The REAL REASON why you are TRANSLATING in your HEAD? How to think in English

Do you get frustrated because when you are trying to speak in English you need to translate from your own language first before getting the words out. This slows you down in conversation. What is the scientific explanation? We look at the science behind that. psychologists have been studying this phenomenon for years and in this video we'll have a look at what they say.
We will also look at how you can use this science to overcome this problem and improve your English.
Acknowledements: Some of the ideas are inspired by Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
(note that I get system 1 and system 2 the wrong way round from the book. Apologies for that)
Intermediate and advanced English lessons with subtitles on our youtube channel. Brought to you by LetThemTalk language school in Paris (and sometimes London).
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[@LetThemTalkTV]

Some of the ideas in this video comes from the book. "Thinking, Fast and Slow " by Daniel Kahneman. However, I made a mistake: What I refer to as System 1 is System 2. and System 2 is System 1. Yes, I got them the wrong way round. Shame on me but the basic arguments are the same.

[@monicas.701]

Without your kindness , care , and patience the future would be a dark and dreary place. Please never forget how much you are appreciated by those whose lives you've touched and those whose lives you have yet to be a part of. Thank you for being the best teacher a student could ever hope for .!!!

[@Dr.Sarkar]

It is alright. We got the context.. Thank you so much.

[@Gideon01]

After watching your video I started forgetting words I had already known, after using them seven times! Now I understand why!

[@Johan-vk5yd]

Gideon01 HaHa!

[@Johan-vk5yd]

I also read that book, so I reacted to the similarity between the terms you used, and the ones Kahnemann used. But I quickly understood that you used those terms differently from Kahnemann, and it made perfect sense.

[@monicas.701]

They say that .... " EXPERIENCE is the best teacher " But for me . . . HAVING YOU AS MY TEACHER IS THE BEST EXPERIENCE !!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY , A TOUGH COOKIE , A MOVER AND A SHAKER !!!!! Learning English with you is a walk in the park sweetheart !!!!!!!!!!

[@LetThemTalkTV]

You are the creme de la creme, second to none, out of sight and beyond compare. Cheers.

[@monicas.701]

@@LetThemTalkTV It's your unique guidance and methods that urges me to excel in all that i do sweetheart. You really inspiring me !!!!!!!

[@ColHogan-bu2xq]

@@LetThemTalkTV Shakespeare !

[@nedlin7934]

really appreciate the tempo, pace and tune when he speaks. succinct, tuned, never in haste. I need to improve those.

[@redamikanool3879]

I am wondering why such a useful videos don't reach million Hit🤔 people nowadays only care about nonsense 😒 Sir your channel deserves 100 million subscribers, i've learned a lot from you thanks for sharing with us your knowledge ❤️

[@husseinmohamud1648]

Reda Benidamou that is what I want to say about this channel

[@redamikanool3879]

I've got the job because of him and his tips. I used the phrase " when i heard about the offer i said wow i'd like the opportunity to work with u and contribute on ur team." thanks to you dear teacher ❤️

[@ppb1877]

I agree

[@fabtate8621]

"It deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe." I think that little error for system 1 or 2 worked the same. 🧐

[@LetThemTalkTV]

An interesting comment. I understood everything even with the letters the wrong way.

[@xXWorldgamefunXx]

Damn I can even unterstand that sentence despite not being a native speaker

[@Ollivier10x56]

​@@xXWorldgamefunXx So could I

[@holissarbeni2652]

@@xXWorldgamefunXx You even needn't to be a native speaker to understand English.

[@homogingiberi]

@@LetThemTalkTV just a Gestalt! ))) your memory 2 remembers right way ))

[@williamduncan7401]

Well, I've been studying English since I was 6 and I can actually think in English, speak and listen without having to translate in my head. I actually quite struggle to translate from English to my native language. I always strive to learn languages this way as it really helps me think better when speaking. I usually try to translate something in my head if I fail to understand the meaning of something complex, e.g. a long sentence with many nested in it.

[@iKiwed]

I love these videos. My English is basic, and I tend to use the same words, but I want to extend my vocabulary and I'm glad I've found this channel.

