
Having a new brain when you're learning a new language.
You have a brain that you use for your native, your mother language, and then you also have another brain for the language that you're learning, and this one will be English.
So I like to think about languages as having two brains.
When you're using your mother language you're using that brain.
When you're speaking English you're only using that brain and you're not mixing the two.
But how do you do this?
How do You have a conversation with someone without translating from your mother language to English?
And this is not an easy question, but I'm going to give you some advice for how you can get to that level.
So the first thing I want to advise is something called immersion.
Immersion means when you put something all around you and this will be English.
So listening to English podcasts like this is a perfect way to immerse yourself in English.
Another way you can immerse yourself is by writing a journal in English.
And I would advise you to do this every single day, because writing a journal helps you think in English.
This is perfect to quiet your mother language and only think in English.
This is a perfect opportunity, and I like journaling because you can slow down And you don't have to rush.
So when you're writing a journal in English, Take your time, Write about your day, Write about what you did, Write about tomorrow's plans all in English and this will help you activate that second English brain.
Another thing that I would advise and I did this a lot when I was learning Japanese is to talk to yourself.
Talk to yourself in English.
Talk about your day, Talk about what you're doing.
Say, today I have to buy some new groceries, Or at 5 o'clock I have to meet my friend.
Do this all in English.
Talk to yourself as much as you can in English So that you can have an easier time thinking in English.
Remember that repetition, doing this over and over and over is going to help.
Another thing you can do is read out loud. get an English book and read out loud.
This will help you listen to English, and then you will be practicing English speaking at the same time.
So read out loud in English.
And another thing I have a video that I did a while back on my channel.
It was titled how to think faster in English, and I'd like you to listen to that video and I have some tips in there to help you start thinking in English faster, and I have some exercises that you can try.
So check out that episode when you have a chance on my channel how to think faster in English.
Okay, and the last thing that I just wanna say is that remember that you don't have to be perfect.
Speaking English is not about being perfect.
It's all about communication.
I've been living in Japan for 11 years.
I've been learning.
I feel like I'm always learning.
I've been here for 11 years.
Learning Japanese at 18 years old.
I'm in my mid 30s now.
And I feel like I'm always learning.
And I always have well, not always, but sometimes I have situations where I have to translate in my head.
I went to the bank last week and I was talking to the bank teller and I had I had to translate, because what I wanted to say was it just wasn't coming out the way I wanted it to.
And so I had to translate in my head.
And that's OK.
Just know that you may not always be perfect, but is just about repetition.
Just keep practicing and practicing and you'll get better over time.
Okay, so I hope this helps and thank you again for the request.
If you have an episode, that or something that you would like me to talk about, please leave it in the comments.
I love learning about new things.
I love talking about things on this podcast.
So if you have something that you want me to talk about, go ahead and leave it in the comments and I'll get back to you soon.
Okay, everyone, that is it for today's episode.
Thank you for tuning in to the English with Neil podcast.
I look forward to speaking with you in the next one.
Take care, everyone, and talk to you soon.
Peace.
