Shadowing Practice: Still Translating Before You Speak English? Watch This - Learn English Speaking with Video
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1
Hello, hello, hello!
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Welcome back everyone!
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Hi there!
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We are so happy you are here with us today.
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Okay, so let me ask you something.
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Something very important.
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Ooh, I love questions.
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Ask me, ask me.
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Do you ever think in your own language first and then try to translate it into English?
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Oh, yes, yes.
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I did that for a very long time.
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And did it help you speak faster?
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No, it made everything slower.
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Much, much slower.
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Exactly.
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And that is the problem.
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That is the big problem that so many English learners have.
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They think in their language, then they translate, then they speak.
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And by the time they speak, the conversation is already over.
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Yes, the other person already walked away.
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So today, we are going to talk about how to train your brain, yes, your brain, to think directly in English.
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No more translating, no more slow thinking, just English.
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Natural English.
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And if you stay until the end, we have some very simple but very powerful exercises for you.
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Exercises that you can do at home, in the kitchen, on the bus, anywhere.
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So don't go anywhere, stay with us.
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This video could change the way you learn English forever.
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Let's go!
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Okay Alice, let's start with the big question.
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Why do people translate in their head when they speak English?
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That's such a good question.
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I think it's because that's how most people learn English in school.
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Right.
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In school, the teacher says a word in English and then gives you the word in your language.
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Yes.
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Apple, and then they say the word in your language.
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Cat, and then your language again.
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So your brain learns to connect English words with your native language words.
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Exactly.
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Your brain makes a connection.
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English word, your word.
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English word, your word.
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So when you want to speak, your brain goes back.
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It finds your word first, then it looks for the English word.
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It's like your brain is using a dictionary every single time you want to say something.
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Yes, a dictionary inside your head.
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And that dictionary takes time.
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It takes a lot of time.
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And when you are in a real conversation, you don't have time.
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People are talking fast.
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Things are moving fast.
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So you fall behind.
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You miss things.
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You feel nervous.
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And then you feel embarrassed.
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And then you stop speaking.
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And then you say, I'm bad at English.
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But that's not true.
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That's not true at all.
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You are not bad at English.
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Your brain just learned the wrong habit.
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A habit.
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That's the key word.
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H -A -B -I -T.
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Habit.
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Translating is a habit.
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And habits can be changed.
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Yes, that is the good news.
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You can change this habit.
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You can train your brain to stop translating and start thinking directly in English.
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And today we are going to show you how.
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Step -by -step, nice and slow, easy to understand.
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Let me ask you something, Alice.
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When did you first start thinking in English?
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Like, really thinking in English?
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Hmm, that's a good question.
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I remember it very clearly.
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I was washing dishes one day.
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Washing dishes?
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Yes, don't laugh.
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I was washing dishes and I looked at a plate
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And I thought, in English, this plate is dirty.
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And then I thought, wait, I just thought in English.
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That's beautiful.
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That's a beautiful moment.
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It felt amazing, like something clicked in my brain.
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Something clicked.
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That's a great phrase.
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When something clicks, it means you suddenly understand.
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It becomes clear.
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Yes, something clicked.
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Let's say that again.
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Something clicked.
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Something clicked.
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Good.
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Remember that phrase.
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It's very useful.
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So the question is, how do we get to that moment?
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How do we make something click in our brains?
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And that's exactly what we are going to talk about in this video.
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Oh, real quick, we have to tell you about something exciting.
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Yes, we just started a new channel, and we think you are going to love it.
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It's called Learn English Between Pages, and the idea is simple.
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We take great books about habits, confidence, money, psychology, personal growth.
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And we discuss them together in clear, simple, natural English.
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So you learn English and powerful life ideas at the same time.
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Each episode is perfect for walking, cooking, commuting, anywhere.
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No need to read the book first.
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Just press play and listen.
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Great books, clear English, real conversations.
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Search Learn English Between Pages.
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The link is in the description.
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We'll see you there.
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See you between the pages.
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Okay, first step.
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Are you ready?
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I'm ready.
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Stop using a dictionary for every single word.
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Oh, that sounds scary.
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I know, I know.
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But listen, this is very important.
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Okay, tell me why.
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When you hear a new English word, what do you usually do?
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I open my phone, I find the word, I read the meaning in my language.
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Right.
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And then you close the dictionary.
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Yes.
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And then five minutes later...
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I forget the word.
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Exactly.
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You forget it because your brain never really connected with that word.
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It just saw a translation, a symbol, a code.
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That's true.
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The word never felt real to me.
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Right.
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But what if, instead of looking at the translation, you looked at a picture or an example?
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Hmm.
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Tell me more.
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For example, the word nervous.
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Instead of looking up the word nervous in your language, you think about a time when you felt nervous.
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Maybe before an exam.