[@yusufihussein8]

Your great teaching has helped a lot to overcome many obstacles. Thanks

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Happy to hear that. Thanks

[@user-om2ti8jj1f]

Thank you for this brilliant lesson, Gideon! Your videos are always useful and entertaining! confused, puzzled, baffled, bewildered and flummoxed - the English vocabulary is immense!

[@user-om2ti8jj1f]

And "bemused". :)

[@mariacebrecos303]

This magnificent explanation of the way the language acquisition areas of the brain work, so didactic and affordable deserves my warmest congratulations. You are streets ahead of any other teacher I've ever met. You're a legend. 🙏

[@pepeml7368]

I think that you are the first person that explain the problem like this. Congratulations and thank you.

[@gabrielepoggi1079]

This is so true! You're the best English teacher in the universe! That's what I think of you! :)

[@LetThemTalkTV]

You're the best student in the universe.

[@amitrampal1000]

What an amazing way to teach the complexities of our brain and how it works when it comes to learn and store foreign languages and words

[@andrzej1978gda]

I experienced that when I memorize words, I will not understand them - I will need to translate them in my head. The best method is to learn words from context - if you see a word or phrase in different context, you will slowly begin to understand it. The same is true for grammar structures. The best way to improve grammar and vocabulary is to read books (literature) in English and to listen as much as you can. Not reading about English grammar in your native language

[@allysalehe4558]

Thanks a lot for your help and support.

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Likewise

[@muhammadakram8774]

By far the best English teacher on KZbin. Amazing!

[@LetThemTalkTV]

You are amazing. Thanks

[@brandonmejia4291]

That was the best advice that I've heard. Thank you! Saludos desde Perú.

[@ytilil7937]

with you gideon i found , i discovered the best ways to learn a language . thank you so much

[@Camenucete]

Teacher, let me tell you that every sigle video you've shared has helped me indeed, it's not just the content, it's about your attitude and the way you share your knoledge, THANK YOUUU a thousand times! Even though you've made a mistake, you've corrected it and it means a lot to all of us, your followers!

[@claudiamuller9404]

I come on your tube channel and I`m amazed. This explanation is really good and I`ll begin to try a new system to learn vocabulary. Thank you.

[@wpo4003]

Definitely one of the best English Teachers on YT!!! Quality not quantity like some others...

[@maurocastagnera8949]

Thanks Gideon! Your English lessons and tips are definitely in my memory system 2! 😊😊😊

[@LetThemTalkTV]

I'm glad to hear it.

[@segasega8]

@@LetThemTalkTV Oi!! You should explain that is should be in the his memory 1!!!😜😜😂😂

[@cartmanschannel]

I love you Gideon thanks for teaching.

[@sihambasi7236]

That was amazing information thank you so much for sharing.

[@husneyaalhashemy2190]

You are the best teacher thank you so much for your time

[@rezza2507]

This is what we usually do as non-native English speakers. Thank you so much for your stupendous tips on "How to think in English."

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Keep on studying it will become easier

[@rezza2507]

All right then. Cheers.

[@daverd6434]

Amazing dear teacher ! thank you very much ... you are awesome !!

[@kameltazibt8909]

thanks a lot for your help and your a huge work to help us in our learning a new languages , thank you

[@andrewrobinson2565]

FANTASTIC ! Absolute genius....(I will mention you when teaching this - promise). Massive thanks !

[@donnagioffredi3628]

You are so funny and smart too. Thanks a lot

[@soledadearcoverde3223]

One of the best lesson . Thank you, Sir.

[@LetThemTalkTV]

One of the best comments

[@bulentozdemir4833]

That`s absolute stunning video, thank you so much

[@djalalboutti]

Thank you very much teacher, that's important lesson.

[@kerrylosi1595]

Hi Gideon. Thank you so much for all your videos. It’s very informative, educational and most of all, funny. Makes my day. I do language exchange with my French friends and I have shared with them your videos and we had a super duper conversations helping each other. “It’s not a cabbage, it’s your brain “. Lol. You’re the best. Cheers from Down Under. 😘👍

[@lem6444]

Words fail me to express my deepest gratitude for the highly creative method of teaching you apply to provide learners with real, helpful points. Thank you very much indeed, sir.

[@adanayup9268]

Thanks...so much...

[@kazak373]

Who ever thought KZbin may recommend such a valuable channel... Stop wasting your own time, get rid of flippancy, start learning English in a new way.

