The science of thinking in English | Canguro English

Have you ever wondered how to think in English and stop translating in your head?
In this class, I answer two very simple questions: is it possible to 'think' in English, and is it a bad thing to translate in your head?
Instead of using personal opinions and anecdotes, I use science to show you the truth about 'thinking' in English and how to stop translating in your head.
See you in class!
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By popular demand, here are some of the scientific papers I reference:
- Kees de Bot, The Multilingual Lexicon: Modelling Selection and Control:
drive.google.com/open?id=1L7B...
- Rick Kern, The Role of Mental Translation in Second Language Reading: drive.google.com/open?id=1G-F...
- Arturo Hernandez, The Emergence of Competing Modules in Bilingualism: drive.google.com/open?id=18lS...

[@Canguroenglish]

Become a patron and sponsor free English education here: bit.ly/2BYlZi1 Buy official Canguro English merchandise here: rdbl.co/2E3J6gY

[@janepicasso523]

Canguro English Hello from Ukraine 🇺🇦Christian, I thank you so much for the great video. Listening to you is pleasure. I wish you good luck in this ;) I would really appreciate if you find time to recommend me some Spanish-studying channels. I’m just a beginner, so I think it’s a good chance for me to do it right, with a proper material!

[@fineeq1]

Christian you prove to us there is no lumitation for human thinking, thanks a lot

[@sadiqullah4651]

Pp

[@sadiqullah4651]

Pp

[@colunizator]

"The special technique is patience." Best words from the entire video. Thanks a lot, now i know, i am on the right path

[@Canguroenglish]

Yes! Keep going!

[@andreypetrov5819]

Yes bro, it takes the years. But the result is unbelievable

[@RodrigoPerez-zc8sh]

My father's teacher told him: "think in english" to learn english, but the teacher did not tell him: "thinking in english takes time, practice and patience" thank you very much for that important lesson.

[@Canguroenglish]

My pleasure!

[@ampmat]

I’ve been studying English for about six years now. In the beginning it was impossible not to make any translation in my head, but as time went on I turned Portuguese off and started thinking in English. It takes a lot of time and energy. If you want to start thinking in your target language, you have to be focused and work hard every day!

[@marcosbueno5443]

200 people couldn't learning with the video. Amazing, thank you!

[@TheBlueWizard77]

Excellent. I'm an english teacher at Dominico Americano in my country, Dominican Republic, and I totally support and encourage the understanding of this amazing and rather interesting theories in my classes. Thank you Christian. I bless the LIGHT in you. Namaste.

[@Rykaas]

The world needs more heroes like you

[@gauravbhogare6762]

You are the best teacher that I found ever . You guide very well.

[@milanalysenkova7821]

The special technique is patience. That's masterpiece, seriously. I'm enjoying your intellectual videos all the time

[@rodrigocambronero6816]

This is the best class which talks about of the real way of how we can think in English , thank you Canguro

[@sapturnus]

I've been studying English for a long time and now I can think in English properly. There is a weird thing I noticed in the recent years: I can't turn off one language or another. Some situations appears to be better to ponder about in Portuguese and others in English.

[@GarlicGrinder9]

I take it Portuguese is you native language? I'm curious, do you ever find yourself thinking speaking or writing in Portuguese in stressful situations? For example I haven't really started thinking in French (My second language from English), but in a tressful situation I can only think speak and read in English.

[@louisivofbajoflores709]

Yeah that just happens, I'm Argentinian and currently live in Buenos Aires but I was raised in the USA. I grew up having 2 native languages, I spoke English at school and with my friends but Spanish at home. Sometimes I think in English, sometimes I think in Spanish, it just comes naturally.

[@MsFabiojacob]

Hi guy, I think the same way like you! Everytime my brain turn off and I feel my self like a american person, but there is other moments that is so dificult to understand the context inside the conversation. Thanks..

[@karlachavarria7455]

It's truth!

[@danprieto_]

When I was leaning English (because my native language is Spanish) I never really used mental translation. However, now that I'm learning Portuguese mental translation helps me to make the process easier. The main reason is that Portuguese and Spanish are very similar and making the connection of them both is super helpful. I believe my Portuguese is improving a lot more.

[@ighorkingeski8944]

I'm the opposite. I'm native portuguese speaker and I use mental translation for english but I don't use that for spanish.

[@user-ws6cm6sr5w]

Thank from Ecuador South America nothing has been SINCERO like YOU thank for give me real motivation and strategy

[@andaiosif4047]

Actually , 'the ping pong balls teqnique' works really well to illustrate such a complex concept. Brilliant video, teacher!Thank you!

[@utpalpaul7424]

I am from India but it is easy to understand your English accent. Love from India 🙏

[@marciacaetano3861]

Professor your method of teaching English is very intelligent and has deep knowledge, because you make me thinking the reason our brain get the understandings with the words in a context. I’ve never seen a class like that. Congratulation to you.

[@carlosnattera2644]

I remember when you told us watching tv in English language or films is method more easily to leard English so one day turn on tv well it was Mr Bean ....... you know the rest he doesn't talk

[@flaviotigrao4550]

It's great, very good, I'm smiling a lot!

