How to Think in Spanish (and Stop Translating in Your Head)

If you want to think in Spanish and stop translating in your head, there are a key few steps you need to take.
Thinking in Spanish is something that will develop naturally but there are a few things that students often do that get in the way of the natural process.
In this video, you'll learn:
- How to think in Spanish
- How to stop translating in your head
- Two key habits that students develop that get in the way of thinking in Spanish.
- How we can avoid these two unwanted habits.
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[@jazzman2516]

I think it’s the ‘wrestling with a new way of thinking’ that puts most students off of learning another language. They don’t seem to understand that the whole point of learning another language is to discover how a different culture communicates and sees the world. It’s a sympathetic study, not an egocentric one.

[@realfastspanish]

Yes, at first it can be frustrating. But, I believe it's a skill students can build with time and practice.

[@gentryhaney4713]

Exactly, its not just knowledge, its the soul of an entire culture, (maybe too dramatic?) Naaaah

[@jazzman2516]

Gentry Haney not too dramatic at all, that’s exactly it. I don’t know about America, but in the UK STEM subjects are far more chosen by students at A Level than languages, arts and humanities. I think it’s because they are ‘soulless’ subjects that are comprised of straight-forward knowledge acquisition and application. They’re all about how much *you* know, you hardly have to consider other points of view or do wider reading, as you’re dealing with facts and constants. They may be intellectually challenging, but I would wager to say that they’re far easier to revise.

[@gentryhaney4713]

@@jazzman2516 i myself graduated in IT but technology is simple to understand, logic is literally yes and no, theres no abstract meaning to anything(programming gets foggy but its still concrete) Language and culture are just different, not a math problem, just existing with a purpose

[@8bitjase864]

I was thinking the exact same thing. The logic (mentioned in the video) behind the word use and idiomatic expressions is cultural and based on assumptions in thinking between listener and speaker in a conversation. So, you don't want to ignore it completely but take it with a grain of salt when you are using a new language.

[@brucestevens7723]

On a Mexican holiday, I was trying to speak Spanish to a beach venor who knew a bit of English and in reference to my telling her I was trying to learn Spanish she said "You are making good" -- it was at that moment, and when I was explaining this to her in broken English/Spanish that she really meant to say "You are doing well", when I realized how the double meaning of Hacer made it hard for her to translate accurately into English. When I saw your video on this today it made me think of this experience ... Thanks, Bruce

[@realfastspanish]

Yes, that's right "hacer" is just as challenging as "ser" vs "estar" for English natives! 😊

[@user-tv2iq9kd9q]

@@realfastspanish עבור ילידי ישראל זה מאתגר יותר לדוברי אנגלית יש לפחות "to be" לנו בעברית אין בכלל דבר כזה

[@theknightswhosay]

In New Orleans slang, they used to say making groceries instead of doing groceries. It’s a common point of confusion when moving from a Romance language to English.

[@spider2666]

@@theknightswhosay That's interesting because in the UK we would never dream of saying either 'making groceries' or 'doing groceries'. They both sound like nonsense phrases to us.

[@theknightswhosay]

@@spider2666 you don’t have a simpler expression than “shopping for groceries”?

[@MonkeySin12008]

To help with avoiding asking why questions, I used to tell my friends that you need to approach learning Spanish/new language like learning a new sport. You can’t apply the rules of football to rugby or vice versa. They’re similar but different sports with different rules. You need to learn the rules of said sports separately to play it correctly. Same thing with languages. :)

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for sharing Jan!

[@retha90]

Wonderful explanation! 😊

[@v.anahandleton4513]

EXCELLENT!

[@spaceman790]

good explanation

[@zbrownbb]

What has made learning Spanish easier for me is first I accepted that languages literally make you think differently than your native language. 2nd I got it in my head that learning new ways to think and express yourself is the honestly one of the best parts of learning a language. I guess I just had the motivation to learn. The struggle is fun hahaha

[@cacogenicist]

About thinking differently, I believe that's true to an extent, but some people take that idea to an extreme, (see: the strong Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis), for which there isn't much justification. In other words, we all have very similar brains in our heads, with the same sensory inputs, etc. So people with different first languages are not _that_ alien to one another. And I think most people accept that there is such a thing as a very good translation; novels written in Japanese can be translated to English, e.g., in a way makes enough sense to an English-speaking reader that she'll happily read the novel.

[@camilo0411]

Hablo español y estoy aprendiendo inglés, entendí todo el video. Recomiendo al 100% lo que él dice

[@realfastspanish]

¡¡Muchas gracias Camilo!! 😊

[@gooseh4638]

Guau, Camilo. Tu inglés es genial si puedes comprender todos el video.

