Do you find yourself translating from your first language before you speak?
Today, Michelle and Aubrey are sharing three practical tips to help you start thinking directly in English instead.
This will help you improve vocabulary, grammar, and your connections.
Why should you think in English?
Michelle asks Aubrey what is the best way to avoid thinking in your native language.
Aubrey shares that the key is to start thinking in English or any second language.
This episode was inspired by a listener question from XinruiWu-j8b, who left a comment on one of our YouTube videos:
I find it challenging to speak English and connect with other people in a natural and spontaneous way. I’m always having to prepare for a long time to speak. Could you please share some suggestions?
This is one of the biggest challenges English learners face.
Speaking spontaneously means more than just talking.
It means reacting, expressing yourself, and keeping a conversation alive.
When you are constantly stopping to translate, it slows you down and causes errors you would not otherwise make.
Grammar works differently across languages, and vocabulary does not map perfectly between them.
The goal is to train your brain to think directly in English.
Tips to start thinking in English
Aubrey and Micehlle share three tips you can apply on your road to start thinking in English.
This will help you better communicate in either a profession or personal setting.
Tip 1: Narrate your activities in English
This one might sound a little cheesy at first, but it works.
As you go about your day, describe what you are doing in English.
Say it out loud when you are alone and in your head when you are in public.
It might sound like “I’m opening the tube of toothpaste” or “Where did my hairbrush go?”
It does not have to be complicated.
It just has to be in English.
This turns passive vocabulary into active vocabulary.
You will also start noticing gaps.
If you want to say “I’m using a spatula to flip this egg” and you do not know the word “spatula,” that is your cue to look it up and add it to your vocabulary notebook.
You do not have to do this all day.
Even 30 minutes of focused English narration is enough to make a real difference.
Tip 2: Think in phrases, not just words
Instead of learning individual words in isolation, learn them as part of a chunk.
This is how native speakers actually think and speak.
Instead of just knowing the word “nervous,” practice thinking “I’m pretty nervous about this.”
Instead of “funny, you can use “try. “
That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard!” Instead of “busy,” reach for “I can’t believe how busy this week has gotten.”
When you learn vocabulary as part of a natural phrase, you do not have to construct a new sentence every time you want to use it.
The chunk is already there and it comes out naturally.
As you listen to English, pay attention to how words are used in context and add those full phrases to your vocabulary notebook.
Tip 3: Let go of perfection
This one will not surprise longtime All Ears English listeners, because the belief here is in Connection NOT Perfection.
Start your sentence before you feel completely ready and fill in the words as you go.
In a real conversation, you often do not have time to think through a full sentence before the moment passes.
Practicing this in advance means you will be ready when it counts.
It is okay if it feels a little messy at first.
Starting with “Well…” or “I think…” is completely fine.
Native speakers do that too.
Mistakes are part of the process.
They show you exactly where the gaps are, and over time, speaking imperfectly is what builds fluency and confidence.
Takeaway
There is so much you can do on your own to prepare for real English conversations.
Narrate your thoughts, think in phrases, and practice starting sentences before you know exactly how they will end.
Do that consistently and you will notice a real difference in how natural and confident you feel.
Check out AEE 2645: Little Versus Small and Great Versus Big for more on building your vocabulary in English.
Have you tried any of these tips before?
Share which tip you’re going to start with in the comments below!
