How to get my brain to think in Spanish????
I am fully aware that English and Spanish do not translate word for word and that often things need a change in wording. But no matter how much I study Spanish, hear it, and so forth, when I actually have a real life convo I always find myself struggling to push the English aside so that I can say what I want to say...the Spanish way. I know the Spanish way of saying many things, but my brain struggles anyway and so it will kind of make me sound like a child.
Has anyone experienced this? My husband often has to work with me on translating phrases even though I do not lack the grammar or vocabulary to do it myself. I do have some confusion on grammatical points but still all in all, I am no beginner. I feel like I should be doing better than this.
Maybe it is a question of stress? When I need my cousin in law to help me give my autistic son vitamins, my Spanish does not come out as well as when we are just sitting down relaxed and chit chatting.
7 Answers
Conversation will come easier if you just don't think about it. Really! The less you think the better. Let your subconcience do the work. Rajaji has some great advice practice sentences and phrases that you use English in your head. Translate all your thoughts into Spanish and then when you talk don't think. Just talk. A beer never hurts with the fluidity, but not too many. lol.
I find that when I start thinking I start making mistakes. I start second guessing my grammar and word choices. It is better to just say something. You can correct it if needed afterwards.
Grammar is important especially when reading or writing. It is far less important in spoken language. So I recommend not trying to form proper sentences. If you have studied grammar your subconscoius will get it right at least half the time and the other times the errors will be minor and you will still be understood. If you get a blank stare then you really blow it and you need to try again. Fortunately this is fairly infrequent.
So once again....Stop Thinking. In English or Spanish. Just Talk.
One last thought: My grammar in English is okay but no where near perfect so why in the world would I expect my Spanish grammar to be better than my English grammar that I have been using for decades. Relax, almost no one uses correct grammar all the time. We speak in sentence fragments, etc.
Have you ever watched a child learning to ride a bike for the first time? At first they cannot keep the thing balanced to save their life. Then there is a long period of being wobbly until the training wheels are ready to come off. Even then it takes them awhile before they are bunny hopping off of the sidewalk.
You are still wobbly and there is nothing wrong with that. Make it a point to speak every day (to other people, to yourself, to your house plants, etc.) and it will get easier to ratchet up those English training wheels until they are finally ready to come off.
For me it worked reading silly things on the internet, listening to a radio show(Cloverdale's Corner for those who are learning English) and watching more silly things on youtube. I mean reading and listening to normal people, not books because that's not how people normally speak. I don't have a huge vocabulary and I make a lot of mistakes but for sure I think in English when I write/speak.
Maybe it doesn't work for everybody but you could give it a try 
In language study there is a theory called "the affective filter." It roughly translates to mean; if you are upset or stressed in any way you will not be able to perform as well in an academic task - including speaking. Thus gringojrf advice to have a beer or the other advice summarized as "don't take it to seriously" is all good. Advanced prep usually helps you to relax when the time comes to "perform."
Another important theory says that spoken language is more a matter of acquisition than learning. Therefore all the advice about watching enjoyable U-Tube or recorded programming and taking part in conversation often is very good advice. Acquisition of language takes time - typically measured in years. Repeated exposure is necessary - so don't give up . . .
: - )
¡buena suerte!
Hi charlotte , I found the same , but then I realised that even in our mother tongue
when we meet someone for the first time we struggle for words , so what we do is
revert to known small talk in the vernacular , like -G'day ow ya goin orriight are yes?
Great weather fer ducks innit. Or similar , then when we have gained some common
ground , and only then do we progress to
,- strewth the P M s a mongrel don't you think,or whatever!
What I am trying to say ( and badly ) is do not worry about it just go slowly
and make it simple , a discourse on the relative meritsof devious behaviour
must be left until much later in the relationship ,
and remember they are as equally ill at ease as you.
Best of luck and just go for it mate.
In our modern day living, advance preparation is the key to success in so many things we do. People prepare in advance for exams, interviews, shopping, travelling, etc. Of course, I do exactly that, and still have not given that up. So prepare yourself in advance about what you would say to someone in Spanish in a foreseeable situation. I keep imagining situations, and making Spanish sentences in my head all the time about what I would say. Don't expect quick results. It may take one year, two years, or more, depending upon how much conversation you would eventually like to have with others. I am almost getting there, but I know I will have to keep on learning. Persistence pays!
I understand what you are saying. I struggle with this too. I can do ok with reading and writing, but have a lot of trouble with speaking. Just keep trying. Someone more advanced than me will come along with some good advice.