[@chestertonmaximiliumiv2141]

learn english you barbarian

[@RoxanneJ]

Muy bien! Estoy aprendiendo español! I am watching Peppa Pig en español por ayuda. 😁😁😁

[@PedroLucas-tr6cx]

Hello camilo

[@ellenrosen1]

This video was the biggest AH HA moment! I never realized that when I didn't know the Spanish, I'd feel pressure to keep the conversation going. I'd frantically scramble in my head to translate and often what came out was the literal translation that didn't work. I noticed that if I relaxed, didn't struggle, and let my mind flow, I often knew the right vocabulary. More patience and more practice. Thanks Andrew!

[@rcktgirl05]

I think this is why Duolingo is working for me, although I'm supplementing with podcasts and KZbin video tips. I'm about halfway through the Spanish tree and it was extremely frustrating at certain times, when the structure didn't match English. I struggled through and kept at it. Now after about a year and a half, I can't explain why something is right to my friend who's also doing the app, but I tend to just know when something sounds right. Repetition definitely works.

[@midnightpaperparty9687]

Yay, Duolingo! ❤I am very happy to hear that worked for you. I started Duolingo about a month ago. I am really enjoying it. A million years ago, I tried to learn French for a year in high school, but I couldn't get the pronunciations as quickly as I needed - plus I wasn't really interested. I have learned so many more words in Spanish in just a month with Duolingo than I did in French in a whole year. I finished the 1st part of the tree, and I'm almost 1/2 way into the 2nd section, and I have about 441 words under my belt (though not totally in my head yet. lol). I take my time, I repeat the words and sentences as given as often as I like, and I even make notes with the definition of each word along with how they sound to MY ears instead of the formal pronunciation guides. I never bonded with those. Despite all these words, I really can't say much yet that I'd want to, but each day I learn more, so that is coming. What I think I need to do is buy a few good books on Spanish, plus start watching young children's Spanish TV shows (at first). I am not proud, if I could find good children's learning programs, I'd be more than happy to use them to build my skills along with Duolingo.

[@caesar8334]

Me alegro mucho de que estés progresando con tu español. Ya verás como en unos años entenderás completamente el español. Si eres un hablante de inglés lo que más te puede costar son las conjugaciones y la acentuación ya que, incluso yo que soy de España, no pongo las tildes siempre. Continue on this way, you will go far on the understanding of the Spanish language. (If I made any mistakes with the last sentence that i put in English, correct me please)

[@ListlessLonerWillfulWonder]

I'm not an English major, but your English seems fine for the most part to me. However, since you ask, "Continue on this way" sounds awkward but can be easily understood and probably is acceptable to 98% of everyone who reads your comment anyway. Maybe if you put "If you" in front of "continue on this way" it'd sound less awkward to me, but it changes a commanding phrase to a subjunctive (a bit of a new word for me, I'm only familiar due to learning Spanish grammar). Then there's "you will go far on the understanding of the Spanish language" and that sounds even more weird to me mainly because of the word "on". So, I'd change it to "you will go far in understanding the Spanish language" which removes "on the" with "in" and removes "of", also avoids repetition of "the" but that's not always necessarily a weakness. Alternatively, you could say "you will go far in your understanding of the Spanish language" which replaces "on the" with "in your" and this time it doesn't remove "of". Although the word "your" is a more personal determiner compared to "the" it's a redundant point to me since the "understanding" or comprehension you're referring to could be that of the commenter's. Lastly (and I thought of this before I finished my comment), if you put "and" between "way," and "you" then you can keep "Continue on this way" the same and simply apply the changes I previously mentioned. I can't explain why to a more exact degree, but I guess the reason I believe these are right is because my time with English and being taught in various points of my life what is formal and informal, good and bad grammar, guides me subconsciously to what may sound the most correct and usually works because of my attentiveness in the past. I'm sure it's the same for anyone with great grammar in their native language, including yourself most likely.

[@falski3]

Language Transfer is a good app to try also, it's free and really helps with understanding the structure of sentences in Spanish, and bringing in positive language transfer from English into Spanish. Even the more basic lessons in the beginning are still helpful for intermediate level

[@thetaekwondoe3887]

Thanks for this reply. I just started working on Spanish again with the new year, and tested into the level I'm at, but am a bit frustrated, because I know a lot of it still and it's pretty "basic". At the very least, I realized last night it's helping solidify the grammar and structure in my mind, so thanks for affirming that.

[@alankkoc]

I found that stopping using a translator when writing forced me to remember words and phrases. I now can turn on thinking in my head by seeing Spanish words not English and connecting them. And I speak to native speakers each day so no time to translate. Great video....I do hate ser...haha

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for sharing Alan!! 😊

[@josecontreras7153]

Try to write in Spanish.

[@dcscreenworks]

Well then, it's a good thing for all of us that Google Translate's latest update turned the app into a useless pile of junk! LOL.

[@josecontreras7153]

@@dcscreenworks I don't think so. Google Translate is a wonderful tool.

[@leveewasbri]

I try to make the sentence in my head first and then use Google translate to see how i did and if there is something I don't understand or a phrase that doesn't make sense ill go hunting for answers to learn from that!

