The science of thinking in English | Canguro English
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 มิ.ย. 2024
- Have you ever wondered how to think in English and stop translating in your head?
In this class, I answer two very simple questions: is it possible to 'think' in English, and is it a bad thing to translate in your head?
Instead of using personal opinions and anecdotes, I use science to show you the truth about 'thinking' in English and how to stop translating in your head.
See you in class!
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By popular demand, here are some of the scientific papers I reference:
- Kees de Bot, The Multilingual Lexicon: Modelling Selection and Control:
drive.google.com/open?id=1L7B...
- Rick Kern, The Role of Mental Translation in Second Language Reading: drive.google.com/open?id=1G-F...
- Arturo Hernandez, The Emergence of Competing Modules in Bilingualism: drive.google.com/open?id=18lS...
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Canguro English Hello from Ukraine 🇺🇦Christian, I thank you so much for the great video. Listening to you is pleasure. I wish you good luck in this ;) I would really appreciate if you find time to recommend me some Spanish-studying channels. I’m just a beginner, so I think it’s a good chance for me to do it right, with a proper material!
Christian you prove to us there is no lumitation for human thinking, thanks a lot
Pp
Pp
"The special technique is patience."
Best words from the entire video.
Thanks a lot, now i know, i am on the right path
Yes! Keep going!
Yes bro, it takes the years. But the result is unbelievable
My father's teacher told him: "think in english" to learn english, but the teacher did not tell him: "thinking in english takes time, practice and patience" thank you very much for that important lesson.
My pleasure!
I’ve been studying English for about six years now. In the beginning it was impossible not to make any translation in my head, but as time went on I turned Portuguese off and started thinking in English. It takes a lot of time and energy. If you want to start thinking in your target language, you have to be focused and work hard every day!
I've been studying English for a long time and now I can think in English properly. There is a weird thing I noticed in the recent years: I can't turn off one language or another. Some situations appears to be better to ponder about in Portuguese and others in English.
I take it Portuguese is you native language? I'm curious, do you ever find yourself thinking speaking or writing in Portuguese in stressful situations? For example I haven't really started thinking in French (My second language from English), but in a tressful situation I can only think speak and read in English.
Yeah that just happens, I'm Argentinian and currently live in Buenos Aires but I was raised in the USA. I grew up having 2 native languages, I spoke English at school and with my friends but Spanish at home. Sometimes I think in English, sometimes I think in Spanish, it just comes naturally.
Hi guy, I think the same way like you! Everytime my brain turn off and I feel my self like a american person, but there is other moments that is so dificult to understand the context inside the conversation. Thanks..
It's truth!
The world needs more heroes like you
Excellent. I'm an english teacher at Dominico Americano in my country, Dominican Republic, and I totally support and encourage the understanding of this amazing and rather interesting theories in my classes. Thank you Christian. I bless the LIGHT in you. Namaste.
200 people couldn't learning with the video. Amazing, thank you!
You are the best teacher that I found ever . You guide very well.
in the journey of learning English i ususally translate the words into my mother language, but after 1 year i try to use monolingual dictionary (English to English dictionary), at that time i think i can understand some words without translating into my mother language, but there still some words that even i look for the meaning by using monolingual dictionary that i can not understand, at that time i have to translate its meaning into my mother language, and as i translate its meaning so one day it's no need to translate that word into my language. my writing is very slow, because it takes time to think about the words that i need to use but but but without translating. and it is slower when i speak. i think the answer for fluent in english is: immerge yourself into the language that you're learning, and be patient.
it's happened to me too, i translate to my mother language ,but when i want to use it again i mean the words translate i found my brain forget it, every languages needs practice..
How's ur english now? Do u speak english now without having to translate it in ur head?? Just wanna know
The special technique is patience. That's masterpiece, seriously. I'm enjoying your intellectual videos all the time
This is the best class which talks about of the real way of how we can think in English , thank you Canguro
When I was leaning English (because my native language is Spanish) I never really used mental translation. However, now that I'm learning Portuguese mental translation helps me to make the process easier. The main reason is that Portuguese and Spanish are very similar and making the connection of them both is super helpful. I believe my Portuguese is improving a lot more.
I'm the opposite. I'm native portuguese speaker and I use mental translation for english but I don't use that for spanish.
I remember when you told us watching tv in English language or films is method more easily to leard English so one day turn on tv well it was Mr Bean ....... you know the rest he doesn't talk
It's great, very good, I'm smiling a lot!
