Problem producing known words

Question

I did a search and could not find a similar thread related to my question.

Anyway, using anki I have added a ton of words to my vocabulary that I "know". However, when it comes time to talking I find that I don't use half of these words, even though they are the best words for the conversation. Sometimes I will describe something and the native speaker will say "the word you are looking for is "so and so", and then I'll get discouraged because it's one of the words that I really know, but failed to use it.

Other times I will realize it after the conversation, and wish I could go back in time to practice using one of the words that I have burnt into my long term memory but somehow failed to use.

Has anybody ever been in a similar situation? I'm sure I'm not the only person to have this problem and hope that somebody could offer me some advice.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes. This happens to all of us. I find it happening more and more to me in English as I use it less than Spanish. I sometimes can only retrieve the Spanish word for something.

Answer 2

It is normal for conversation. You do not have 15 minutes to think about how you are going to respond like in writing. But you have this time to think about how you should have responded. Do not dwell on it, just practice a few times in your head how you wanted to respond and one day it will just come out naturally.

Just remember that the more you speak the better you get and the better you get the more you speak.

The best advise ever. This happens to all of us. Review every conversation and practice alternate ways of responding. - gringojrf, Mar 20, 2014

Also, think about the words and phrasing that the native speaker used and try to adopt that to you style. - gringojrf, Mar 20, 2014

Yes, definitely great advice! Thanks! - buenpescador, Mar 20, 2014

Answer 3

Since you are trying "to guess" what's the best way to say things by "practicing" new expressions and what not, "trying" to think as a native, so you are forced to give your best guess.

Instead, if you translate from Spanish to your native language and continue to do so, ideally a novel that has a plot that you can follow, context will dictate the manner in which it is said in both languages.

How long have you been doing this, and "practicing" the vocabulary you "know"?

Answer 4

It happens in your native langauge now and then.

So it is not surprising it happens in Spanish too.

Practising will help.

Answer 5

Yes. And sadly it just gets worse with age. But it happens to everybody. Nowadays I sometimes can't find the word in ANY language. It is most discouraging but best ignored.