I know it sounds stupid. People have told me that I'll be fluent in Spanish when I start to think in Spanish. But I have to think about thinking in Spanish in order to do it. I know alot of grammer and vocab and stuff but I know I'm not fluent. It just seems like it's taking FOREVER!
The only way I did this was to just consciously try to conjugate and translate in my head when I was just thinking to myself during the normal course of the day. It's just a little at a time type of thing, not something that comes rapidly to you.
BUT, if you make the effort to do it any time you are just sitting around thinking, it will get easier with time. I started doing it when I was writing papers for other classes, just thinking of how I would say the same thing in Spanish. I also do it when I am listening to other people talk, I think about how I would need to respond to them if we were speaking Spanish.
Another thing that helps is just to practice talking out loud to someone who doesn't intimidate you, such as a small child or a pet!
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Just start by naming things you see or feel to yourself in Spanish (in your head). Like if you look at a table think "la mesa" or if you feel tired say "estoy cansado". Before you say things, see if you can say them to yourself in Spanish, get as close as you can. It's fun!
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ah thinking about spanish.
Find a way to enjoy it, watch a tv show in spanish, or a familiar movie in spanish. I found a good way to appreciate spanish and even pursue it more is to find a friend who is spanish and just try to learn from him. they are always eager to help you in you persute to become fluent in it. Hears a nice one, making funny phrases that you like, to insult others with or crack jokes about (not advised, but does make you think more of it).
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personal experience
The only way I did this was to just consciously try to conjugate and translate in my head when I was just thinking to myself during the normal course of the day. It's just a little at a time type of thing, not something that comes rapidly to you.
BUT, if you make the effort to do it any time you are just sitting around thinking, it will get easier with time. I started doing it when I was writing papers for other classes, just thinking of how I would say the same thing in Spanish. I also do it when I am listening to other people talk, I think about how I would need to respond to them if we were speaking Spanish.
Another thing that helps is just to practice talking out loud to someone who doesn't intimidate you, such as a small child or a pet!
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You need to be more in contact with the language. Immersion is the best way to start thinking in another language. Start watching Spanish language TV channels or listen to Spanish language radio stations.
Just make sure you understand that it takes some time before you actually start thinking in another language.
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It's easier when you listen to music in Spanish. What you can do is find songs and translate the lyrics into English, and they will most definitely get stuck in your head. This is the first step. You could also watch television in Spanish, surround yourself with Spanish speaking friends, read books in Spanish. You could also attempt to translate English lyrics into Spanish while listening to the radio. Do it in your mind rather than on paper. Talk to yourself in Spanish as well, whether it's while you're doing the dishes, lying in bed, or planning out your day, etc.
It's tough, but don't force it! Thinking about how much you'd like to start thinking in Spanish will only make it harder. Just relax hon, and with time, it will come.
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Talk to yourself in Spanish (not out loud). You'd be surprised how much that helps if you get in the habit of doing it.
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Get a situation in which you can actually live the language. If you can live in a Spanish speaking country three months and speak only Spanish it will work wonders for your ability to speak Spanish.
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personal experience
Why don't you listen Spanish songs! If we want to talk in English,we must to think in that too.
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A few people use to tell me the same thing when I was taking Spanish in high school . Every language does represent a special or unique way of thinking.
However, I think you have to learn most of the language first before you can acquire any perceptions as to how people think in it.
Until then, I would pretty much continue to lean Spanish in whatever way you have already been doing it. Your only way to acquire a better command of the language is through time with years of practice.
I have found that trying to find as many things in your daily life that relate to the language you are learning helps too. Try to envision yourself as a young Hispanic living in any major U.S. city and what everything you see in that city would be called in Spanish. Like autobus (camion; guagua) "bus", gasolinera "gas station," hamburguesa (hamburger, jamburgel, whopper), "hamburger", cafeteria "diner; small restaurant", banqueta (acera) "sidewalk, "parque "park," palomas "pigeons," el fuente "The fountain," edeficio alto "tall building; high rise" etc.
Try to translate some of the things you hear in English and say to yourself "Now, how would that be said if I lived in a Spanish-speaking environment." e.g. " Hey, everybody. The food truck (garbage truck; weenie wagon ) is here!" = "¡Oye, todos (toditos). La troca (guaguita) esta aqui."
This is a technique that will increase your vocabulary and give you some idea of what the Spanish worldview (or Weltanschauung) is like too. Gradually, you will find your Spanish improving.
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