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Maybe before speaking in public.
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Oh, so I connect the word with a feeling, with a memory.
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Yes, with a real feeling, a real experience.
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And now, the word nervous is not just a translation.
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It's connected to your real life.
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That makes so much sense.
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I remember words much better when I feel them.
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Of course, because your brain is emotional.
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Your brain remembers things that are connected to feelings.
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So let's try it right now.
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The word is cozy.
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C -O -Z -Y.
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Cozy.
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Cozy.
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Don't look it up.
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Think about a warm blanket, a comfortable sofa, a rainy day outside, a hot cup of tea in your hand.
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Oh, yes. That feeling.
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I know that feeling.
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That feeling is cozy.
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Cozy means warm, comfortable, and safe.
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Cozy.
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I love that word now.
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I really do.
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See?
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Now you won't forget it, because it's connected to something real, something you feel.
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So the first step is connect words to feelings and pictures, not to your language.
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Exactly.
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Think in images, think in feelings, not in translations.
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And use an English -to -English dictionary when possible.
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Yes, that's a great tip.
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Use an English dictionary, one that explains words in simple English, not in your language, in English.
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At first, it will feel strange, a little difficult.
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Yes, but slowly, your brain will start to think in English, because everything you read is English, everything you see is English.
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And little by little, you start to live in English.
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Beautifully said, Alice.
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Little by little, you start to live in English.
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Let's say that slowly.
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Little by little, you start to live in English.
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Beautiful.
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Okay, David, what's the second step?
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The second step is talk to yourself.
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Talk to myself?
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Like, out loud?
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Yes, out loud, in English.
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People will think I'm crazy.
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Maybe, but your English will be amazing.
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Okay, okay, tell me more about this.
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So this is actually one of the most powerful things you can do.
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When you talk to yourself in English, you practice speaking without pressure, without fear.
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Because no one is judging me.
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Exactly.
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No one will listen.
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No one will laugh.
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No one will correct you.
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It's just you and your brain.
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So I can make mistakes?
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As many as you want.
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Make all the mistakes you want.
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That's how you learn.
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Okay, so what do I say?
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Like, what do I talk about?
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Talk about your day.
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Talk about what you see around you.
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Talk about what you are doing right now.
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So, like, I am walking to the kitchen.
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I am opening the refrigerator.
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I am looking for something to eat.
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Perfect.
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Exactly like that.
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You are narrating your life, like a movie.
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You are the narrator of your own movie.
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Oh, I like that.
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I am the narrator of my own movie.
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Yes.
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And when you are the narrator, you have to find English words for everything.
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For everything you see, for everything you do, for everything you feel.
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And if I don't know a word?
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Try to describe it.
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Use other words.
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Use words you know.
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For example, if I don't know the word fork, I can say, the thing I used to eat.
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Yes, that's called talking around a word.
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And native speakers do this too, by the way.
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Really? Of course.
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Sometimes you forget a word, so you describe it.
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You say, the thing that, or, you know it's like, and the conversation continues.
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Oh, that makes me feel better.
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Even native speakers do that.
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All the time.
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So don't be afraid.
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Just keep talking.
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Keep talking.
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Even when you don't know the perfect word, keep talking.
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Right.
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Because fluency is not about using perfect words.
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Fluency is about keeping the conversation alive.
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Keeping the conversation alive.
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I love that.
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Say it again.
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Keeping the conversation alive.
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Keeping the conversation alive.
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Yes.
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So, talking to yourself is like a workout for your brain.
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You are exercising your English brain.
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A workout.
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Exercise.
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Yes, like going to the gym, but for your English.
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Exactly.
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And the more you exercise, the stronger you get.
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Okay, I want to try.
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David, can you give me a situation and I will narrate it in English?
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Sure.
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Okay, you are making breakfast.
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Go.
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Okay.
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I am in the kitchen.
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I am making breakfast.
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First, I open the cupboard.
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I take the bread.
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Then I put the bread in the toaster.
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I wait.
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The bread is getting hot.
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Now it is ready.
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I put butter on the bread.
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Mmm, it smells good.
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I am hungry.
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Wonderful.
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That was great.
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Thank you.
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And you know what?
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It actually felt natural.
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I didn't stop to translate.
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I just talked.
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Because you were focused on the action, not on the grammar, not on the rules.
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Yes, I was thinking about the bread and the butter.
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And the words came by themselves.
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That is exactly what we want.
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The words come by themselves.
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That is thinking in English.
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Oh, wow.
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So simple, but so powerful.
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Simple things are the most powerful things.
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Okay, ready for the third step?
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Yes, what is it?
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Think in English before you go to sleep.
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Before sleeping?
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Yes, at night, when you are in your bed, comfortable, relaxed.
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Cozy.
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Cozy in your bed.
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Yes, cozy in your bed.