[@Waytozanzibar]

The way he teaches English words is spectacular.

[@CGO374]

Thanks,I’ll try 💪🏼

[@husseinmohamud1648]

You are great teacher, and I always follow your lessons as a student

[@steveosteen]

Excellent ! Merci

[@cavesalamander6308]

Thank you, my "English" gets slightly better after every your lesson.

[@lucianoazevedo4199]

Two more new words that I never heard before.. flummoxed and bewildered.. thank you!

[@LetThemTalkTV]

You've been bedazzled by new vocabulary.

[@lucianoazevedo4199]

@@LetThemTalkTV absolutely.

[@alineo7097]

The way you explain things is very effectively. I hope one day I'll become a teacher as good as you are. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Thanks for your comment. Good luck in your career.

[@doremifasolatido-ro7zs]

good illustration. Im starting to like your channel. Please don't stop creating more lessons particularly the advanced vocabs. etc.etc.....

[@ceciliajared6646]

Wow, thank you

[@grilocosta]

Your Channel is perfect! It makes me want to learn anyhing!!!!!!

[@marvinfloresarana7881]

Interesting information! I'll take it into practice.

[@Dr.Sarkar]

You are the best English teacher ever seen

[@mvsan6]

Awesome...it makes me stronger to keep goin' !

[@AdrianaRibeirodaCosta]

Thank you so much, that video was pretty helpful to me, you are a great mentor. AMAZIIIING

[@ddupjojojiang1119]

I wanna change my job , and I found your videos, really helpful,you are talent, I will follow your suggestions when.I have the.interview.

[@estebanjaasielalvarezpreci5869]

Thanks so much for this video. Now I'm not getting myself flummoxed by my natural learning process.

[@marcelomartins164]

I understand that in order to record something in permanent memory, we need to learn in at least seven different ways to better access that memory. For example a box: Someone one day pointed out to me what a box is, on another occasion I saw in a magazine several boxes of various sizes and colors, another time I had to associate a box with a color or size, etc. So, I'll never forget what a box is because I have different association in my mind.

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Interesting

[@naziazafar5996]

today;s video was so difficult to understand but your skill of teaching make it easy superb God bless you

[@MartaPereiraB]

What a good explanation and very good tips too!!! I also have a tip, it worked for me: I tried to think in English all the time, specially when I was on the bus going to work or coming back home. Things like: "I think I'm running out of milk, I will buy some before I get home" or "Poor dog, it seems to be lost", "What a handsome man!" All kind of thoughts come to your mind while you are on a bus and the mind jumps like crazy from one thing to another. It never stops. I'm glad I found you. Regards.

[@konekokat3897]

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU !!!!

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Cheers

[@spewformula7197]

Thank you Gideon! Very useful information ! And flummoxed passed definitely in my system two now!

[@PUSHPAMify]

Best Ever presentation ..i have ever seen in my life....u deserve to be called world best english trainer..stupendous..

[@alexandru2811]

You are a Great Teacher! 😄

[@SuperHammerzeit]

I really like this gentleman, i have even considered of putting his photo on my guestroom wall

[@lorenasmartevents5354]

Awesome! Thank you for sharing this fantastic expkanation on how our brain works when kearning a new task! Now, Im not going to be "flummoxed" ever again when kearning new words in Englush.because now I understand it is a natural process to go from Memory one to Memory two. And the steps in-between until Iit gets to the "black flags"! Loved your explanation. Ty. Saludos desde Mexico.

[@samanadam2442]

Thanks very much 🌹😁🌹

[@mostafaabdou446]

Great... I got it... Thanks alot for your efforts 🌹

[@nacefmedamine2085]

As i see , one of the best channel to learn english !

[@rajanjoseph4877]

It's really motivating me to keep learning English.. ! Thanks 😊

[@LetThemTalkTV]

That was my intention. Thanks for your comment

[@thedavidguy01]

Thanks for the entertaining and helpful video. It's nice to get confirmation of my own experience as a language learner. However, maybe it's because I'm old or especially dense, but 7 times is not nearly enough. In my case (I'm learning French not English), it takes 20 - 30 times. In addition, translating in my head for active use (speaking and writing) seems to be almost totally separate from translating in my head for passive use (listening and reading). After 20 months of lots of practice, I rarely translate in my head when listening but I often still translate when speaking and writing. To prove your point, though, I am gradually (excruciatingly so) translating less often.

