Shadowing Practice: How to Start Thinking in English (Stop Translating!) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
Hello beautiful people, I'm Nicole and welcome back to my channel.
2
In today's video we are going to be looking at how to think in English.
3
If you understand English and you can also speak it
4
but you feel like it sounds a little bit awkward or it's stressful
5
or even maybe you are translating everything in your head before you speak, today's video is going to be perfect for you.
6
We're going to be looking at a few things that you can either change or incorporate,
7
which means to add, into your daily routine to help you start thinking in English.
8
Let's get started.
9
Number one, start naming things around you.
10
Begin with simple things.
11
You don't need to do all these big and difficult words.
12
Start with the simple things like your phone, your laptop, the wall, window, TV, pencil, whatever it is.
13
Look around you right now.
14
Try name a few of the simple things around you.
15
Now I want you to expand on this.
16
So again, start simple, not too complicated.
17
Let's say one of the items or objects that you named was phone.
18
Make a short sentence.
19
This is my phone.
20
The window is open.
21
This pencil is blue.
22
Many learners say this is where everything started because it creates that connection between object and English.
23
No translation.
24
Number two.
25
Think in simple sentences.
26
You do not need to go big and bold with this one.
27
Again, I want you to start simple.
28
So instead of saying, I want to consume nourishment shortly, just say, I want to eat soon.
29
But remember, it's about thinking.
30
You don't need to physically speak to someone, but just force yourself to think in English.
31
Number two, think in simple sentences, not advanced ones.
32
Don't try and sound advanced.
33
This is only going to slow you down.
34
Instead of trying to think, for example, I want to consume nourishment shortly.
35
Make it simple.
36
I want to eat soon.
37
You can try simple sentences in your head like I am hungry.
38
I want to work or I need to go to work.
39
I feel sad.
40
I feel excited.
41
All of these little things, because you're forcing yourself to think in English, when you want to start speaking,
42
you won't have to actively do the translation in your head because you've started to think in English.
43
Just remember, fluency comes from speed and clarity, not complexity.
44
Keep it simple.
45
Number three, have small conversations with yourself.
46
Yes, talk to yourself.
47
It works.
48
You can try small little things.
49
You don't need to stand in front of a mirror.
50
You can if you'd like to, but this can create an awkward setting because we don't always stand in front of a mirror when we're thinking to ourselves.
51
A lot of the time we suggest standing in front of a mirror
52
so that you can see the movement of your mouth and your tongue, and this is practicing the mouth movement when we speak.
53
But when we're thinking, this isn't important.
54
We're just thinking.
55
So you don't need to prepare anything.
56
Do it on the spot.
57
For example, you're busy cooking dinner.
58
Think to yourself, what am I cooking.
59
I am cooking pasta.
60
Then I'm going to relax.
61
Have these conversations.
62
Maybe again, ask yourself, when I relax, what am I going to do?
63
I am going to watch a movie.
64
These small little things can help you again to stop the translation in your head.
65
Because you're having these conversations, it can also make you feel more prepared when you have real conversations with people.
66
Because perhaps someone asks you, what do you like to do when you're relaxed?
67
I've had this conversation with myself many times.
68
And you can feel more prepared and say, I like to watch TV.
69
You don't have to do that translation because you've already had this conversation with yourself.
70
You don't need to tell people that though.
71
Number four, change one daily habit to English.
72
Don't change everything.
73
This is going to lead to burnout.
74
Choose one thing at a time.
75
Once you've chosen one thing and you've gotten comfortable, then you can add another.
76
But if you do everything at one go, it's going to feel overwhelming and not at all going to be helping you.
77
It's just going to be stressful.
78
So for example, what you could change is your phone language.
79
You could start making your shopping lists in English.
80
You could start doing your daily planning in English or even a morning routine that you do.
81
Change it to English.
82
For example, I always recommend something like a shopping list is a good place to start because let's be honest,
83
your phone settings can be very difficult to work through and navigate if it is not in your native language.
84
So I think things like your shopping list or maybe even your daily routine, your schedule, these are good places to start.
85
Once you're comfortable with this, I want you to add on.
86
Once the shopping list is done, add in your schedule.
87
Once you've got comfortable with schedule, you can try.
88
Give it a attempt.
89
Change your phone settings to English.
90
And if it becomes overwhelming and very difficult, don't give up.
91
Keep pushing yourself because it will work.
92
Number five, stop translating word for word.
93
Translation is the biggest problem for obvious reasons, but mainly to understand it that for most languages,
94
sentence structure, tense usage, pronouns, all of these are different, not just with translation, but with placement in a sentence.
95
instead of thinking native language English I want you to train your brain to be object English directly
96
and this starts with the first few things
97
that we've already covered pen table TV whatever it is eventually your brain won't need to do
98
that translation and if you don't know the translation try and explain it.
99
For example, a thing that cuts food.
100
A knife.
101
In that moment you maybe forgot the word knife or had not learned it yet, but this makes a connection in your brain where you're not just translating.
102
You put in the effort to explain the word, a thing that cuts food.
103
Oh, knife.
104
For some reason, our brain loves this, and you seem to also remember a lot quicker.
105
This is how fluency develops.
106
Number six, practice speaking with a real person.
107
Yes, self-practice is good, but it's just not enough.
108
I want you to try and find a tutor, or a language partner, or even a friend.
