How to think in spanish???

Question

I think I am doing something that we should not do!!!! When something is written in spanish or spoken in spanish to me, I listen to each word and tranlate it to english to understand it. I dont think I should be doing this??? Do I continue to do this and let nature take its course, or, change my way of learning???????? Its the same when I want to write something or say something in spanish!! I say or write it in my mind, then say or write it in spanish. Is this a learning process that everyone goes through or is it just me???????

Answer 1

Yes, everyone has trouble at first, and you can't really "force" yourself to think in another language. What you can do is increase your exposure to the other language. For example

• Read children's books in Spanish (maybe your library has some?)
• Read young adult books in Spanish -- try a library, amazon, or ebay
• Turn on Univision or Telemundo or a Spanish-language radio show and leave it on while you're doing chores.
• Get on the Univision or Telemundo sites and watch news and human interest videos -- this is great because there are pictures to go along with what they're saying, and there are new videos every day. It will take a while before you can understand normal-speed speech though.
• Find someone to to talk to! (But this may be easier said than done, especially for those of us who are shy!)

In my experience, it takes many many hours of listening and reading before you will start to internalize, and that's why language classes or tapes don't get you there -- there just aren't enough hours. Find a book you enjoy and spend hours reading!

If you read and listen as much as you can, you'll start to find Spanish trickling into your thoughts and even when you are dreaming. And one day (this actually happened to me in German) you may even address someone in Spanish without realizing it!

• well that sort of happened to me. i was talking to my dad on the phone and i said "si" instead of yes before i realised!! - mike123587 Nov 22, 2009
• I told my sister I loved her in German and I couldn't figure out why she got mad! - kattya Nov 22, 2009

Answer 2

Oh, I think everyone does this at first. I know I do.

This is probably why, when I then put my thoughts into Spanish, they often come out as what I have heard described as "Spanglish" - because I'm using English word order and grammar.

From past experience, I can tell you that it will change - especially if you can find some way to speak it frequently with native or advanced speakers. My French was the same, untilI spent some time in France, It just takes a lotof practice!

Answer 3

Yes . This is right. Si es correcto.

Pienso en español , bsco las palabras en ingles en mi mente y según como recuerde voy formando las oraciones, pero el inglés no se escribe igual que se pronuncia, eso se me hace un problema jejeje

• Edi, I am very glad you are here. We need all the native Spanish speakers we can get, in my opinion. - billy-jones Nov 22, 2009

Answer 4

For what it is worth, I will tell you what I am trying. I watch my everyday speech for sayings and try to always look them up and change them to Español. For example fun things like "I'll be back", "yo volveré" from The Terminator movie. Also, I watch for and learn and use any and all common sayings and quotes like John 3:16 that come up quite often. Sometimes I already automatically think them in Spanish. Hope this helps.

• That's a good idea! - Alicia-53 Nov 22, 2009

Answer 5

I think I was doing that before, but now I think rarely or often am doing that when translating something i know

Answer 6

I am working on my exposure to Spanish. The more Spanish I hear or read the more I learn. I am going through Spanish courses in college. I also try and say as much as I can when talking to a Spanish speaker even if it does come out grammatically incorrect or I get stuck and say some words in Spanish and some in English it helps me with the learning process.

Also my favorite part is playing video games in Spanish (and figure out what is going on or spend time translating) and this allows me more exposure and I get to do something I enjoy at the same time.

Answer 7

As many have all ready said, "It's the natural way of things when you are trying to learn a new language as an adult." Children learning from an early age don't go through this process as they assimilate the language.

A suggestion to help is a great book from http://thetwisteddoors.com. called LAS PUERTAS RETORCIDAS. I have used the French version, and it is a great way to add to your studies.