[@AsifAhmed-nk9ej]

Excellent. Thank you so much

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Thank you

[@kokabtasleem281]

best video I have ever seen about translating in head.

[@LetThemTalkTV]

The best comment I've ever read about it.

[@sonnykrisnanda4270]

Incredible explanation prof...the way when u are teaching is so inspired me for improving my english skill...okay i got the new super super awesome method from you...thanks so much prof

[@anirudhdevnani]

Although I watch you video a year after but it is very useful, thanks for sharing this info!! :-)

[@elyseepasteur6163]

Thanks a lot for This new method! Instead of saying stop translating! I'm going to pilot it and check it up! Keep up the great job!

[@LetThemTalkTV]

I'm sure it will work. Thanks

[@allanovelha1969]

sir, i'm here to say you are awesome, u're literally made my life so much easily in this last year, Thank you

[@jeetenglish]

You are the best sir..

[@astoumbenediakhate4124]

Another great lesson Thank you You are a great teacher

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Another great comment. You are a great student.

[@humanbeing8531]

Best teacher are you, Sir. Thank you😀

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Best student. Thanks

[@shulanachord9082]

Thank you for this tip. 7 times of practice. l will try this.

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Thank you 7 times

[@ahmednoormagabade1339]

thanks teacher before I was a bit flummoxed but now I am fully satisfied that translation is not a big problem but repeating is helpful.

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Flummoxed no more.

Dear Teacher, You're a really very good teacher... I appreciate, like, love your teaching style and you... When I listen or watch your videos on earphones, the teaser music which is loud makes me annoyed / shocked. Could you please make this teaser / introduction music at the same level as the rest of the video? Thank you very much. I've been learning a lot of useful things from you.

[@lydiar9616]

I love your sense of humour, you are GREAT ! 😂

[@fvazquez64]

Practice makes master, they say... the most you do some task, sooner or later you will end mastering it...

[@taehyunjang9124]

First of all, thanks for the informative video. I am from South Korea and of course I am a korean speaker who has been learning English for so many years. At some point, I started to understand English as it is not translating from Korean to English and vice versa when speaking. However, in the meantime, what I have realised is that translating from one language to other language is another level, the next level which requires a lot of efforts.

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Keep on keeping on. Everything worth pursuing requires a lot of effort.

[@maqsoodalam519]

Good evening sir improve my English spoken day by day thanks you are amazing teaching

[@LetThemTalkTV]

You are amazing.

[@birgithade5022]

Although I'm focusing on American English, I really enjoy your great videos 🤗

[@caracarissima5808]

I love your videos, they are always so interesting! The only thing I would improve, would be to even out the level of sound, turn up your voice audio more and lower down the musical theme on the intro/outro, that way it would be more pleasant to listen on the headphones. Now, I find the vocal line to be somewhat silent and the music kind of noisy.

[@EdsonOliveiraCunha]

Congratulations, you are a great teacher!

[@LetThemTalkTV]

You are a great student. Thanks

[@mariamkinen8036]

The real reason is not a problem . We should live where we belong. I'm not. Because I loose either of the red lines. I have 5 languages to refer to. As much as possible. Not to. Raise up your hand in class before you know the answer. A piece of advice by our teacher. Good point to point out.

[@extremeenglish]

Thank you very much! Unfortunately, it's unfashionable to learn DEEPLY nowadays, everyone wants quick results without effort (((

[@ColHogan-bu2xq]

Absolutely fair, but no one is forcing you to follow the fashion or listen to everyone's opinion.

[@michaellynn9763]

@@ColHogan-bu2xqToo damn right! Everyone’s excuse, in all facets of life is “society pressurises us etc.”, but we make the conscious choice!

[@nuriaarfa-zanganeh630]

¡El profesor genial! I wished I could hit the "like" button a million times!

[@user-eo1wn9tk4v]

Million is an even number therefore if you hit the like million times it would'nt do anything since it was unliked at the end.

[@lilianarmstrong6719]

Very Creative!