109
With tutors, I do understand, maybe not everyone can afford to do this, not necessarily financially, but sometimes with time.
110
What always helps is maybe getting someone who is going to practice with you, someone who's on the same journey of learning English,
111
practice together, or even just a friend who's willing to sit and laugh with you.
112
I don't want you to focus on speaking perfectly, but I want you to try and focus on practicing natural speech.
113
And like I said, it does not have to be perfect.
114
Just focus on speaking in English.
115
Learners improve a lot faster when they speak regularly with people.
116
Number seven, use micro practice.
117
This is five to 10 minutes, maybe 15 minutes a day.
118
What you can focus on is five minutes of thinking in English, five minutes of speaking, and five minutes of listening.
119
This would be a total of 15 minutes.
120
Again, if this is too much for you, break it down into three minutes.
121
Three minutes speaking, thinking, listening, and so forth.
122
You need to understand that long hours is not necessary, but it is important to do frequent practice.
123
And that's why micro practice comes in, because for people who cannot put aside an hour or two hours a day,
124
15 minutes is at least something.
125
Research shows, and even students' experience,
126
have proven that short practice daily is a lot more effective than long, irregular study.
127
So keep practicing, even if it's only for 10 minutes a day.
128
Number eight, listen actively, not just passively.
129
Listening helps thinking, but not just listening to hear it.
130
I want you to engage.
131
So when watching a short video or YouTube or a movie,
132
listening to a podcast, what I want you to start doing is repeating what you hear.
133
Pause the video or podcast, whatever it is, and repeat what they say.
134
Practice the sentence structure, maybe even the pronunciation if you're focusing on certain or specific accents.
135
Pause, repeat.
136
Number nine, watch content you actually enjoy.
137
Don't force boring content.
138
Watch series that you love or movies that you enjoy.
139
You can start off with subtitles and slowly remove them.
140
And even what you can do, if it is available, find a movie from your native language that you have maybe watched already and enjoyed.
141
The emphasis is on enjoyment.
142
Find one and see if it is dubbed into English.
143
This is essentially movies where they've taken the original language
144
and replaced it with voiceover actors who now speak in a different language, and in this case, an English dubbed movie.
145
Learners who enjoy content stay consistent, and consistency builds fluency.
146
And number 10, accept mistakes.
147
This is non-negotiable.
148
If you are afraid to make mistakes, you are not going to improve.
149
I want you to change your mindset from mistakes are bad to mistakes mean I'm learning.
150
Just remember, every fluent speaker has made thousands, if not millions of mistakes.
151
You do not need to be perfect, but understanding where you're going wrong means that you are making improvements.
152
The key takeaway.
153
If you remember one thing, remember this.
154
Thinking in English is not about being perfect.
155
It's about being fast, simple, and consistent.
156
Just keep doing it.
157
Just keep trying.
158
Be cool, not a fool.
159
Subscribe for more English tips and hit that notification bell so you never miss a future video.
160
And if you would like one-on-one classes with me,
161
you can scan the QR code on the screen or click the link down in the description to book a class.
162
Comment down below, what is the hardest part about thinking in English.
163
I really want to know from your perspective what really is the hardest part, and maybe I can help guide you through the comments.
164
I'll see you next time.
165
Be cool, not a fool.
166
Subscribe for more English tips.
167
Chips!
Context & Background
In the journey of mastering a new language, the ability to think directly in that language is a crucial skill that many learners strive to achieve. In the insightful video "How to Start Thinking in English (Stop Translating!)", Nicole provides practical strategies for overcoming the barrier of translation in your native tongue, enabling you to express yourself more naturally in English. Rather than relying on cumbersome translations, the video emphasizes the importance of connecting directly with the English language through familiar objects, simple statements, and self-dialogue. By incorporating these techniques into your daily routine, you can develop a fluent mindset that fosters more confident and fluid English speaking practice.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- This is my phone.
- The window is open.
- I want to eat soon.
- I feel excited.
- I need to go to work.
Integrating these simple phrases into your daily conversations can significantly enhance your ability to think in English. Focusing on straightforward expressions removes the pressure of complicated vocabulary and allows for smoother communication. This foundational practice is a stepping stone towards enhancing your fluency and confidence in speaking.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively tackle the concepts presented in this video and improve your English speaking prowess, follow this step-by-step shadowing guide:
- Observe and Name: Begin by observing your surroundings. Name at least five common objects, such as "window," "desk," or "book." This activity helps solidify the connection between physical objects and their English names.
- Formulate Simple Sentences: Use the identified objects to create simple sentences. For example, if you named a "pencil," say "This pencil is blue." Practicing this will help you avoid complicated thoughts and speak more clearly.
- Practice Self-Dialogue: Initiate small conversations with yourself using the sentences you’ve created. You don’t need a mirror; simply think aloud as you engage with your thoughts in English.
- Utilize a Shadowing App: Consider using a shadowing app to practice listening and repeating phrases that resonate with daily communication. This can enhance your ability to think directly in English without translating.
- Incorporate Daily Routine: Regularly integrate this practice into your daily routine. Whether you’re driving, cooking, or even walking, think in English and reinforce your learning through consistent usage.
By following this shadowspeak approach, you can transform the way you internalize and express your thoughts in English, paving the way for greater fluency with each practice session. Remember, fluency thrives on speed and clarity; keeping your thought processes simple is key to effective communication.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.