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And instead of thinking in your language, try to think in English.
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What do I think about?
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Think about your day.
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What happened today?
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What did you do?
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What did you eat?
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Who did you talk to?
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So I review my day, but in English.
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Exactly.
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You replay your day like a movie, but the movie is in English.
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And if I don't know a word?
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Just continue.
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Use a simple word or describe it.
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Don't stop.
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Don't stop.
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Keep going, even with mistakes.
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Yes, because when you are relaxed, your brain absorbs things more easily.
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Oh, that's interesting.
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Why?
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Because stress blocks learning.
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When you're stressed, your brain is too busy.
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It can't absorb new things.
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But when you are relaxed, your brain is open, like a sponge.
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Yes, a sponge.
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Your brain becomes a sponge and absorbs English naturally.
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I love that image, a brain like a sponge.
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And there's another reason.
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When you sleep after thinking in English, your brain continues to process the language.
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While I'm sleeping?
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Yes, your brain doesn't stop when you sleep.
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It keeps working.
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It organizes information.
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It makes connections.
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So sleeping is also studying.
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In a way, yes.
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Your brain is a very hard worker, even at night.
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Okay, I love this.
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This means I need more sleep.
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Well, yes.
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Good sleep is actually very important for learning any language.
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So the tip is, before sleeping, think about your day in English.
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Replay it like a movie in English.
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Yes, and don't judge yourself.
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Don't say, oh, I made a mistake.
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Just let the thoughts flow.
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Let the thoughts flow.
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That's beautiful.
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Let the thoughts flow in English every night, and slowly, English will become your second thinking language.
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Your second thinking language.
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Wow, I want that.
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You can have it.
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With practice, with patience, and with time.
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Practice, patience, time.
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The three big Ps.
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Well, two Ps in a T.
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yes practice patience
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and time okay david what's the next step this one is really fun
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i love this one oh tell me i'm excited label the world around
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you label what do you mean okay take small pieces of paper
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or sticky notes and write english words on them and then
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and then stick them on the things in your house on
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the door right door on the window right window on the mirror right mirror on the table right table oh
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so every time i see the object i also see the english word exactly
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you see the object you see the word your brain connects them directly no translation needed
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because the word is right there on the thing itself yes
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and after a few days your brain will remember
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this thing is a mirror this thing is a window
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this thing is a door without translating without translating just object english word direct connection that's
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so clever and it's so easy to do.
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Very easy and very effective.
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Children do this naturally.
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When they learn language, they don't translate.
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They just point and say the word.
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Like a baby, ball, dog, cup.
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Exactly.
367
And they remember because they say the word while they are holding the thing or looking at the thing.
368
So we should learn like children.
369
Connect the word to the real thing.
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Yes.
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Learn like a child.
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Don't be embarrassed to be a beginner.
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Every expert was once a beginner.
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Every expert was once a beginner.
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That's so true.
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So, label your house.
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Label your kitchen.
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Label your bedroom.
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Label your bathroom.
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Oh, maybe my family will think I'm strange.
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Maybe, but your English will be amazing and then they will want to do it too.
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True.
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You can teach your whole family English this way.
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Yes, make it a family project or a friend project.
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And you can also label in your phone, like change your phone settings to English.
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Oh, that's a great tip.
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Yes.
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Change your phone language to English.
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Change your apps to English.
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Because then, every time you use your phone, you are reading English.
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You are surrounded by English.
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Surrounded by English.
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That is the key.
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Surround yourself with English.
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Like living in an English -speaking country, but you don't have to travel.
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Exactly.
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You can create an English environment right where you are.
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In your home, on your phone, in your mind.
399
In your mind, yes.
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That's the most important place.
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Okay, step five.
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And this one is a little challenging.
403
Oh, a little challenging?
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Yes, but don't worry.
405
It's challenging in a good way.
406
Okay, what is it?
407
Watch English movies, shows, or videos without subtitles.
408
Oh, no. Really?
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Or at least with English subtitles.
410
Not in your language.
411
English subtitles.
412
Okay, English subtitles I can try, but no subtitles?
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That's scary.
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I know, but here's why.
415
When you read subtitles in your language, your brain reads your language.
416
It ignores the English.
417
So I'm not really listening.
418
My brain is reading and translating.
419
Exactly.
420
Your ears hear English sounds, but your brain is processing your language.
421
So you don't really improve your English listening.
422
That makes sense.
423
The subtitles are a shortcut, and shortpats don't build the skill.
424
Perfect.
425
Shortcuts don't build the skill.
426
Say that again.
427
Shortcuts don't build the skill.
428
Great.
429
So instead, try to watch without subtitles.
430
At first, you will miss many things.
431
That's okay.
432
It's okay not to understand everything?
433
Completely okay.
434
Even if you understand 50%.