😄
Lol
Flavio Tigrão
I'm laughing a lot ** you can say LMAO
Funny! But, you know what? There are plenty of worksheets online to practise English using the Mr Bean series. So you can still learn and produce without Mr Bean saying a word! 🙂
Thank from Ecuador South America nothing has been SINCERO like YOU thank for give me real motivation and strategy
Fantastic class, every day I learned more and more. Thanks for all tips shared.
I love this video. Bravo!
You aren't only teaching English but the cognitive processes behind the way we actually learn a second language. Thanks for that!!
Can we call this the philosophy of teaching a language. Your style, if it’s right to say ( style ), is unique.Thank you, Chris.
Professor your method of teaching English is very intelligent and has deep knowledge, because you make me thinking the reason our brain get the understandings with the words in a context. I’ve never seen a class like that. Congratulation to you.
My man, you are making ones of the most fanny and accurate explanations about English issues we all the Spanish speaker people are going able to get in TH-cam, I've spent around 3 hours today watching at you and your wonderful videos, and I haven't felt bored at any time. I don't really know how I found you but it has been one of the most thrilling things that have could happen to me by far. Thank you, good stuffffffff.
BRILLIANT! I love how you explained everything so simply! I've been working as an English teacher, and I know the theory of language learning, but trying to communicate it to my students so that they get a better learning experiences is one of the things I need to work on, and it was so magical the way you explain it 💕 Thank you for sharing!!
I love how you speak very calmly and not in a rush, so non-fluent listener like me could understand better :)
Dr. House is teaching me about learning languages!
Wow Christian, what a great lesson!!!! I'm going to watch this video over and over again, what you said it's so important and highly interesting. Everybody keep saying to start thinking in English and stop translating, but I knew that it couldn't be that bad, of course not translating every words but at least have a sort of organization knowing that each language has a different structure in sentences and different grammar, but this process it's very important it's like a support for us, without it everything would fall down. It's like a child when he learnes to walk, first he needs a support and only after that he starts walking
properly. Therefore, at the end of the day the concept is always the same; Time, be constant in your study, and lots of passion.
Thank you so much teacher, for confirming what I already assumed! 😊
I will put in this comment in spanish and i hope that you understand it.
Mi hermano usted es un maestro (Master, no teacher). Me quito el sombrero con tu nivel pedagógico. Felicitaciones eres un grande mi pana. Mil bendiciones.
Thank u my teacher and see u in class! You are genius!
See you in class!
THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE THIS. One of my subscribers posted this video to me and I subscribed immediately!! Im a master student in applied linguistics and my channel has been talking about languaging mixing and translanguaging (I did not use the technical term but it was the concept) Most of the content is in Chinese (mixed with English, you know, tranlanguaging). Your video really addresses the common problem that learners (including myself) face. Also, thank you for pointing out that mental translation decreases over time. Is it possible for me to know the title of the articles you mentioned so I can search it up?
Agian, thank you so much for the great content, great editing, and the ping pong balls. :P THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE THIS.
Grazie Christian! Con te non ho più paura di parlare in inglese... evvaiii!!! Tu sei semplice e rendi tutto facile! Non so come esserti grata! Grazie davvero!
Yes, I agree with you, according to my experience learning English you start thinking in English over time. You've explained it easy and understandable plus funny. Thank you
Tengo un nivel básico en ingles y entendí todo el video, es una de las pocas personas que habla así de claro, cosa que me ayuda bastante. Gracias!
Actually , 'the ping pong balls teqnique' works really well to illustrate such a complex concept. Brilliant video, teacher!Thank you!
Thank you, I am from Algeria I am a professor in physics. English is my third language but now I realized that english is very very important for me for my children so we spend a lot of time and mony to become fleunt and I think you are the best one in youtube gives us the effective helpness.
You're amazing, Christian! We have much more than English learning, here! And that's awesome! Because you just made everyone think in English during the video. But, further, you clarified the process! That's the point! You explore the subject like a scientist and bring it to us as a teacher, an excellent teacher!.... I think you are not only a teacher, but a good language scientist. Thanks a million for sharing it with us!!!
Thanks!!! Finally someone who really understands that thinking in a different language takes time. Greetings from Mexico 🙂
Christian are the best English teacher in the world! Eres un fenómenos amigo. A greeting.