[@shevanoble5244]

In class (as a Enghish student) I always compare The slow process of learning English with learning type. I'm totally agree with you, we need to be patient. Regards,

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Good things come to those who wait.

[@pasixty6510]

Singing along your favourite or some popular songs in English is a good way to repeat lots of words and phrases more than the required seven times and to have fun at the same time. Just read the lyrics whenever you cannot figure out what the words mean. Don’t worry, you will easily discover the meaning of the words, phrases and idioms in a while, just by singing and remembering them over and over and (most of all) letting them follow you into your sleep. I improved my English by singing along with Pink Floyd, Queen, The Beatles and also ABBA (what caused me to have a swedish accent in my early years of learning). In my later years I went to England. And truely I was dreaming in English after only three weeks. To make your brain think in English will work. There’s no use trying to turn it into a translating-machine.

[@gianlucastrada548]

good lesson... anatomy and functioning of the human body:)

[@AlessandroBottoni]

Great video! Congratulations! Our brain *never* actually speaks a "foreign" language: it just uses the *words* and *sentences* it knows, no matter to what language they belong. You do not "translate" in your head while speaking: you just *look for words and sentences*. So, to speed up this acquisition process: 1. Use a Spaced Repetition System (SRS) (aka Leitner System) to load in your memory words and sentences. SRS are things like Anki, Memrise, Brainscape, Quizlet and so on. 2. Write in English! Translate from your native language to English if cannot write directly but *write* nevertheless. Writing forces you to look for words and sentences and to build sentences. While writing you have time and opportunity to use your dictionary and your grammar. Do it! 3. Speak in English, even if you are forced to speak yourself in the mirror. You need to train your phonetic muscles to pronounce English.

[@shihongzhou2142]

i like this guy i like his teaching.

[@LetThemTalkTV]

I like his comment.

[@Breakfast_of_Champions]

Those who are lucky and grow up with several languages usually never do the translation thing, just use the systems right away. Immersion and active use is everything, even just picturing objects to sync the left and right brain hemispheres.

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Good advice

[@ronenr1405]

You are just great 👍🏻

[@GoldenWAL]

You amaze me!!! You're the best ever.

[@LetThemTalkTV]

Not true. YOU are the best

[@gyaniadmi2347]

Another great video, could you please do a video on Posh English.

[@trashygit]

This system 1 and system 2 analysis of brain/mind adaptation for (or 'to') language is partly useful. If this analogy makes some people happy, just be it. In reality, learning a language is not 'exactly' the same as learning how to drive a car; this type of naturalisation/adaptation mechanism is only a small part of the entire language system. Two main reasons: The level of complication and the quality: If learning how to drive is one system with the complication level 10 (a totally random number, nobody actually measured it), in comparison, the complication of a language would be level 10 million. Mind you, this 'complication' does not correlate the level of difficulty. 'Difficulty' is determined by many different circumstances such as individual capacity and mood, the time and environment that someone is exposed to the material that will be learnt, etc. The 'quality' is also important: Just because we call both types of learning as "systems", that doesn't mean we can compare them. Learning how to drive and learning a new language are qualitatively different, so comparing them would be similar to comparing drawing and cooking. We can compare language A and language B as both are languages, but we cannot compare the car driving skills with absorbing (or being absorbed by) a language. Language is rather a social-mental virus that takes over the brain. It's social, because you need to be exposed to a language, and it's like a virus, because even toddlers can learn it without any effort or will; imagine a toddler doesn't have a proper hand and eye coordination, yet can understand and speak a language. In fact, language is not a 'skill' as we know it: When it comes to mother tongue for instance, clever and less clever children learn it alike. We cannot compare their language levels, one either knows it or doesn't know it; either you are in the mental realm of a particular language or not. We can compare or test their vocabulary, richness of sentences, but we cannot compare 'the amount of language' itself, it's not measurable.

[@UT3forever]

That is so true! As we know Second language acquisition is a matter of voluminous research which so far has provided many hundreds of methods and techniques. But each one of them can be defined as an ad hoc solution to a particular issue of a particular level student in particular pedagogical circumstances. Not for nought do we still struggle to design and develop new methods of 2L acquisition. In fact, everything new is well-forgotten old and majority of 'innovative' techniques and methods is just redefined.