[@nataliasoares225]

Great video! I'm a native Spanish speaker and I did this while learning English. Now my brain thinks half of the time in Spanish and half of the time in English. Jajaja. Nowadays I'm trying to do the same thing with Mandarin, but it's quite a challenge. ¡Saludos desde Argentina!

[@realfastspanish]

¡Gracias Natalia! 😊

[@philippesteven]

Hello Natalia

[@alfacentauri3686]

In school I studied German some years. After finishing school I went to Germany with a class mate and visited some of his relatives. At first I struggled with the grammar, but the second day I ditched all my grammar considerations and without hesitation used the vocabulary and grammar that first appeared in my mind. This was well received by the family as communication now began to flow. I got some corrections, usually as a confirming repetition of what I had said, but in a correct way. Trial-and-error-and-adopt.

[@astonthomas6953]

My first ever Spanish teacher would always say: “How you FEEL and where you ARE, you gotta use the verb ESTAR” I’m getting into a better habit about not trying to apply English logic to everything but his quote was really helpful for me!

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for sharing Aston! 😊 There are exceptions to that (e.g. if we are afraid "tengo miedo", or embarrassed "tengo vergüenza" etc.) and we sometimes use "ser" for location. So, if it was helpful for you, then fantastic, the key is to also practice the exceptions.

[@theknightswhosay]

@@realfastspanish when is ser used for location? I always say dónde está when I want to know where something is.

[@rpruneau68]

@@theknightswhosay Where you are from; Yo soy de ....

[@Packer714]

The use of "tengo" in Spanish is interesting in that it means you have something rather than you are something. So in English we say "I am hungry." In Spanish it's, "tengo hambre." But literally translated would be, "I have hunger."

[@jamesmills6379]

Great video! I finally "broke" the logic based thinking by just saying the first word that comes to mind and if someone corrects me then I learn

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for sharing James!! 🙏

[@theknightswhosay]

Sometimes your instinct is better than thinking it out. It’s good to be aware there are two options and some general rules though.

[@nakedmongoose123]

Instinct and subconscious learning is real!! I'm learning a little bit of Spanish, not enough to speak confidently, but my partner said I started sleep talking in Spanish!! 😂

[@pompem2140]

That's actually great advice, thank you.

[@shangobunni5]

I do my best language learning when someone corrects me because (often due to some level of embarrassment on my part) I replay the episode in my head several times over the next few days and I remember it.

[@trvrw]

I learned to think in Spanish when (a) I realised that I had thousands of thoughts in English all day, every day and these needed to be quiet to let Spanish speak to me - a lot like calming your thoughts in meditation, and (b) reaching a stage where I didn't need the *live interpreter* in my mind to convert everything from Spanish to English

[@servantofthetruth8203]

Definitely easier said than done

[@Anonymous-yh1ul]

@@servantofthetruth8203 Agree, I'm trying to improve in English, and is difficult to me thinking in English instead Spanish. Spanish is my first language

[@Anonymous-yh1ul]

I'm thinking all the time what if is what I'm thinking or saying is wrong?, and that's stressful

[@servantofthetruth8203]

@@Anonymous-yh1ul well judging by your comment your have good English skills..you just have to keep doing your best and find techniques and methods that will help you achieve your goals

[@Anonymous-yh1ul]

@@servantofthetruth8203 Thank you 😊 I won't give up

[@maryfahning]

Great advice. As a logic-based thinker, I've struggled with learning Spanish. I find this straightforward concept of asking "How" rather than "Why" questions to be an invaluable way to change my approach. Thank you!

[@moffman87]

I'm English and I am in a relationship with a lovely lady from Mexico. It felt right to learn her language too, despite her being fluent in English. The biggest issue I had/have, is I'm a very logical and process based thinker, so I would get obsessed with word for word translations and it ruined the learning experience. I've tried every possible type of learning, and can honestly say this video highlighted many issues which most learning resources don't address properly. I found myself laughing during this video as the struggles of your students were so relatable to me. 😂 Great video!

[@ayumi3683]

Im a Brazilian trying to learn Spanish while seeing English videos, what a day

[@RodrigoCastroCh]

Brilliant video! When teaching English I found that it was super effective to give my students examples of instances where Spanish didn’t make sense either. As soon as they realized that they had no problem using lots of words and phrases in Spanish despite being illogical they did not need to know “why” nearly as much.

[@realfastspanish]

Great Rodrigo, this is a great example!! 👍

[@davianabou7804]

Es bastante divertido leer comentarios de gente aPRENDIENO ESPAÑOL JAKSJKAJAJAJ

[@shangobunni5]

Great idea. Would you mind sharing a few of those illogical Spanish phrases? I´m learning Spanish and I would love to see them. :)

[@ivanbenitez567]

I agree with many things said in the video. I also went through it but the other way around(Spanish to English), there are quite a lot of things in English that simply seem wrong if I analyze them thinking in Spanish, you have to just memorize stuff on and on until it becomes second nature. Overanalyzing the language can easily lead to feel frustrated and that will keep you from learning Spanish.