435
Even if you understand 40%.
436
Your brain is still working.
437
Still learning.
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Still learning.
439
Even when I'm confused.
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Yes!
441
Confusion is not bad.
442
Confusion means your brain is working hard.
443
It's trying to understand.
444
Oh, I like that.
445
Confusion is your brain working hard.
446
And slowly, you will understand more and more.
447
Every time you watch, you will catch more words, more phrases, more ideas.
448
And what kind of content should I watch?
449
Start with something easy, something you enjoy.
450
Cartoons are great for beginners.
451
Cartoons?
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Like children's cartoons?
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Yes.
454
Don't feel embarrassed.
455
Cartoons use simple language, clear pronunciation, slow speech.
456
They are perfect for beginners.
457
I remember I watched a children's show in English once, and I understood almost everything.
458
It felt so good.
459
Exactly.
460
That feeling of understanding is so motivating.
461
It makes you want to watch more.
462
And when I get better, I can watch harder things.
463
Teen shows, adult shows, news.
464
Yes.
465
You go step by step, like climbing stairs.
466
One step at a time.
467
One step at a time.
468
No rushing.
469
And the key is, listen for meaning.
470
Don't listen for every single word.
471
Listen for the big idea.
472
Listen for the big idea.
473
Not every word.
474
Right.
475
Because in real conversations, you won't understand every word.
476
Native speakers speak fast.
477
They connect words.
478
They use slang.
479
So I need to train my brain to understand the meaning even when I miss some words.
480
Yes.
481
Use context.
482
Use the pictures.
483
Use the situation.
484
Your brain is smart.
485
It can guess.
486
It can guess.
487
Yes.
488
I trust my brain.
489
Good.
490
Trust your brain and give it lots of English input.
491
Movies, shows, YouTube, podcasts, music.
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The more English I hear, the more English my brain becomes.
493
Beautiful.
494
Say that one more time.
495
The more English I hear, the more English my brain becomes.
496
Perfect.
497
Write that down, everyone.
498
That is an important sentence.
499
Okay.
500
What's the sixth step, David?
501
The sixth step is to start small.
502
Start with very simple sentences when you think in English.
503
Simple sentences.
504
Like what?
505
Like this.
506
I am tired.
507
I want coffee.
508
Today is a good day.
509
The weather is nice.
510
I feel happy.
511
Oh, those are so simple.
512
Almost too simple.
513
That's perfect.
514
Start simple.
515
Don't try to think in long, complicated sentences.
516
That's too hard at first.
517
And then I can make the sentences longer, slowly?
518
Yes.
519
Start with, I am tired.
520
Then next week, I am so tired today because I worked a lot.
521
Then next month, I am absolutely exhausted today.
522
I had three meetings, I finished a big project, and I didn't have lunch.
523
Oh, that's a full story now.
524
Exactly.
525
You grow, little by little, sentence by sentence.
526
So the key is to never stop.
527
Always build.
528
Always add more.
529
Yes.
530
Always build.
531
Never be satisfied with I am tired forever.
532
Push yourself.
533
Add more.
534
But not too fast.
535
Not too much pressure.
536
Right.
537
Balance.
538
Push yourself, but be kind to yourself too.
539
Be kind to yourself.
540
That's so important.
541
So many learners give up because they are too hard on themselves.
542
They make one mistake and they think, I'm terrible at English.
543
Oh yes, I used to do that.
544
I used to feel so ashamed when I made a mistake.
545
But mistakes are normal.
546
Mistakes are good.
547
Mistakes are how you learn.
548
Can I tell you something funny?
549
One time I said, I am very embarrassed, but I said, I am very embarrassing instead.
550
Oh no. What's the difference?
551
I am embarrassed means I feel embarrassed, but I am embarrassing means I am a person who causes embarrassment in others.
552
So you called yourself an embarrassing person.
553
Yes, and everyone laughed.
554
And at first I felt bad, but then I laughed too.
555
And I never forgot that difference again.
556
That's a perfect example.
557
The mistake made you remember.
558
You will never confuse those two words again.
559
Never.
560
So embrace your mistakes, laugh at them, learn from them, and keep going.
561
Embrace your mistakes.
562
Don't run from them.
563
Perfect.
564
Now let's practice simple sentences together.
565
Everyone watching, say these sentences with us.
566
Yes, repeat after us.
567
Ready?
568
I am learning English.
569
I practice every day.
570
My English is getting better.
571
I believe in myself.
572
I believe in myself.
573
I will not give up.
574
I will not give up.
575
Good job, everyone.
576
Excellent.
577
Yes, you are doing great.
578
Keep going.
579
Keep believing.
580
All right.
581
Step seven.
582
And this step is very important.
583
Maybe the most important of all.
584
OK, tell me.
585
Use English every day, even for just five minutes.