I am from India but it is easy to understand your English accent. Love from India 🙏
The best explanation of thinking in English. In all the world! Thx
From now on, I'll start writing comments on this kind of youtube clip in English. Thank you for your motivative teaching.
I've been working hard and apparently without good results this year 2019 but as soon as I came across with this presentation I have changed my mind, now I realize that after hard work and dedication I can become fluent in English, I would be able to speak without a mental translation up there in my head. Yes it takes time but who cares as long as you know that you are in the right way. It is only a matter of time, as you are saying: BE PATIENT!
Gracias y Happy New Year.
I speak 3 languages fluently (the 3rd one still in progress) and I never used that mental translation that a lot of people talk about. When I use one of the 2 languages that are not my mother tongue, I don't feel like I'm supressing the later anyhow, I feel like I have to make the effort to use my vocabulary in the target language as good as possible. If I don't know how to express an idea, I just stop talking and think about it. In German it was and still is sometimes, very hard to keep the ideas connected while talking, in English is now natural. I no longer have to look up for the words in my head. But with translation or not, the key is definitely patience and dedication.
Well, we do mental translation when we don't know how to use the target language to express an idea directly. In such a situation, we are facing two choices: either do the translation or have a complete failure to express the idea in the target language. Most people would choose the former one.
Max Xu That's true, and I have to use translation from time to time, even to remember how to say a word in my mother tongue (it has happened before). But I've read some people cannot think in the language they speak and they have to constantly translate.
Interestingly it's and it has been always the same to me - at least in case of English: never translated in mind, just were saying things.
Also interesting that I did have to put grammar things i.e. tenses in order in my mind but the whole procedure is like when you were children: pick up words, formulas etc. then practice them.
The key is, I believe, talking in the other/new language - and not studying it. Talk, talk, talk!
HoryTB I don't know. Is there a theory that adults generally cannot pick up a foreign language as kids do? I have met a lot of Chinese immigrants because I myself am a Chinese immigrant. Those who didn't know English when they first came to North America as an adult don't seem to be able to pick up English naturally. Many of them who have lived in an English environment for 30-40 years can only speak broken English with a very limited vocabulary. Acquiring a foreign language without studying sounds wonderful but I need more successful cases to convince me. I have to admit that my experience is limited in Chinese speakers acquiring English and English speakers acquiring Chinese. Maybe, picking up a language that is very similar to one that you already know can be done in a more natural way?
I studied German at high school for 5 years and don't really remember (balls sank under), studied Russian even longer at same and younger age - didn't like it (sorry) didn't learn and don't remember. In the meantime read and translated songs in English - liked it - then studied English at 21 yo., now have been practicing it for 11 years living in London, still, have accent and will always have unlike a child who goes to school and picks it up there.
It is ultimately question of interest then young age "purely". You lose your interest about many things with the years go by, still, can learn new things if you are interested in.
So I would scale it down to 2 main components: age and interest: 1, children like sponge sucking knowledge in, and open, 2, you can learn things easier, or at all, - even children - when it interests you.
Thanks for this great explanation.... I've started my Spanish class these days here in Brazil, Portuguese and Spanish are similar but at the same time different in some parts.....I was feeling totally lost and this video helped me a lot .Thanks for helping me . Obrigada.
I am a native spanish speaker, If You want some of helping, just Let me know
I just wanted to thank you for a no-nonsence scientific approach to language teaching. It's a rare thing in the world where a growing number of self-proclaimed language gurus offer 'magic pill' methods which in fact lead nowhere.
I'm able to think in English, even though I never had any practice in actual speaking. The best thing that worked for me is listening. Watching movies, TV shows, youtube videos and listening to songs in English is helping me a lot. After almost 4 month of watching English movies exclusively, my understanding of language and my vocabulary grew significantly. It's very hard at the very beggining though, but it gets a lot easier after only a few movies. The key is that you have to like what you're listening or watching to. I noticed the biggest improvement last month when I watched 7 seasons of Futurama, which is my favorite TV show, entirely in English. That's when I started to really think in English without any efforts. Now i think in English about 15% of the time. Sometimes I can just randomly switch in my head to English. It happens instantly and usually I don't even notice it. So, it takes a lot of patience and practice to start thinking in English, but I think it's not that hard as everyone thinks.