[@baebanxx6942]

Great video! I was told by my partner who is a native Spanish speaker that Spanish is more feeling than thinking and it's helped me a lot.

[@Lizerator]

Your videos are so valuable. Until I lived in Mexico in 1962 with a Mexican family I wasn't able to carry on a conversation. 60 years later I use Spanish everyday. I taught Spanish in the 70s and wish I had known of these ideas.

[@puidemare2337]

So true!! I studied Spanish in university and learned it the academic way. I felt I never progressed much, even after two years. It wasn't until I lived in a Spanish speaking country and heard the same words and phrases day in and day out, that I could speak it and understand it so much more fluidly. When things are in context it also makes it stick easier and faster. I found the academic way of learning, as you said, was too much trying to work it out in your head. It impedes progress. I am now learning Hawaiian and am finding repetition and hearing phrases and words in context helps a great deal. It also accelerates the process when you just think in the language. For example, I'll be cooking and I'll learn how to say things in Hawaiian while cooking. I do this for everything, whether hiking, cleaning, surfing, etc. The learning curve is much shorter this way of learning I find.

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for sharing!! 😊

[@Kaoss134]

the way I learned Ser and Estar was Ser is for identifying someone or something like if you were telling someone about who you're looking for you'd use Ser to describe them. And Estar is for emotions and locations (with some exceptions) idk if that way of thinking runs into the same issues but thinking of it like that instead of permanent/temporary has definitely made it easier to keep track of.

[@elenafoleyfoley168]

I have done this with a few sentences in Spanish. Learned them off by heart and they have stuck in my mind. I used some of them in a shop downtown last Thursday, the assistant speaks Spanish fluently, I could conversate enough that he was answering me back and understood me perfectly. I was delighted 😀 He was impressed that I have only been learning for 3 weeks. I will do the same this coming week, only speak in Spanish and see how I do ☺ Mucho gracias 🌱🌻🌱

[@raindrainxi]

One thing that helps me is to watch Spanish language movies or shows with the Spanish subs on. Most of the time it won't make sense, but when you associate the words with the action/ situation/ feeling etc instead of another word, it makes it more natural. This is like having a child have a picture of an apple with the word apple below.

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks your sharing!! 😀

[@ingridfischer3432]

I do the same.😊

[@andreszhoutsang9645]

As a native Spanish speaker, who switched to english as everyday language after moving to Australia. I find Spanish being more mechanical and straightforward compared to English. Words in Spanish don't often get many additional meanings to be used different contexts, which means no phrasal verbs. Because of this, it is in some styles of poetry where words get meanings. I am sure you would love to listen to Joaquin Sabina and how he plays with the meanings of words

[@curanderoverde]

I took 4 high school, 3 semesters college...It wasn't until I moved to South America with daily intensive language classes for 3 months and living in the country a couple of years until I was really thinking (talking to myself, dreaming) in Spanish...Around the 2 year mark listening to Spanish music with English translations helped with fluency...Mana's Unplugged music helped

[@MaryBethKelso]

I learned the temporary/permanent division of ser/estar in school too. I was doing a Duolingo lesson yesterday that asked me to translate "Those animals are dead." I applied my logical thinking and confidently typed in "son" because death is certainly permanent. 😂 I then learned that it's están, and now I'll just remember it. 👍🏻

[@user-tv2iq9kd9q]

למה קבוע? אולי יש תחיית המתים?

[@naturalspanish1049]

Una de esas reglas que se repiten una y otra vez y que realmente son incorrectas.

[@TheMaru666]

Beacuse to be dead is an state you get after being alive. It is not the essence of what you are or were, it is the state you reach at the end of your life .

[@carlostresino4420]

For the hair example, I feel it's more natural to use the verb "tener" instead of "ser." "Ella tiene el pelo corto." I like how you talked about taking the logic and grammar rules away from speaking and just applying a more natural approach to learning a language. Also, some phrases, especially idioms may change from country to country.

[@jessieee_p]

Great point! In English it is also more common to say ‘I have red hair’ rather than ‘my hair is red’.

[@gfullcrayon562]

Hablo ambos idiomas, y la verdad tengo que estar agradecido de que mis padres me metieron a la escuela en Estados Unidos por unos años cuando era chico porque suena súper complicado aprender un idioma nuevo. Ahora no tengo idea de cómo hago para manejar los dos idiomas, pero agradecido con el de arriba por no tener que sufrir tanto.

[@sliverofthemoon3165]

Seriously ya some of the most basic and common advice is the best. Just listening and watching shows in Spanish can help, talking around the house about basic things can help, trying to talk to Spanish speakers helps a lot too. For me I'm thrilled when I find myself thinking of even very basic words and phrases in Spanish and realize I don't need to think to translate them, I fully understand them instantly and once that happens I know I've "got" those words. And just build on that. Even adding one or two new words to your day or week and using them frequently until you're comfortable with them is progress.