586
Only five minutes?
587
Only five minutes?
588
That's all.
589
Just five minutes.
590
That sounds easy.
591
But wait, is it really enough?
592
It's not about how long.
593
It's about how often.
594
Oh, quality versus quantity or consistency?
595
Consistency.
596
That's the magic word.
597
C -O -N -S -I -S -T -E -N -C -Y.
598
Consistency.
599
Consistency means doing something regularly, every day, not sometimes, every day.
600
Exactly.
601
Five minutes every day is better than five hours one day, and nothing for the rest of the week.
602
That's so true.
603
I know people who study for a whole day and then do nothing for two weeks.
604
And their English doesn't improve much, because the brain forgets.
605
Without regular practice, the brain forgets.
606
But if you practice every day, even a little, the brain stays connected to English.
607
Yes, it stays warm, like a fire.
608
You have to keep adding small pieces of wood to keep the fire burning.
609
Oh, that's a beautiful image.
610
Keep the fire burning.
611
Your English is a fire.
612
Keep it burning with daily practice.
613
Keep it burning.
614
Don't let it go out.
615
So even on busy days, even when you are tired, even when you have no time, find five minutes for English.
616
Five minutes while waiting for the bus, five minutes while making tea, five minutes before sleeping.
617
Yes, English is everywhere.
618
You can find it in small moments.
619
And those small moments add up.
620
Five minutes today, five minutes tomorrow, five minutes the day after.
621
After a month, that's 150 minutes of English practice, without even trying hard.
622
Wow, when you put it that way, it sounds very achievable.
623
It is achievable.
624
It is very achievable.
625
Anyone can do five minutes.
626
Anyone, even the busiest person in the world.
627
Even the busiest person.
628
There are no excuses.
629
No excuses.
630
I said it.
631
And what can you do in those five minutes?
632
You can talk to yourself in English, you can listen to an English song, you can watch a short English video,
633
you can read a few sentences in English.
634
Or you can think.
635
Just think.
636
Think about your day in English.
637
Yes, even just thinking counts.
638
Your brain is practicing.
639
Your brain is always working.
640
Give it English to work with.
641
Give your brain English every day, without fail.
642
Without fail, every single day.
643
Okay, step eight.
644
I'm excited.
645
What is it?
646
Find an English thinking partner.
647
A thinking partner?
648
What does that mean?
649
It means find someone, a friend, a family member, anyone, and agree to speak only English together, even for a short time.
650
Oh, like an English -only rule.
651
Yes, you and your partner make a rule.
652
For the next 30 minutes, we speak only English, no other language allowed.
653
That sounds both fun and terrifying.
654
It is.
655
At first, it's terrifying, but then it becomes fun, and then it becomes natural.
656
And if we don't know a word?
657
You describe it.
658
You use other words.
659
Remember?
660
The thing that you use to eat or the thing that makes coffee.
661
The coffee maker.
662
Yes, you can figure it out together.
663
That's the beauty of a language partner.
664
And you can laugh together when you make mistakes.
665
That makes it less scary.
666
Exactly, because you are in the same boat, both learning, both making mistakes, both growing.
667
Both growing together.
668
That's lovely.
669
And if you can't find a friend, you can find online partners.
670
There are apps, websites, communities where people practice English together.
671
Like Language Exchange.
672
I talk to you in English, you help me.
673
And I help you in my language.
674
Yes!
675
Language Exchange is wonderful.
676
You both give and both receive.
677
And you make friends, too.
678
International friends.
679
Absolutely.
680
English connects you to the whole world.
681
That's one of its greatest gifts.
682
English connects you to the world.
683
Say that again.
684
English connects you to the world. So true.
685
I have friends from so many countries now because of English.
686
Me, too.
687
English opened so many doors for me.
688
Open doors.
689
That's another great phrase.
690
Learning English opens doors.
691
New opportunities, new friendships, new possibilities.
692
New possibilities.
693
I like that.
694
Every English word you learn is a new possibility.
695
Beautiful.
696
I'm going to remember that one, Alice.
697
Thank you.
698
So find your English partner.
699
Practice together.
700
Laugh together.
701
Grow together.
702
And even if you don't have a partner right now, you have us.
703
David and I are your partners.
704
Yes, we are your English partners.
705
Every video, we practice together.
706
Every video, we grow together.
707
And that's why you should subscribe to this channel.
708
Ah, yes.
709
If you haven't subscribed yet, please do it now.
710
Click that subscribe button and hit the bell icon so you never miss a video.
711
Because we upload new videos regularly.
712
New topics, new vocabulary, new conversations, all for you.
713
All designed to help you improve your English, step by step, day by day.
714
And if this video is helping you right now, please give it a thumbs up.
715
It helps us reach more learners like you.
716
More learners who want to improve their English.
717
More people who want to think in English.
