Thinking in a Foreign Language: 7 Methods to Help You Train Your Brain
In learning a foreign language, there are four basic language skills- reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
6 minute read
Everyone's goal when learning a new language, like English, is to speak it fluently and have good pronunciation. And you may have enough knowledge about it, and the proper grammar. Still, when speaking in English, you are self-conscious about which word to use to express yourself, or which verb is the right one for the conversation. You end up getting nervous because of your insecurities.
These doubts that hold you back when talking in another language are more common than you might think. Don't let yourself be dominated by those thoughts. Having the right attitude is the first step to speaking English with fluency.
Here we leave you with the best way to learn English fluently
Where should you start?
1. Plan a study routine
One of the aspects that helps the most when learning is the organization of activities. With a study routine, you will find yourself speaking English very soon.
Set times to practice every day and keep your focus on your goals. Work on your discipline. Perseverance is essential if you want to master English.
2. Listen to audios every day
Familiarizing your ear with the language you are learning is one of the best ways to achieve fluency. Choose your favorite songs, watch movies, or shows in English with English subtitles. This will open your mind, and you will learn how each word is pronounced.
When you listen to the language, you get your ear used to distinguishing new words, intuiting their meanings, and modeling the pronunciation.
3. Read in English
Reading allows you to integrate new words into your vocabulary, which you can then use when speaking in English. It is also an essential tool to learn to understand each word. Another tip is to read aloud to practice your pronunciation and loosen up when you speak.
4. Don’t translate directly
A mistake that is often made among students is translating words into their native language. DO NOT DO IT! When you translate, you only change the meaning of what is being said. The best way to learn the words is according to their context.
Another reason to avoid translation is that you get used to your mind translating things while you’re speaking. This distracts and blocks you, so the chances are smaller you’ll reach fluency.
5. Think in English
This is the key to speaking fluently. It may seem somewhat complicated, but it is easier than you think. It does not matter if you do not know the vocabulary much, you can work with the level you currently have, and with time, you will learn new words.
6. Review the new words
As you learn, you will encounter words that you have not heard before or new expressions that you’ve never used. The best way to expand your knowledge and vocabulary is by using these new words in your English conversations.
7. Take classes
There are many courses on the internet where you can find free or paid material and lessons to learn to speak English, but the best way is to invest some money in a course with personalized teachers to help you achieve fluency.
