Stop Translating! Speak English Faster and More Naturally | Learn English Podcast (YouTube Video Transcript)

(00:00:00) Your YouTube transcript will appear here (00:00:00) [Music] (00:00:09) Hello everyone and welcome back to Mr. (00:00:13) English Channel. I'm Emily and I'm Paul. (00:00:17) It's great to be here with you all (00:00:19) today. We're super excited about today's (00:00:21) topic, Emily. Me too, Paul. This is a (00:00:25) topic that so many English learners (00:00:28) struggle with, and we're going to reveal (00:00:30) a secret that can truly change the way (00:00:33) you learn. Before we dive in, if you're (00:00:36) enjoying our content, please remember to (00:00:39) like this video, share it with your (00:00:41) friends, and subscribe to the channel so (00:00:44) you don't miss any of our tips. It (00:00:46) really helps us bring more great content (00:00:49) to you. Absolutely. Your support means (00:00:52) the world to us. So, Emily, what's the (00:00:56) big secret we're talking about today? (00:00:59) Well, Paul, today we're talking about (00:01:01) learning English without translating. (00:01:05) It's a common habit, almost second (00:01:07) nature for many, but it can actually (00:01:09) slow down your progress a lot. We're (00:01:12) going to share how to stop doing it and (00:01:15) why it's so important. That's a powerful (00:01:18) statement, Emily. Slows down your (00:01:21) progress. Can you explain why (00:01:24) translating from your native language, (00:01:26) say Portuguese to English or vice versa, (00:01:29) is actually a problem? It feels so (00:01:32) natural to do, especially when you're (00:01:34) just starting. It does feel natural, (00:01:36) Paul, because it's how many of us were (00:01:38) taught, right? We learn a new English (00:01:41) word and the first thing we do is find (00:01:43) its equivalent in our own language. The (00:01:45) problem is this creates an extra step in (00:01:48) your brain. H an extra step. So instead (00:01:52) of directly connecting the English word (00:01:54) to what it means, our brain first goes (00:01:57) to the Portuguese word. Exactly. It's (00:02:00) like a detour. Imagine you want to go (00:02:02) from point A to point B. If you (00:02:04) translate, you're going from point A to (00:02:07) point C, your native language, and then (00:02:10) to point B, the English meaning. It's (00:02:13) not direct, is it? Uh-huh. I get it. So (00:02:16) when we try to speak, we're actually (00:02:18) thinking in Portuguese, translating to (00:02:21) English, and then speaking. That (00:02:23) explains why conversations can feel so (00:02:25) slow and awkward sometimes. Precisely. (00:02:28) You might hesitate a lot, searching for (00:02:30) words, and that makes you feel less (00:02:33) confident. And it's not just about (00:02:35) speed, Paul. It also stops you from (00:02:38) truly thinking in English. Oh, that's a (00:02:42) big one. English has its own way of (00:02:44) saying things, its own little quirks. If (00:02:47) I'm always translating, I'm just forcing (00:02:49) Portuguese ideas into English words. You (00:02:53) got it. And that doesn't always fit. You (00:02:56) might even miss the real meaning of some (00:02:58) phrases or idioms because you're looking (00:03:00) for a direct translation that just (00:03:02) doesn't exist. It limits your (00:03:05) understanding of the whole language. (00:03:07) Yeah. like trying to understand a new (00:03:10) recipe by constantly comparing it to one (00:03:13) from home. You miss the unique flavor. (00:03:17) That's a perfect analogy, Paul. To truly (00:03:20) cook well in English, you need to follow (00:03:23) its instructions directly. So, Emily, (00:03:26) how can we tell the difference between (00:03:28) understanding something and translating (00:03:31) it? Sometimes it feels like they're the (00:03:33) same thing in my head. That's a super (00:03:35) important question, Paul. Let's think (00:03:37) about it this way. When you understand (00:03:39) something in Portuguese, do you (00:03:42) translate it into another language in (00:03:44) your head? No, I just get it. You know, (00:03:47) the meaning is right there. Exactly. And (00:03:50) that's what we want for English. (00:03:52) Understanding in English means (00:03:54) connecting the English word or phrase (00:03:56) directly to the concept, image, feeling, (00:04:00) or action it represents without thinking (00:04:03) of your native language. So, if I see (00:04:06) the word tree, I should instantly (00:04:09) picture a tree, not the Portuguese word (00:04:11) for tree, right? Uhhuh. Exactly. Or if (00:04:15) you hear I'm hungry, you should feel (00:04:17) that hungry feeling or think of eating (00:04:20) instead of mentally (00:04:22) saying it's about building a direct link (00:04:25) between the English sound or word and (00:04:27) the real thing it describes. Okay, so (00:04:31) translating is that extra mental step (00:04:33) where my brain actively converts English (00:04:36) into Portuguese and that uses up brain (00:04:38) power that I could be using to actually (00:04:40) communicate. Precisely. When you (00:04:43) understand without translating, your (00:04:45) brain works much faster and more (00:04:47) efficiently. You become more fluent (00:04:49) because your thoughts are flowing (00:04:51) directly in English. No jumping between (00:04:54) languages. It's about building a brand (00:04:56) new direct mental pathway. So the big (00:05:00) secret, the gamecher is thinking in (00:05:03) English. But Emily, for beginners, that (00:05:07) sounds really hard. How do we even start (00:05:09) to do that? It does sound challenging, (00:05:12) Paul, but it's totally doable. This is (00:05:14) how fluent speakers operate, and it's a (00:05:16) skill you can learn bit by bit. It's not (00:05:19) about suddenly being able to write a (00:05:21) whole essay in your head. It starts with (00:05:23) small, simple steps. What's a good first (00:05:26) step? something easy to try. A great (00:05:30) first step is to narrate your daily (00:05:32) activities in your head in English. For (00:05:35) example, when you wake up, instead of (00:05:37) thinking you a cordday, just think I (00:05:40) woke up. Oh, I see. Like if I'm making (00:05:44) coffee, I can think I am making coffee. (00:05:48) Yes. And when you look out the window, (00:05:50) describe what you see. The sky is blue. (00:05:54) There are many cars on the street. It's (00:05:57) like having a little internal (00:05:58) conversation with yourself, but in (00:06:00) English. That's interesting. So, even if (00:06:03) it's just really simple sentences at (00:06:05) first, that's okay. Absolutely. Start (00:06:09) simple. Don't worry about being perfect. (00:06:12) The main goal is to get your brain used (00:06:14) to forming thoughts directly in English. (00:06:18) It might feel a bit slow or strange at (00:06:20) first, but with practice, it becomes (00:06:22) much more natural. And what about (00:06:25) labeling things like looking at an (00:06:28) object and thinking its English name? (00:06:30) Yes, that's another fantastic technique. (00:06:33) Look at an object, say table, and (00:06:37) connect the image of the table directly (00:06:39) with the English word table. Don't even (00:06:42) let the Portuguese word come into your (00:06:44) mind. Should I say it out loud or just (00:06:47) in my head? Both work. Saying it out (00:06:50) loud can actually help reinforce that (00:06:52) connection. And it's not just for (00:06:55) things. Paul, think about actions, (00:06:58) feelings, and descriptions. The coffee (00:07:01) is hot. I feel tired. This chair is (00:07:05) comfortable. The more you do this, the (00:07:08) more those direct connections form. It (00:07:11) sounds like we're building a whole new (00:07:13) way of connecting words and ideas (00:07:16) directly in English. That's pretty cool. (00:07:18) It really is. And the best part is you (00:07:21) can do this anywhere, anytime while (00:07:24) you're cooking, walking, waiting for the (00:07:26) bus. All these moments are chances to (00:07:29) practice thinking in English. It's about (00:07:31) gently immersing your mind even when (00:07:33) you're not formally studying. Okay, so (00:07:36) we know why we shouldn't translate and (00:07:39) what the secret is. Now, let's talk (00:07:41) about some really practical techniques (00:07:43) to stop translating. These are tips our (00:07:46) listeners can try right away. Perfect. (00:07:49) Paul, let's give them some actionable (00:07:51) steps. You mentioned this earlier, (00:07:54) Emily. Seeing a tree and just picturing (00:07:57) the tree, not the Portuguese word. Yes, (00:08:00) exactly. When you learn new words, try (00:08:03) to link the English word directly to an (00:08:05) image, a feeling, or an action. Don't (00:08:09) use your native language translation. (00:08:11) Flashcards with pictures are great for (00:08:13) this. Uh-huh. And when reading, try to (00:08:17) understand the meaning from the other (00:08:19) words around it, the context, instead of (00:08:22) immediately looking it up. Absolutely. (00:08:25) Your brain is really good at guessing (00:08:28) meanings from context. This makes your (00:08:30) ability to understand directly in (00:08:32) English much stronger. For example, if (00:08:35) you read, "The man wore a fedora on his (00:08:39) head." You might not know what a fedora (00:08:41) is, but on his head tells you it's some (00:08:45) kind of hat. You don't need a (00:08:47) translation to get the general idea. So (00:08:50) instead