718
Together, we can build a beautiful community of English learners from all over the world.
719
From all over the world.
720
Yes, we love you all.
721
Now, back to the steps.
722
Step nine, and this one is very interesting.
723
Tell me.
724
When you have a thought in your language, immediately try to translate it into English.
725
Just that thought.
726
Just that one sentence.
727
Oh, so every time I think something in my language, I catch it and I rephrase it in English.
728
Exactly.
729
You catch the thought, like catching a fish, and then you translate it.
730
Not from a dictionary, but from your heart.
731
From your heart.
732
I like that.
733
For example, you think, I'm hungry.
734
I want to eat something.
735
Your first thought is in your language, but then you immediately say it in English, out loud, or in your head.
736
I'm hungry.
737
I want to eat something.
738
Yes!
739
And the more you do this, the faster your brain learns to skip the first step.
740
To skip the first language and go directly to English.
741
Exactly.
742
You train the shortcut.
743
You train your brain to go straight to English.
744
Like creating a new road in your brain.
745
Oh, that's a wonderful way to say it.
746
Creating a new road.
747
At first, the new road is bumpy and slow, but with practice, it becomes smooth and fast.
748
And eventually, the new road is the main road.
749
The English road becomes the main road in your brain.
750
The English road becomes the main road.
751
I love that and your old language road is still there.
752
You don't lose it.
753
You just build a new one.
754
Oh, that's important.
755
You don't lose your native language.
756
Never.
757
Bilingual people, people who speak two languages, they have both roads in their brain, and they can choose which road to drive on.
758
And that is a beautiful thing, to have two roads, two languages, two worlds in your brain.
759
Two worlds, yes.
760
Being bilingual is like being rich.
761
Rich in language, rich in connection, rich in understanding.
762
Rich in understanding.
763
Hmm, I think that's one of the best things about learning a new language.
764
What do you mean?
765
Well, when you learn another language, you also learn about another culture, another way of thinking, another way of seeing the world.
766
Yes, language is not just words.
767
Language is a window, a window to another world.
768
A window to another world.
769
Beautiful.
770
Say that again slowly.
771
Language is a window to another world.
772
Language is a window to another world.
773
And learning English gives you the biggest window of all, because English is spoken in so many countries by so many people.
774
Yes, English really is a global language.
775
It connects everyone.
776
So, let's go back to step 9.
777
Catch your thoughts.
778
Translate them to English.
779
Do it every day.
780
Build that new road.
781
Build the English road in your brain.
782
And be patient.
783
It takes time, but it will happen.
784
It will happen.
785
Believe in the process.
786
Okay, step 10.
787
We are so close to the end.
788
Yes, step 10 is listen to English while doing other things.
789
Oh, passive listening?
790
Yes, also called background listening or immersion listening.
791
Tell me more.
792
This sounds good for lazy people.
793
For busy people, Alice.
794
For busy people.
795
Yes, of course.
796
Busy people.
797
So the idea is simple.
798
When you are cooking, put on an English podcast.
799
When you are cleaning, listen to an English audiobook.
800
When you are driving, listen to English news or music.
801
So you are not studying.
802
You are just listening in the background.
803
Right.
804
You are not focused on every word.
805
You are just surrounded by English sounds, English rhythm, English music.
806
And does this really work?
807
Yes, it really works.
808
Not as powerfully as active studying, but it helps a lot.
809
What does it help with, exactly?
810
It helps your ear get used to English sounds, English pronunciation, English rhythm.
811
The music of English.
812
Yes.
813
Every language has a music, a rhythm.
814
English has its own music.
815
And your ear needs to hear it a lot to get used to it.
816
That's why babies learn to speak before they can even understand words.
817
They first hear the music.
818
Exactly.
819
Babies listen for months and months before they speak.
820
And when they speak, they already have the rhythm, the sounds, the music.
821
So we should be like babies in that way.
822
Listen, listen, listen.
823
Listen a lot, even without understanding everything.
824
Just let it come in.
825
Let it come in.
826
Don't block it.
827
Don't worry about understanding every word.
828
Just open your ears, open your mind, and let English flow in.
829
Let English flow in, yes.
830
And over time, you will notice something amazing.
831
You will understand more and more, without even studying.
832
Without studying?
833
Just from listening?
834
Yes.
835
Passive listening plus active studying together is a very powerful combination.
836
Oh, like a team.
837
Active studying is one player.
838
Passive listening is another player.
839
Together, they are a great team.
840
Perfect analogy, Alice.
841
A great team.
842
And what kind of content do you recommend for passive listening?
843
English podcasts for learners, like this one.
844
English audiobooks with simple language.
845
English music.
846
English movies in the background.
847
And for intermediate learners, native English podcasts, real conversations between native speakers.