A cousin of mine learns English by watching cartoons on TV. At the age of 4, he had never been to school before and suddenly started talking to a contractor who was repairing my uncle's house. I started watching old TV series, and help me a lot. There is a certain part of the unconscious that works without us realizing it.
Amazing video Christian! Psychology+languages are fascinating topics. Thank you! Es el primer video tuyo que veo, ya me suscribí 😊
Love your videos. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and the scientific articles.
Patient and enough practice is the clue!!! Thank you!!
Absolutely fantastic your explain. I already read in English several years and now I have determined to speak the language fluently. The first dificulty is how do think in english. Your explain help me a lot!
Hey Christian, What´s going on!! Thank you very much, I just subscribed. I really appreciate how you speak, I understand you very well!! Best wishes.
Jose Aleman jaja es verdad, yo apenas hablo inglés y le entendí todo. Muy buen profe
I'm used to thinking in english .in some situations I start unconsciously thinking in english that made my English improve so much but I'm still working on it .
Dear Christian, you suggest us try to read , speak and listen in English as much as possible, that´'s the great problem!!! because in spanish speakers countries, as mine, you don't have many time to do this. We are 10 hours at work during normal days and we can only practise at weekends....unfortunately .. besides I love your classes and tips!! Thank you for your passion!!
Thanks for showing us how to learn english form a scientific perspective!!
You are simply the best!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!
Interesting this approach to explain why the people translate...I perceived this phenomenon in my mind also at beginning , in other side, I noticed which I wasn't thinking in my Portuguese while using English .I even never mind about this phenomenon of automatic translation , now I'm able to use English without effort.
Perfect you didactics teacher , the way which you approach about a subject that everyone surely already experienced is brilliant ! Keep ahead with your work , you're light up many minds :)
Keep READING,LISTENING,WRITING,SPEAKING,these are the skills in learning english
I'm brazilian and I already speak english, but it's really nice to watch your videos just because they have so much usefull and interesting information. One more subscriber for you :)
HI Christian, I agree with you that a person who is involved i a process of learning a new language can't avoid to traslate that language into his native language just because he want to. I can say that form my own process of learning Spanish as a second language. I'm a perfect bilingual speaker of Italian and Spanish. Italian because I was born in Italy and lived there still I was 8 years old; and Spanish because my parent moved to Argentina when I was that old and I've been living in Argentina for 65 years. I rememberd perfetly well how, little by little, I stopped to think in Italian and started to think in Spanish. And that happend because I was involved most of the time in Spanish circumstances than Italian ones even if, I say it again, I speak and write perfect Italian. So as you said, the process of thinking a new langage is a natural process that depend on how much time you are involved in the new language which means time and particularly a lot of patience patience. In this way you'll be able to put down the poing-pong balls of your native language and to allowed to appear the new language in your brain. Great class, Christian!!!.
Im brazilian and I love english lenguage you speak like british it s funny kkkk I dont know speak english yet but Im going to studying and one day finnaly will get it
Oi Tenise! So do I. Estudei muitos anos por paixão pelo inglês, principalmente o britânico, como parece ser o do Christian. Porém, não existem muitas "falas" em britânico... O inglês americano é muito difícil para entendermos. Mas, depois de assistir "Game of Thrones" com legenda e depois novamente sem legenda, repetindo até eu entender a maioria dos diálogos, um dia... aconteceu um "clik" em meu cérebro e me surpreendi entendendo de primeira sem legenda. Foi quando cansei de ficar tentando entender as palavras. Quando prestei atenção no assunto, tudo ficou mais fácil. Certas palavras não são fundamentais para o entendimento, outras eu buscava depois o significado. Estou indo por aí. Espero que minha experiência te ajude. So, let's binge-watching our favorite series to stepping up to the plate in english fluency!
Yes *Patience* . For all of those out there the way that I started picking up on speaking English fluently were by using the power of the internet and what I mean by that is watching videos on TH-cam . *It tremendously helped* .
Video content ranging from tutorials to lectures to rant videos and podcasts ,and also, I made sure that I was consuming content of creators from english speaking countries(for the proper pronunciation) .
You can practice english by picking up a topic and speaking to yourself, not mentally but literally using your mouth, for like 15 minutes or so , every single day .
Practice consistently every single day and you will see the results changing for the best .
PS : BTW my native language is Malayalam ; )
Concordo. Você mandou muito bem. Parabéns. 📚🎩
I m always happy lesting Kanguro english Thanks
Awesome! My wife strongly recommended me to watch your videos and I can see she was absolutely right. Amazing and instantly suscribed! Thanks!!
