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Think in English | Slow Listening + Shadowing Practice for Fluency | English Podcast A1-A2 | English Unleashed: The Podcast | YouTubeToText
YouTube Transcript: Think in English | Slow Listening + Shadowing Practice for Fluency | English Podcast A1-A2
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Video Summary
Summary
Core Theme
This podcast episode provides practical strategies for English language learners to overcome the habit of translating from their native language and instead learn to think directly in English, leading to faster and more natural speech.
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Hey my friends, welcome back to English
Unleashed. I'm Tom and I'm really happy
you're here again. In this podcast, I
will speak slowly.
I will use simple words and I will
repeat ideas so you can understand everything.
everything.
My goal is to help you practice
listening and speaking at the same time.
Today's topic is something many English
learners ask.
How can I think in English?
How can I stop translating from my language?
language?
Maybe you have this problem too. That's okay.
okay.
Many people do. It's normal. Our brain
wants to use our first language. But
here's the good news.
Thinking in English is a skill.
You can learn it. You can practice it.
And today I will show you how. Let's
talk about why this is important. Many
learners feel slow when they speak English.
English. Why?
Why?
Because they translate every sentence in
their mind.
This makes speaking slow and difficult.
You may know many words. You may know
grammar. But if you translate every
sentence, it's hard to speak fast.
It's hard to speak fluently in real
life. People talk fast.
They don't wait for you to translate.
If you're always translating,
you will be too slow. Also, translation
is not always correct. Some languages
have different word order.
For example, maybe in your language the
adjective comes after the noun but in
English it comes before. So if you
translate word by word the sentence
might sound strange.
Sometimes it is wrong. So the goal is
this. Think in English not in your
language. When you do this, you will
speak faster.
You will sound more natural. And today,
I will teach you some practical tips so
you can do it as well. Okay, let's talk
about why we translate and why it's
normal. When you start learning a new language,
language,
you use your first language. That is okay.
okay.
Your first language is like a bridge.
It helps you walk into English.
But after some time, you want to remove
the bridge.
For example, you want to look at a chair
and just think chair,
not the word chair in your own language.
Now, many learners tell me, "Tom, I know
words. I know grammar, but when I speak,
I freeze."
And I tell them, "That's because your
brain is still translating."
So, let's get practical.
Let's talk about how you can start
thinking in English. Here are five
simple ways to start and you can use
them every single day. Tip number one,
describe what you see.
This is very simple,
look around you.
Say what you see in your mind in English.
English.
For example, when you walk outside, say,
"I'm walking to the shop."
I see a tree.
There is a red car.
The weather is cold. When you are in
your kitchen, say, "I am making tea.
I am opening the fridge.
I am cooking rice. You can do this anytime.
anytime.
You can do this when you are alone. No
one will hear you. If you don't know a
word, that's okay. You can look it up.
Write it down. Next time your brain will
remember. This is how you build your
English brain,
step by step. Tip number two, think
about your plans.
Another way to think in English is to
talk about your day in your mind.
In the morning, you can think today I
will study English.
I will go to work at 9:00.
I will meet my friend in the evening.
In the evening, you can think about your day.
day.
I went to the gym today.
I watched a movie.
I cooked dinner.
It was chicken and rice.
You don't need to write it.
You don't need to say it out loud.
Just think in English.
The more you do it, the easier it
becomes. Tip number three, use visual thinking.
thinking.
This one is very powerful.
It helps your brain work in English
without your first language. Here is
what to do. When you see something,
a chair, a table, a phone, don't think,
"What's that in English?" Oh, yes. Chair.
Chair.
No translation.
Just the English word. Do this with everything.
everything.
Phone, spoon, book, pen, tree, bus,
window, shoes, dog.
dog.
When you see the thing, think the
English word. Do this every day.
Soon it will be automatic.
Your brain will start using English first.
first.
Do shadowing.
This is one of the best techniques. It's
my favorite. Listen to a native speaker
from a podcast, video, or audio like
this one. Repeat immediately after them.
Say what they say.
try to copy the way they say it. The
voice, the speed, the feeling, the
rhythm, the stress, the pronunciation.
For example, if the speaker says, "I'm
right away. No pause, no translation.
At first it's difficult. That's normal.
But keep going. You will train your
brain to understand and speak English quickly.
quickly.
No thinking,
no translation,
just listening and speaking. Do this
five to 10 minutes a day and that's
enough. Tip number five.
This is very easy and very useful.
When you are doing simple things, use
English in your mind.
When you are walking,
the sun is shining.
The wind is cold.
There is a dog. It's barking.
When you are cooking, I'm washing the rice.
rice.
I'm adding salt.
The food smells good.
When you are cleaning,
I'm sweeping the floor.
I'm folding the clothes.
These are all good moments to think in English.
English.
They are simple.
You don't need hard words.
Just say what you are doing like a child
learning to speak.
That's how your brain will learn. Okay,
my friend. Let's put everything
together. Now, here is your daily plan.
It's easy. Only four steps and you can
do them every day. Every single day.
Let's go through them one by one.
Step one, in the morning, think about
your day.
When you wake up, before you check your
phone, take one minute. Think in English.
English.
Say in your mind,
today I will go to work.
I have a meeting at 10:00.
I want to study English for 30 minutes.
Just simple thoughts in English.
You can do it while brushing your teeth
or while drinking your tea or coffee.
Step number two, during the day,
describe what you see.
As you move through your day, look around.
around.
Say what you see. I see a man walking
his dog.
She is talking on the phone.
I'm typing an email.
You don't need to speak out loud. You
don't need to speak fast.
Just think in your head. If you don't
know a word, that's okay.
Look it up later, then try again tomorrow.
tomorrow.
Step number three. Listen to English and
do shadowing.
Use one of my podcasts.
Listen to me. Then repeat what you hear immediately.
immediately.
This is shadowing.
Don't worry about being perfect. Just practice.
practice.
Even five minutes a day helps a lot.
And finally, step number four. At night,
review your day in English.
Before bed, relax,
relax,
close your eyes,
think about your day in English.
I went to the supermarket.
I made lunch.
I watched an English video.
I called my sister.
This is your quiet time.
No pressure,
no stress,
just simple English in your mind.
Okay, that's it. Four steps easy to
remember. Do this every day and after
one week you will feel better.
After one month, your brain will start
using English automatically.
Your brain is used to your first
language. It wants to use it. At first,
maybe only 10% of your thinking is in English.
English.
That's a great start.
If you keep going, if you practice a
little every day, soon it will be 30%.
Then 50%,
then 70%.
And one day you will notice something exciting.
exciting.
You are thinking in English without
trying. It happens slowly but it will
happen. I promise. Okay. So here is my
final message.
Thinking in English is a skill. You can
build it. Be patient and be kind to yourself.
yourself.
Make mistakes. That's normal. And keep
going. Thanks for being here. This is
English Unleashed and I'm Tom. Keep
thinking in English. Keep practicing and
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