How to really THINK in English!

Summary

Keith from English Speaking Success shares tips on thinking in English to overcome the translating habit. He advises learning phrases, noticing adjacent pairs in conversations, using collocations, consulting monolingual dictionaries, and keeping notes in English. Keith also discusses different thinking patterns and suggests practicing English thinking in daily life, starting small and gradually increasing. Bonus tips include creating an English environment and using props to enhance the experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 **Learn Phrases**: Focus on learning and practicing chunks or phrases rather than individual words to avoid translating word by word.
• 🔍 **Notice Adjacent Pairs**: Pay attention to common two-part exchanges in conversations and learn them to think more naturally in English.
• 📚 **Use Monolingual Dictionaries**: Utilize English to English dictionaries to enhance your understanding and usage of the language.
• 🍵 **Learn Collocations**: Become familiar with collocations, which are words that frequently go together, to sound more fluent and natural.
• 📝 **Keep Notes in English**: Maintain 90% of your vocabulary and language notes in English to reinforce thinking in English.
• 🌟 **Idle vs Reflective Thinking**: Distinguish between idle thoughts and reflective thoughts to practice thinking in English in various contexts.
• 🗣️ **Voice Opinions**: Practice forming and voicing opinions in English about the things you see and experience.
• 🤔 **Talk to Yourself**: Engage in internal dialogues with yourself in English to simulate real-life conversations.
• 💡 **Have Ideas**: Cultivate the habit of thinking through ideas in English, using phrases that reflect your intentions.
• 🔄 **Identify & Solve Problems**: Practice identifying problems and finding solutions in English to improve your cognitive skills.
• 📅 **Build Habits**: Start small and build up gradually to create a habit of thinking in English, ideally at the same time and place each day.

Q & A

What is the main issue that Keith addresses in the video?

Keith addresses the issue of translating word by word when speaking English, which can hinder language acquisition.

What is the first technique Keith suggests to fix the translating habit?

The first technique Keith suggests is to learn and practice chunks or phrases instead of individual words.

Why is it beneficial to learn chunks or phrases rather than individual words?

Learning chunks or phrases helps to remember them as a unit and avoid translating word by word, which can improve fluency.

What is an example of an adjacent pair Keith mentions in the video?

An example of an adjacent pair Keith mentions is 'How are you?' and 'Not too bad.'

How does noticing and learning adjacent pairs help in thinking in English?

Noticing and learning adjacent pairs helps in thinking in English by providing common conversational exchanges that can be easily recalled.

What are collocations and why are they important for English thinking?

Collocations are two or three words that often go together, like 'black tea'. They are important because they are a natural part of English speech and help in thinking in English by making language use more authentic.

Why does Keith recommend using a monolingual dictionary over a bilingual one?

Keith recommends using a monolingual dictionary because it provides definitions and examples in English, which helps in thinking and learning in English.

What is the advice Keith gives for maintaining notes while learning English?

Keith advises keeping 90% of vocabulary notes in English to reinforce thinking in English.

How does Keith describe the difference between idle thinking and reflective thinking?

Idle thinking is described as random and uncontrollable thoughts, while reflective thinking is more structured and goal-oriented.

What are some activities Keith suggests practicing in English to build thinking habits?

Keith suggests practicing having opinions, talking to oneself, having ideas, identifying problems and solutions, and making plans in English.

What is the bonus tip Keith provides at the end of the video for building an English thinking habit?

The bonus tip is to start with just one minute of thinking in English each day and gradually build up the habit over time.