848
Yes, that's more challenging, but it's also very rewarding because it's real English, natural English.
849
Real English, not textbook English, not slow motion English.
850
Real English is messy.
851
It's fast.
852
It's full of connected speech and contractions and slang.
853
But that's what you will hear in real life.
854
So you need to train for it.
855
Train your ears, train your brain, bit by bit.
856
Bit by bit, small piece by small piece.
857
And remember, you don't need to move to an English -speaking country to be surrounded by English.
858
You can create that environment right where you are.
859
Create your English environment wherever you are.
860
Okay, Alice, we've covered 10 steps.
861
That's a lot of information.
862
Yes, wonderful information, but also maybe a little overwhelming.
863
I know.
864
So let's put it all together.
865
Let's make a simple daily routine, something easy to follow.
866
Yes.
867
Give me the daily routine.
868
What should I do every day?
869
Okay.
870
Here is a simple daily routine for thinking in English.
871
Are you ready?
872
Ready.
873
And everyone listening, get ready, too.
874
You might want to write this down.
875
In the morning, when you wake up, before you even get out of bed, think three sentences in English about your day.
876
For example, good morning.
877
Today is a beautiful day.
878
I have a lot of things to do.
879
Simple.
880
Short.
881
Just three sentences.
882
That's enough for the morning.
883
And it starts your brain in English mode from the very beginning of the day.
884
English mode.
885
I like that.
886
Your brain is like a phone.
887
You can switch it to English mode.
888
English mode on.
889
During the day, when you are doing any activity, narrate it in English, just in your head, or out loud if you can.
890
I am making lunch.
891
I am putting vegetables in the pan.
892
The oil is hot.
893
I can smell it.
894
Perfect.
895
You are living your life and narrating it in English at the same time.
896
It becomes like a habit, like breathing.
897
Like breathing, exactly.
898
You don't think about breathing, you just do it.
899
We want English to be like that.
900
Natural, automatic, effortless.
901
In the afternoon, listen to English content, a podcast, a YouTube video, a song, even for 15 minutes.
902
Just 15 minutes of listening, that's all. And focus.
903
Try to understand the main idea.
904
Don't worry about every word.
905
Focus on the main idea, not every word.
906
In the evening, if you have a partner, speak English together for a few minutes.
907
If not, talk to yourself.
908
Tell yourself how your day was in English.
909
Today was a good day.
910
I was a little tired, but I learned a lot.
911
I practiced my English and I feel proud.
912
Beautiful and very powerful because you are reviewing your day in English.
913
And at night, before sleeping, think in English.
914
Let your brain process the language while you sleep.
915
Let your brain work for you, even while you rest.
916
That's a good brain, a hard -working brain.
917
And remember, don't try to do everything perfectly.
918
This is not about perfection.
919
This is about progress.
920
Progress, not perfection.
921
Say it with us, everyone.
922
Progress, not perfection.
923
Progress, not perfection.
924
Every day you are a little better than yesterday, and that is enough.
925
That is more than enough.
926
That is wonderful.
927
David, can I share something with the listeners? Of course.
928
Go ahead.
929
When I started my English journey, I felt so lost.
930
I knew many words, I studied grammar, but I couldn't speak.
931
I couldn't think in English.
932
I would open my mouth and nothing would come out.
933
I know that feeling.
934
So many people know that feeling.
935
And then I started doing exactly what we talked about today.
936
Talking to myself.
937
Thinking in English.
938
Narrating my life.
939
Watching shows without subtitles.
940
Finding partners.
941
And look at you now.
942
And look at me now.
943
Talking to all of you. In English.
944
Naturally.
945
Without translating.
946
Without fear.
947
That's the power of these steps.
948
They work.
949
They really, truly work.
950
If I could do it, you can do it.
951
I promise you.
952
You can do it.
953
You can do it believe in yourself trust the process practice every day
954
and you will wake up one day maybe while washing dishes
955
and realize that you are thinking in english without even trying and
956
that day will feel magical magical yes pure magic let's do
957
a quick review of all 10 steps are you ready ready
958
step one stop translating every word connect words to feelings and images
959
Step two, talk to yourself in English.
960
Narrate your life.
961
Step three, think in English before you sleep.
962
Step four, label the world around you with English words.
963
Step five, watch English content without subtitles or with English subtitles.
964
Step six, start with simple sentences and build up slowly.
965
Step seven, use English every day, even for five minutes.
966
Step eight, find an English thinking partner.
967
Step nine, catch your thoughts and rephrase them in English.
968
Step 10.
969
Listen to English while doing other things.
970
Background listening.
971
10 steps.
972
Simple, powerful, effective.
973
And all of them together create one big thing.
974
An English thinking brain.
975
An English thinking brain.
976
That's the goal.
977
And you can have it.
978
You are already on your way.
979
Just by watching this video, you are already one step closer.