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for sharing!! 😊

[@F00L_Of_A_Took]

The way I've been taught ser and estar is that ser describes a characteristic whereas estar describes a state. Idk if down the road I might find some situations where that distinction doesn't work for me but I find it much easier to comprehend and apply than permanent vs temporary. So for example hair length and height are a characteristic of someone's appearance whereas being tired or being late for something are a state. And there are things that can be both, e.g you can be bored (state) or you can be boring (characteristic).

[@beesely1762]

When I asked my language teacher “why” She told me: “I’m not teaching you Spanish in English, I’m teaching you Spanish” I thought it’s a great explanation and stops the “why” questions.

[@clemeliz]

This video was informational....and funny! It made me chuckle several times because I could envision us Spanish students going through the time-consuming about is hair and height a temporary or permanent thing. :-) Thank you, Andrew, for these great videos!

[@morganconrad9183]

Ironically, this gives me a logical path to understand Spanish. Thank you so much for you videos

[@realfastspanish]

Haha, I'm glad to hear it!! 😀

[@VG-re1bj]

I'd say that Spanish is actually quite robust when it comes to logical rules and it is a blessing for those who need to know the rules to learn a language and find it difficult to "learn naturally" using trial and error and/or intuition. The rule in this case is the same as in English, but it just happens that English doesn't seem to follow it. A person's name cannot be just whatever. Names belong to a more or less extense but definite set of options. Your name is "John", "Peter" or "Steven" but cannot be "Football", "Potato" or "Wheel". That is why you use "which" and not "what".

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for sharing VG! All I will say is that it's the logic that we are now applying in hindsight. Most English natives will ask "what is your name" and Spanish natives will ask "¿Cuál es tu nombre? It's our job as students to practice this and try to avoid figuring out which word to use through logic.

[@MH-be6hr]

If you're a Hollywood celebrity naming your newborn baby, you would choose a kooky word for their name, like Moon Unit Zappa, Apple, Lourdes, and Zoltan.

[@VG-re1bj]

@@MH-be6hr “Lourdes” is a very common catholic name. But bringing here a joke from Louie CK, for sure nobody’s name is just a long sequence of random consonants like “xsdfghtrstxhg”.

[@theknightswhosay]

It’s which if you limit it to a set list. Like, “which saint are you named after?”

[@VG-re1bj]

@@theknightswhosay Exactly. But the rule "should be" the same for all names. The set of first names, although extense, is a limited set.

[@stephenarmand]

Gracia!!. I am the type of thinker and Spanish-language learner who needs to be reminded not to ask "why". (I had the same difficulty with Mathematics many years ago.) Another approach recommended by other Spanish teachers is to learn chunks, common expressions and collocations. P.S. I used to teach English as another language and I remember well trying to teach "to make" and " to do" to native Spanish and Portuguese speakers. I offered this "rule": Do often has the meaning of a routine, normal or assigned activity (process). Make usually has the sense of producing or creating something (product).

[@momo90416]

Excellent points. Word for word translations rarely work, instead our goal is to express the idea (not the words) in our target language... and above all patience and perseverance. I will apply your advice as I continue to study Spanish. Thank you. (Make = to create. Do = to perform/execute an action 😉)

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for sharing Marjorie! 😊

[@goldvideo]

Pretend we just met. Andrew, how do you do? OK, how do you do WHAT? You see how trying to translate word for word in English can lead to a dead end? We have to learn the expressions together. Great video by the way!

[@realfastspanish]

Haha, very good, thanks for sharing Steve!! 😊

[@swisstroll3]

Very helpful. For many years, I have been struggling to learn languages, and have only been able to think in French, Hawaiian and Greek. I have been translating words in all the others; Polish, Italian, Czech, Hebrew, Gaelic and Spanish. I usually try to learn enough of a language to get by when I visit the country. I seldom get further than the A2 level in a language. I’d like to get to B2 in Spanish. Since I am visiting Santiago and Buenos Aires this winter, I have been studying Spanish. This idea is going to drastically change how I approach learning a language. Thank you! Side note: your video used the spelling “seperate”. In these days of spell check, people seldom worry about it, but it should be separate. People were often encouraged to think of “a rat in a trap” to remember that it is an “a”, not an “e” in the middle.

[@songlismom98]

Just found your videos, this being the first, and I love how spot on your explanation is. I've already started noticing that I can translate the same meaning in different ways in my head, and I repeat those phrases as I go. I may be intermediate level, or approaching it, and it's been automatic for my brain to consider how I'd say my thoughts in Spanish for a few months now. I no longer have spanish-speaking people around me constantly, so I've relied on a daily spanish lesson to keep the language alive and going. Thanks so much for this! On to the rest.

[@SpanishtoMind]

I love the way you say you try to reason with the student by asking the same why's in his own language so they realize that asking why won't help them understand the language. I like thinking that we just have different thought patterns in Spanish than the ones we have in English.