I love this class! Thanks so much!
I was looking for some methods to speed up the learning English; after a while, I discovered a brilliant thing, a golden key that could be led me exactly, guess what absolutely, the patient.
Your honesty is remarkably admirable, and I thank you.
Wow thank you!!!!
An amazing teacher and nothing else! Having watched your videos now I find myself more motivated and totally concentrated on english ! Thank you so much ! )
I was a bit like " woo is getting boring......" But you are absolutely not! and you are right Christian, just patience and passion. Compliments you are bloody good mate
I have been part of several discussion of this topic sponsored by the US embassy and yhe vonclusion is that everybody translates at some point or another.
Romanic languages are quite different from anglo-saxon and if you dont think on the basic structure you will just not get it right.
Famous international US teachers actually suggest we should all translate as a means to learn faster.
There will be a time where some things coe naturally, but in time and practice.
there are some words i do not understand. "sponsored"; "embassy"; expecially the word "vonclusion" and "coe". but i think i got what you've said about, and i agree with you.
sorel edwin suarez the best way is tobread a book you know or watch english films with english legends!
Mine children learn french watchinng « ciinderela » a hundeed times!
@@nguyenquocdanh0123 vonclusion = conclusion and coe = come
Thank you for your videos, it's so inspirational!
You are the man!!!
I love you classes.
I just discovered this channel and I'm speechless! You remind me Doctor House. Amazing class.
Doctor House. Yes!. Now I can say you are right! I was traying associating his face and you did it!
Thanks, Christian. I am a native English speaker, but these videos are very helpful for me learning Spanish as well. You are helping a lot of people and we all appreciate your effort and hard work to teach us!
Thanks, I really appreciate your kind words!
The same connecting way I feel while learning English and French. It's very true.
I am an English teacher in Brazil and I completely agree with you! Congratulation, very good video!
@Christian, I personally started to think in English after more than 20 years learning and using English. Very good stuff man.
excellent video as always...thanks
You're a great man teacher!! Blessings from Argentina!!
Thank you so much .It was an amazing class.. "Patience"
Thank you Cristhian, you are a big professor.
What a wonderful method to explain an idea. I like it
Love you, dear brother Christian. You are my best teacher. from IND
Thanks for all the hard you put in the explanation. Thanks.
Genial ! Gracias
I somehow thought of this video today so I went back and watched it again. The first time I watched this video was several months ago. At that time, I was bothered by the 'translating in the brain' thing, I watched a lot of 'how to stop translating in your head' 'think in English' videos, I had to say none of those videos helped. I watched this video as well, but at that time, I don't understand what you said. After 6 months of speaking practice, 'translating in my head' decreased a lot. Time and practice! So true. Do you know about the Ping pang ball? Now I know. Thank you so much, Christian.👍
Great video. Thanks. I agree with you that fluency takes time and patience. Keep practicing the language you learn and with time you realise that you stopped translating.
You are brilliant. I love the way you speak your mind. Thanks.
Thank you Christian, your time and efforts are much appreciated
i've been thinking in english as my second language for many years. i can attest that this thinking practice helps a lot. at first this a completely active process, but it later becomes more and more natural. i think, stopping the translations in your head is the mandatory step of becoming fluent in a language.
You are the best teacher here on TH-cam! I was looking for a lot, and I had only found boring classes, but your classes are dynamic and very interesting. And besides, your accent is British, and I love that accent. Grateful!!
You are the best Christian !
that was the best explanation I have ever seen , about thinking in a language that is not your native language!
You are the best!
Thank you Christian, your videos are very helpful!!
I just discovered your channel and I love the scientific way you teach, and your speech is veryclear and understandable. Very interesting.
Hi Christian! Great class!! I am starting to learn English, but I am 52 year old, and its a bit difficult to me.
But I enjoy it. Your advices are perfect for me. Greetings from Argentina. See you.
Thank you so much! Now I completely understand how the brain works in terms of language learning.
you are my best teacher in youtube... i Want to tell you thank you so much for your help
I really love you Christian. You are English teacher i’ve ever seen before. Thank you for sharing us. ^ ^
Thank you so very much for this amazing explanation... I loved it!
My pleasure!
Thanks Christian, I trying to improve my English and I'm happy because I
'm able to understand all you tell us. Thanks.