of finding a translation in our (00:08:53) native language, we should find an (00:08:56) English definition for a new word. Yes, (00:09:00) that's it. Try to find a simple English (00:09:04) definition, maybe from a beginner's (00:09:06) dictionary. Even better, try to explain (00:09:09) it yourself in simple English. For (00:09:12) delicious, instead of thinking of a word (00:09:14) in your native tongue, think very good (00:09:17) to eat. That sounds challenging, but it (00:09:21) really forces your brain to stay in (00:09:23) English. It does, and it makes a huge (00:09:26) difference in the long run. This is (00:09:28) where our internal monologue comes in (00:09:31) again, right? Yep. Start small. Describe (00:09:35) your actions. What's around you? Your (00:09:38) feelings. I am walking. The sun is (00:09:41) shining. I feel happy. Don't worry about (00:09:44) complex sentences just yet. Focus on (00:09:47) simple correct sentences. The more you (00:09:50) do it, the more natural it feels. I can (00:09:53) try thinking about my plans for the day (00:09:56) in English, too. Like, first I will make (00:09:59) coffee, then I will go to work. Exactly. (00:10:04) And when you're about to say something, (00:10:06) try to form the thought in English (00:10:08) first, even if it's just a few words. (00:10:11) This is a classic tip, but it's super (00:10:13) important for stopping translation. It (00:10:17) really is. Surround yourself with (00:10:19) English. Watch movies and TV shows with (00:10:22) English subtitles first, then only (00:10:25) English and eventually no subtitles. (00:10:28) Listen to English music and podcasts. (00:10:30) Try reading books in English starting (00:10:33) with easier ones. So don't just consume (00:10:37) English but actively try to understand (00:10:40) it in English. (00:10:42) Precisely. Every time you hear a new (00:10:45) phrase, try to understand its meaning (00:10:47) from the conversation or story instead (00:10:50) of immediately translating it. The more (00:10:54) English you get, the more your brain (00:10:56) gets used to its natural patterns (00:10:58) without needing to translate. (00:11:00) What does this mean, Emily? Instead of (00:11:03) linking an English word to your native (00:11:06) language word, link it to other English (00:11:08) words that means something similar or (00:11:11) the opposite. Ah, so for hot, I could (00:11:15) think warm or cold. Exactly. Or for (00:11:19) happy, think joyful or sad. This builds (00:11:23) a strong network of English words in (00:11:25) your brain rather than separate (00:11:27) connections to your native language. (00:11:29) You're building your own Englishonly (00:11:32) dictionary inside your head. This is (00:11:34) interesting. So if I'm feeling tired, I (00:11:38) should just think tired directly. Yes. (00:11:42) Just recognize the feeling and name it (00:11:45) in English. Tired. Don't go through the (00:11:48) intermediate step of your first (00:11:50) language. This helps train your brain to (00:11:53) directly link your emotions to English (00:11:55) words. It's powerful. Emily, these (00:11:58) techniques are great. It makes me think (00:12:01) about how children learn their first (00:12:03) language. They don't translate, do they? (00:12:06) They just learn directly. That's a (00:12:09) brilliant observation, Paul, and it's (00:12:11) absolutely key to understanding this. (00:12:14) Think about a baby. They don't know any (00:12:16) language yet. When they hear mama, they (00:12:20) associate that sound directly with the (00:12:22) person or with a feeling of comfort. (00:12:25) They don't have a translation device (00:12:27) built in. No, they learn by experiencing (00:12:31) the world and hearing the words. The (00:12:34) word just is the thing. Exactly. They (00:12:38) learn through immersion, context, and (00:12:41) repetition. They hear words linked to (00:12:44) objects, actions, and feelings. When (00:12:47) they hear ball, they see a ball. They (00:12:51) touch a ball. They play a ball. the word (00:12:55) ball becomes directly linked to the (00:12:58) object and the action. They don't think, (00:13:01) oh, this round thing is called bola in (00:13:04) my native language and in English it's (00:13:07) ball. They just learn ball. So for us (00:13:11) adults, it's about trying to recreate (00:13:14) that natural learning environment as (00:13:16) much as we can. Precisely. As adults, we (00:13:20) have the advantage of knowing a language (00:13:22) already. But that can also be a (00:13:24) disadvantage if we rely on it too much. (00:13:28) We need to consciously train our brains (00:13:30) to make those direct connections just (00:13:33) like a child does. Uh-huh. And that (00:13:36) means being okay with not knowing the (00:13:39) perfect