[@lawritzmann]

Thank you! This lesson has changed my "logic based" approach to learning Spanish. Your simple reasoning for memorization makes perfect sense. Thank you!

[@urge2wander263]

He estado aprendiendo español durante un año y pensar demasiado al hablar es un problema común para mí. Gracias por el video.

[@realfastspanish]

¡De nada! Gracias por el comentario 😊

[@paulcahill7137]

I always use “he estado” and not habia 😂 he estado is such a habit for new learners

[@ZzZz-dr7uq]

I've also been learning english

[@teachergerthaslanguagelearning]

Clear, engaging, and concise. Thank you!!

[@beatonthedonis]

I've been speaking Spanish for 45 years, grew up with Spanish parents and still translate from English sometimes.

[@mrkit2u]

You know, I think that there's a balance to be struck between asking why and just getting the feel of the language. I think it's because the answer to "why?" cannot always be expressed in words easily. In the case of ser and estar, this is definitely true! I rarely say the wrong one now, but I go by a feeling more than a rule book. HOWEVER, there's lots of times where asking "why?" has helped me, so I think it's a bad idea to just never ask as you learn. Just be willing to accept that there are times when there will not be a more satisfying answer than "It just sounds wrong, and you have to get a feel for it."

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for sharing Kit!! 😊

[@lisaannette62]

I’ve wondered about this for years. Now I feel so validated, and encouraged to finally learn Spanish! Thanks so much!

[@AnthonyDilloncrossroads]

I have only just discovered you and your channel. You are the first spanish teacher I have met who understands exactly what I have been thinking. You get it. Muchos gracias.

[@setaganga]

Exactly! I used to struggle so much and I found out that trying to dive super deep isn’t the way, but instead with practice and looking at examples of a thing’s uses is what really helped me

[@unknownquantity4440]

Great video and points. I had this very same problem early on when my analytical engineering/scientific mind had to know the "Why?" of how things are said in SPanish. "Por qué es "Tocar una guitarra," y no es "Jugar una guitarra.?" My tutor/gf just kept saying, "because that's the way it is in Spanish," which, of course, was a totally unsatisfying answer. She also told me to stop trying to translate things literally because it wouldn't work in the long run. But I quickly discovered by just using the language you get the hang of things without trying to translate and without thinking. An idea is not expressed by translating a sequence of words, but rather a commonly used phrases and patters of expressing that idea. I find that reading good language-level texts out loud is a great way to see the way the language is used, and internalize those patterns. However, I've not had any success finding LATAM Spanish primers and readers, preferably ones with stories containing lots of back and forth dialog between characters. Do you have any suggestions for simple children's readers to intermediate level texts? I'd give preference to anything from Colombia and/or Mexico. Thanks.

[@marksusan]

Big fan of Olly Richard’s “Short Stories in Spanish for Beginners” (or there’s also an intermediate level book too). They’re extra affordable in digital format and have stories DESIGNED to demonstrate vocabulary in context (awesome!) and to introduce-and then repeat-common, real-world sentence structures & word sequences. There are also 2 books that are ONLY conversations back-n-forth, and one comes in a “Mexico” style of Spanish, like you want!

[@realfastspanish]

Yes, I completely agree!! 😊 Trying to apply the logic that it should be "jugar la guitarra" assumes that "play" is the best verb in any language and that purely comes from being used to the English language. If Spanish was your first language, then "play the guitar" would not be logical. We have a literature review conversation class in our school, although we aim it for more advanced students, we have been looking at authors such as Francisco Hinojosa, Carlos Cuauhtemoc Sanchez, Salvador Álvaro García - their books are targeted at adolescents.

[@unknownquantity4440]

@@marksusan Fantasico! Gracias por ese consejo.

[@Alejojojo6]

Why is is "Jugar una guitarra"? I mean you dont play with it as it is a toy do you? haha what you do, its properly touch the cords of the guitarre to make sounds so it makes more sense to say "Tocar una guitarra". That's the logic reverse. There is a sense of snobbiness on saying "Why isnt it jugar una guitarra? Well because that's english logic you are applying from your own egocentric point of view on how things have to be said. A spanish would say why jugar? makes no sense from their own perspective. Thats the problem. Sun in Spanish is masculine "El Sol" while in German is "Die Sonne" femenine. So why? there is no big why... it's just what it is. Why it has to be masculine or why it has to be femenine and not the other way around? xD

[@Goremocker]

I really like how you use segments from Spanish TV shows as examples. It really helps to hear the same phrase word or sentance spoken in a natural and fluent tone.

[@GetGwapThisYear]

Switching my primary language on my phone to Español helped with the Qué/Cuál point you raised - but I struggled with something else. While “¿Cuál es el problema?” Sounded better and rolled off the tongue more comfortably (and ultimately turned out to be correct, at least according to the apps I checked with) the ‘a’ ending of problema had me assuming it should’ve been “¿Cuál es la problema?”