980
Okay, everyone.
981
We are almost at the end of today's video.
982
But before we go, we have a question for you, and we really want to hear your answer.
983
Here is the question.
984
What is the moment when you realized your English was getting better?
985
Maybe you understood a movie without subtitles for the first time.
986
Maybe you had a conversation with a native speaker and felt confident.
987
Maybe you dreamed in English.
988
Dreamed in English.
989
That's a sign, a beautiful sign.
990
When you dream in English, your brain has truly accepted English.
991
It's living inside you.
992
So tell us, tell us in the comments below.
993
The moment I realized my English was getting better was when… Finish that sentence in the comments.
994
We read every comment.
995
We love hearing from you.
996
And if you haven't had that moment yet, that's okay.
997
Keep going, keep practicing.
998
It will come.
999
It will definitely come.
1000
We promise.
1001
Now, let's do one final practice together.
1002
Repeat these sentences after us, slowly and clearly.
1003
Ready?
1004
Let's go.
1005
I think in English every day.
1006
I think in English every day.
1007
My English is improving.
1008
I am not afraid to make mistakes.
1009
I believe in myself.
1010
I will think in English today.
1011
I will think in English today.
1012
walking with you on your English journey.
1013
From David and Alice, we say keep going, keep practicing, keep believing.
1014
And remember, your English brain is building right now with every video, with every word.
1015
One day you will think in English without even trying.
1016
And that day is closer than you think.
1017
We'll see you in the next video.
1018
Take care, everyone.
1019
Bye -bye.
1020
Keep smiling.
1021
Keep learning.
1022
You've got this.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Still Translating Before You Speak English? Watch This”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: english, word, brain, language, step. This video has 1022 sentences and 6385 words to shadow. The speech runs for 38:57. The speaker talks at a natural 164 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 88% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| connect verb | /kəˈnɛkt/ | To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object. |
| translate verb | /tɹænzˈleɪt/ | To change spoken words or written text (of a book, document, movie, etc.) from one language to another. |
| label noun | /ˈleɪ.bəl/ | A small ticket or sign giving information about something to which it is attached or intended to be attached. |
| habit noun | /ˈhæb.ɪt/ | An action performed on a regular basis. |
| dictionary noun | /ˈdɪk.ʃəˌnɛ.ɹi/ | A reference work listing words or names from one or more languages, usually ordered alphabetically, explaining each word's meanings or senses, oftentimes also… |
| embarrassed adjective | /ɪmˈbæɹ.əst/ | Having a feeling of shameful discomfort. |
| translation noun | /tɹænzˈleɪʃən/ | The conversion of text from one language to another. |
| podcast noun | /ˈpɑdˌkæst/ | A program, especially an audio program, produced on a regular basis, delivered over the Internet in a compressed digital format and designed for playback on… |
| surround verb | /səˈɹaʊnd/ | To encircle something or simultaneously extend in all directions. |
| beginner noun | /bəˈɡɪnɚ/ | Someone who is just starting at something, or has only recently started. |
| wash verb | /wɑʃ/ | To clean with water. |
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| dish noun | /dɪʃ/ | A vessel such as a plate for holding or serving food, often flat with a depressed region in the middle. |
| cartoon noun | /kɑɹˈtun/ | A humorous drawing, often with a caption, or a strip of such drawings. |
| rhythm noun | /ˈɹɪð.əm/ | The variation of strong and weak elements (such as duration, accent) of sounds, notably in speech or music, over time; a beat or meter. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| give up verb | To surrender (someone or something); to inform on (someone). | |
| wake up verb | /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/ | To stop sleeping; to awake. |
| add up verb | To take the sum of; to total. | |
| build up verb | To erect; to construct. | |
| come out verb | /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ | To be discovered; to be revealed. |
| fall behind verb | To be late (for a regular event) | |
| get out of verb | To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of. | |
| go ahead verb | /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/ | To proceed with; to begin. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- How do we make something click in our brains?
- What do I think about?
- Who did you talk to?
- Can I tell you something funny?
- What should I do every day?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to eat · used to do · used to feel |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | can be changed · are connected · are surrounded |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | haven't subscribed · we've covered · has truly accepted |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | person who causes · people who study · people who want |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 66 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: rhythm /ˈɹɪð.əm/, breathe /bɹiːð/, sixth /sɪksθ/, smooth /smuːð/, thumb /ˈθʌm/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: dictionary /ˈdɪk.ʃəˌnɛ.ɹi/, translation /tɹænzˈleɪʃən/, wash /wɑʃ/, dish /dɪʃ/, perfection /pɚˈfɛk.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: dictionary /ˈdɪk.ʃəˌnɛ.ɹi/, consistency /kənˈsɪs.tən.si/, naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, complicated /ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like connect, translate, label.
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.