translation for every single (00:13:41) word. Sometimes just getting the general (00:13:43) idea. Yes. Sometimes understanding the (00:13:47) main idea is enough to keep going and (00:13:50) the exact meaning will become clearer (00:13:52) with more exposure. Children are (00:13:54) fearless learners in so many ways. They (00:13:58) really are and we can definitely learn (00:14:00) from them. Be curious, be open, and (00:14:03) don't be afraid to make mistakes. That's (00:14:06) it. The goal isn't instant perfection, (00:14:09) but gradual natural learning. All right, (00:14:12) Paul, we've shared so much good stuff (00:14:15) today. Now, it's time for a practical (00:14:18) challenge for our amazing listeners. Oh, (00:14:21) I love a good challenge. What do you (00:14:23) have in mind this time, Emily? For the (00:14:25) next 7 days, I want everyone to try this (00:14:29) for just 10 minutes every day. Practice (00:14:32) thinking in English. You can choose any (00:14:35) time, but try to be consistent. (00:14:38) So, just 10 minutes a day, no (00:14:40) translating at all, just an internal (00:14:43) monologue in English. That sounds very (00:14:46) doable. (00:14:47) Exactly. Here are some ideas to get you (00:14:50) started. While you're getting ready in (00:14:52) the morning, describe your actions. I'm (00:14:55) brushing my teeth. I'm putting on my (00:14:58) shirt. It's blue. During your commute, (00:15:01) look around and describe what you see. (00:15:04) There's a red car. The sky is cloudy. (00:15:08) People are waiting for the bus while (00:15:11) doing a simple task like washing dishes. (00:15:14) The water is warm. I am washing a plate. (00:15:18) It's clean now. The key is to start (00:15:21) small and just keep at it. Right. And (00:15:23) not to worry if you accidentally (00:15:25) translate. Yes. Just gently bring your (00:15:29) mind back to thinking in English. Don't (00:15:32) worry about perfection. Just (00:15:34) consistency. (00:15:36) And after those 7 days, we really (00:15:38) encourage you to think about it. Did you (00:15:41) notice any difference? Did it get a (00:15:44) little easier? We'd love to hear how it (00:15:46) went for you. Share your experiences in (00:15:49) the comments section below. Emily, this (00:15:52) has been such an enlightening episode. (00:15:55) The idea of learning English without (00:15:58) translating truly feels like unlocking a (00:16:01) whole new level of fluency. It really (00:16:04) is, Paul. It's not just about speaking (00:16:07) faster. It's about truly connecting with (00:16:09) the language on a deeper level. Imagine (00:16:12) English flowing naturally from your (00:16:14) thoughts without that constant need to (00:16:17) pause and translate. That's the freedom (00:16:19) this approach offers. And it's something (00:16:22) everyone can achieve, even if you're (00:16:24) just starting out. It all begins with (00:16:27) those small consistent steps. (00:16:30) Absolutely. Remember, every time you try (00:16:32) to think in English, even for a few (00:16:35) seconds, you are training your brain. (00:16:38) You are building those direct pathways. (00:16:40) Don't be afraid of the challenge. (00:16:42) Embrace it. This is your secret weapon (00:16:44) to becoming more fluent and confident. (00:16:47) It might feel a bit uncomfortable at (00:16:50) first, like anything new, but persist. (00:16:53) The rewards are huge. You'll understand (00:16:56) more. You'll speak more naturally. and (00:16:59) you'll truly feel English becoming a (00:17:02) part of you. So, take that leap of (00:17:04) faith, trust the process, stop (00:17:07) translating, start thinking in English, (00:17:09) and watch your fluency soar. You have (00:17:12) the power to change how you learn right (00:17:15) here, right now. Believe in yourself. (00:17:18) Well, that's all for today's episode of (00:17:20) Mr. English Channel. We really hope this (00:17:24) conversation has given you some powerful (00:17:26) insights and practical tips to help you (00:17:29) learn English more effectively. Thank (00:17:32) you so much for joining us everyone. (00:17:34) Remember, if you enjoyed this episode (00:17:36) and found it helpful, please give us a (00:17:38) big thumbs up, share this video with (00:17:41) anyone who is learning English, and most (00:17:43) importantly, subscribe to Mr. English (00:17:45) channel. And don't forget to leave a (00:17:48) comment below telling us what you (00:17:50) thought about the challenge or any other (00:17:53) thoughts on learning English without (00:17:55) translating. We love reading your (00:17:57) feedback and connecting with you all. (00:17:59) See you next time everyone. Keep (00:18:01) practicing, keep learning, and keep (00:18:04) thinking in English. Bye for now. (00:18:07) [Music]