[@camillemichikogica]

Muchas gracias! This is very helpful. I felt like leaning towards this but I wasn’t sure. You just gave me the push to learn español differently and I feel that it will help me move further much faster, thank you! 😊💖🙏🏻

[@eliadvo]

This is my biggest problem with language. What a great breakdown of this issue that a lot of us struggle with. Thank you.

[@TheSpanishNotebook]

Briliant video! My goodness, the "make and do" is perfect! I'm going to use that with my students so they see ALL languages have these challenges. At a near-native level and after almost eight years living in the UK, I still battle with those! ¡Muchas gracias!

[@brettmillerlive]

This video is ingenius. You explain it so clearly, and it's spot on with the struggle I've had with Spanish for over a decade...the logic based questioning...my GOODNESS! Fantastic video and presentation.

[@kevinsam3078]

I was already billingual before spanish, so i always had a different perspective learning a third, because i already knew how the structure differs from one language to another, i always found it helpful to just make these mistakes as long as i was confident with expressing words and sentences, then once i developed a good understanding of a given concept, i would start fixing these mistakes so i can translating these differences in my head and just replace a word or two rather than the whole phrase.

[@claymonsterpottery]

You’re teaching is amazing. Thanks for teaching the theory of language instead of just language structures.

[@zurilyons457]

I'm not learning spanish currently but I was sure there would be tons to apply in learning any language and this didn't disappoint. I'm guilty of many of the things you discussed. Especially the logic, lol. Thank you!

[@TP_Gillz]

This has to be one of the very best overall tips for learning any new language ive ever come across. Well done! Thanks!

[@deantiffany1856]

Thank you for opening my eyes to learning. I have been watching and listening to Spanish classes for a month or so and not retaining much. Now I know the secret! Really enjoy your video's.

[@planeandsimplexplained]

Best advice I’ve heard for language learning. I’ve constantly been caught on the logic and why in my learning Spanish

[@territodude]

Thanks, great points to consider. I am going to try it out and see what happens.

[@gillesdesrochers3577]

All very valid points for sure. I would just add that we can “do lunch” but also “make lunch”. The idiomatic references and expressions are always something I remind students about when they are referencing them in a language. And, as you know idiomatic expressions present a whole series of issues for language learners. I’m not going to be able to make lunch today (join you or prepare?😊) or do lunch today. I always appreciate your perspective for sure. Gracias!!

[@N.TaraQueen]

I just discovered your channel, and I truly love how practical and informative your explanations are. I think you provide a more comprehensive breakdown than a lot of other instructors. As an intermediate-level speaker with a native accent, I struggle with all of the issues you mentioned since I think with too much logic. However, after more studying and application, I'm learning to transition my thinking to Spanish and interpret based on their language structure. Once you learn to divert from the rules of your native language, you'll find yourself able to easier absorb Spanish. It's a process, but as you mentioned with consistent repetition, it will stick. Whenever I want to embed a challenging concept into my mind, I literally keep repeating it like a maniac! Haha. Thanks so much for your video. I can't wait to watch the others and continue learning.

[@realfastspanish]

Gracias 🙏

[@FireStormintheTARDIS]

This made things so clear. I really enjoyed this!

[@jamesfreese4700]

Really good comments y insight on translating-chunk based phrases!!!!

[@markbeedy6041]

Wow! This is fantastic information. Thank you. I am a beginner to learning Spanish and I am seeking information like this to help me learn. I have subscribed and am looking forward to watching more videos and learning from them. You are an excellent teacher.

[@renetorry7654]

So much help. Thank you.

[@defacelesspro2674]

Qué video bien planeado! He sido culpable de preguntar 'por qué', quieria que todo tuviera sentido logicamente para ver el patrón posible. Sabía que mis frases sonaban fatal para un nativo, así que ahora estoy aprendiendo a interiorizar frases cortas. También decidí escuchar mucho más y escribir. Todavía no ha pasado mucho tiempo, pero creo que ya he mejorado!

[@mrtampham]

Randomly came across this video. Excellent job teaching this with engaging examples and visual text. Bravo!!

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks Tam!! 🙏

[@benjaminjoyce]

Great lesson. Thank you so much!

[@beautifulday1665]

This was exactly the way I used to learn English!!! Now, I'm learning Spanish, and it's been going on so good thus far.. I'm now learning Spanish from duolingo and It's such a nice app to start gaining grounds in my Spanish learning journey!

[@BrokenG-String]

As someone who is over analytical with nearly everything in my life, I definitely needed to hear this.

[@techtahnee2587]

This might have just solved a HUGE PROBLEM I didn’t know how to stop… translating in my head. If I practice it enough and accept that’s just the way it is… the pattern will become second nature and I will stop applying logic eventually! Thank you!

[@realfastspanish]

Yes, that’s exactly right!! 😊 if we practice the patterns without using logic, we will be able to use them that way in a conversation.

[@RemofRenaissance]

Great video and your advice on the “why” can actually be applied to many things that sit outside of language too. Sometimes it’s better to not be burdened with the logic and just accept and move on.

[@Qernes]

Me alegra saber que hay tantas personas interesadas en aprender el español, en lo personal, a mí me gusta mucho mi idioma nativo. Yo recién estoy comenzando a aprender inglés, la verdad, es algo bastante difícil, principalmente por la fluidez. No se desanimen en el aprendizaje del español, es difícil, pero no imposible. Yo estoy comenzando a incursionar en el inglés y daré lo mejor de mí para lograrlo. Mucha suerte a todos ☺.

[@lorenzo6777]

What makes this even more interesting, that for or native language- we either had to ignore logic to understand our language or are never taught it and just naturally pick it up. Idioms and pronunciations of non-phonetic words, for example.

[@MarketingHeretic]

Thank you Andrew! I appreciate your practical approach. I have bumped into a "DuoLingo" language block, as well as a block with my tutor. Thanks again!!

[@Nerv316]

Just started learning Spanish a couple days ago and I can already tell this is one of the best KZbin channels that I've found so I have subscribed thanks for the info or should I say gracias señor 😁

[@jdozier3459]

As usual, your lessons are excellent! I have been studying Spanish for many years, and I love the language, but I'm still not fluent...however, I'm better off than when I first started. Practice makes perfect...like learning mathematic...and there is no way getting away from that. Though you don't speak Spanish like a native, that's okay...be patient with yourself. We're all different. You're getting better as time goes on.

[@waikan2803]

Great tips. Thank you 🙏

[@spongechameleon6940]

Man this is gold. One thing that's been getting me recently is using gerunds incorrectly. I would always say something like "me gusta andando en bici" o "después de andando en bici" because that's how I'd say it in English, but in Spanish you just use the infinitive, "me gusta andar en bici" y "después de andar en bici". Who cares why that's just how it is!

[@realfastspanish]

😍 Great example!! 👍

[@grey7153]

Signed up for the newsletter! Can’t wait to read

[@kittyschmidt7139]

¡Exactamente! ¡Usted dio en el clavo! Exactly! You hit the nail on the head! Saludos desde Bolivia, en el corazón de Sudamérica.

[@jessm5809]

Thanks for the reality check. I was asking 'why? for almost the first year, and sometimes I still catch myself. I started helping people in the town I'm living in to learn English and that's when I realized some things in English don't make sense either *cough* phrasal verbs *cough*. Now I more or less accept that I just have to be patient with myself and keep trying to learn, and sometimes there is a formula, and a lot of times I just have to memorize.

[@DrewHopper.]

Gracias!! Stop asking why is very helpful. Great lessons!!

[@KeithDonegan]

Probably one of the best videos out there on this topic, gracias 🙏

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for the kind words Keith 😊

[@cymonesinspirations]

You're amazing I don't know how long you've been teaching but I wish the guy would have been able to have you as my Spanish teacher🎉🎉🎉 I used to be this student asking why why why like every language didn't have the right to be its own hahaha😅 I am following you now you are going to get me to my next level😢 thanks for all you do thank you for all you do

[@shinola228]

Great advice, this is refreshing to hear. I've been doing exactly what you said not to do - and it's frustrating. Definitely going to stop.

[@CROIXsather]

Great advice. There are many many things that don’t translate between languages and don’t make sense. You have to learn it. Accept it as it is. And practice it until it becomes natural.

[@heinzh5687]

What you said is so true, I'm speaking Spanish at just an intermediate level and the words I know well I don't think in English first but when I learn a new word or verb pattern I'm thinking in English, very frustrating! So now I'm going to do what you said, say it over and over through the course of the week until I see I'm not subvocalizing in English anymore.

[@lindasmith6668]

I think your suggestions are right on. I've been studying Spanish and this helps. THANKS ❣😊

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for the comment Linda!! 🙏

[@Tkat701]

Thanks a ton! This made a lot of sense out of my past 2 weeks!

[@learnurduwithsara1068]

What a beautiful way to explain this.

[@misswitch89]

I am learning Korean and this helped as well. Thank you!

[@wolfferguson1293]

Hola, soy de Nueva Zelanda y estoy aprendiendo español. I have just started learning and this great advice. I don’t know enough yet to apply this to everything but it’s good to know as I get better.

[@Connor-on4eo]

Thank you for this, it was very very helpful

[@the-birdman-of-panama]

Wow, this is mind-blowing. Thanks so much for sharing these important tips. I'm already feeling better about my new Spanish-learning journey. Liked and subscribed!

[@realfastspanish]

Thanks for the sub and feedback!! 🙏

[@ThePlannerPlaceCo]

🤣 you had me at the Ser/Estar & temporary/permanent dilemma!! So true 👏🏼 this was very helpful, thank you!!

[@realfastspanish]

I'm glad it was helpful! 😀