[@rickimam]

😄

[@shibnathroy106]

Lol

[@Kevinproducciones2]

Flavio Tigrão I'm laughing a lot ** you can say LMAO

[@laurahernando5389]

Funny! But, you know what? There are plenty of worksheets online to practise English using the Mr Bean series. So you can still learn and produce without Mr Bean saying a word! 🙂

[@ronaldcaliva5004]

Keep READING,LISTENING,WRITING,SPEAKING,these are the skills in learning english

[@richardreyes6351]

I will put in this comment in spanish and i hope that you understand it. Mi hermano usted es un maestro (Master, no teacher). Me quito el sombrero con tu nivel pedagógico. Felicitaciones eres un grande mi pana. Mil bendiciones.

[@rachaannab8230]

I'm used to thinking in english .in some situations I start unconsciously thinking in english that made my English improve so much but I'm still working on it .

[@wammwamm7912]

Can we call this the philosophy of teaching a language. Your style, if it’s right to say ( style ), is unique.Thank you, Chris.

[@Gustavo-lz5mi]

You aren't only teaching English but the cognitive processes behind the way we actually learn a second language. Thanks for that!!

[@Man0fSteell]

Yes *Patience* . For all of those out there the way that I started picking up on speaking English fluently were by using the power of the internet and what I mean by that is watching videos on KZbin . *It tremendously helped* . Video content ranging from tutorials to lectures to rant videos and podcasts ,and also, I made sure that I was consuming content of creators from english speaking countries(for the proper pronunciation) . You can practice english by picking up a topic and speaking to yourself, not mentally but literally using your mouth, for like 15 minutes or so , every single day . Practice consistently every single day and you will see the results changing for the best . PS : BTW my native language is Malayalam ; )

[@nguyenquocdanh0123]

in the journey of learning English i ususally translate the words into my mother language, but after 1 year i try to use monolingual dictionary (English to English dictionary), at that time i think i can understand some words without translating into my mother language, but there still some words that even i look for the meaning by using monolingual dictionary that i can not understand, at that time i have to translate its meaning into my mother language, and as i translate its meaning so one day it's no need to translate that word into my language. my writing is very slow, because it takes time to think about the words that i need to use but but but without translating. and it is slower when i speak. i think the answer for fluent in english is: immerge yourself into the language that you're learning, and be patient.

[@fatimaez-zahramessaoudi2146]

it's happened to me too, i translate to my mother language ,but when i want to use it again i mean the words translate i found my brain forget it, every languages needs practice..

[@ronaldcaliva5004]

How's ur english now? Do u speak english now without having to translate it in ur head?? Just wanna know

[@nilvapereira2039]

Absolutely fantastic your explain. I already read in English several years and now I have determined to speak the language fluently. The first dificulty is how do think in english. Your explain help me a lot!

[@utmrxxxx]

Dear Christian, you suggest us try to read , speak and listen in English as much as possible, that´'s the great problem!!! because in spanish speakers countries, as mine, you don't have many time to do this. We are 10 hours at work during normal days and we can only practise at weekends....unfortunately .. besides I love your classes and tips!! Thank you for your passion!!

[@GokulSoman95]

Dr. House is teaching me about learning languages!

[@vladmamenko8885]

I'm able to think in English, even though I never had any practice in actual speaking. The best thing that worked for me is listening. Watching movies, TV shows, youtube videos and listening to songs in English is helping me a lot. After almost 4 month of watching English movies exclusively, my understanding of language and my vocabulary grew significantly. It's very hard at the very beggining though, but it gets a lot easier after only a few movies. The key is that you have to like what you're listening or watching to. I noticed the biggest improvement last month when I watched 7 seasons of Futurama, which is my favorite TV show, entirely in English. That's when I started to really think in English without any efforts. Now i think in English about 15% of the time. Sometimes I can just randomly switch in my head to English. It happens instantly and usually I don't even notice it. So, it takes a lot of patience and practice to start thinking in English, but I think it's not that hard as everyone thinks.

[@ricardorubensosaalvarez3122]

A cousin of mine learns English by watching cartoons on TV. At the age of 4, he had never been to school before and suddenly started talking to a contractor who was repairing my uncle's house. I started watching old TV series, and help me a lot. There is a certain part of the unconscious that works without us realizing it.

[@danilogarcia4840]

Fantastic class, every day I learned more and more. Thanks for all tips shared.

[@hichamsaid9472]

Thank you, I am from Algeria I am a professor in physics. English is my third language but now I realized that english is very very important for me for my children so we spend a lot of time and mony to become fleunt and I think you are the best one in youtube gives us the effective helpness.

[@user-uu3ti6vx8l]

Christian are the best English teacher in the world! Eres un fenómenos amigo. A greeting.

[@akim6015]

From now on, I'll start writing comments on this kind of youtube clip in English. Thank you for your motivative teaching.

[@emiliogi527]

I was a bit like " woo is getting boring......" But you are absolutely not! and you are right Christian, just patience and passion. Compliments you are bloody good mate

[@ouwkyuha]

I love how you speak very calmly and not in a rush, so non-fluent listener like me could understand better :)

[@eduardoaraujo7551]

My man, you are making ones of the most fanny and accurate explanations about English issues we all the Spanish speaker people are going able to get in KZbin, I've spent around 3 hours today watching at you and your wonderful videos, and I haven't felt bored at any time. I don't really know how I found you but it has been one of the most thrilling things that have could happen to me by far. Thank you, good stuffffffff.

[@paolacagnetti8117]

Grazie Christian! Con te non ho più paura di parlare in inglese... evvaiii!!! Tu sei semplice e rendi tutto facile! Non so come esserti grata! Grazie davvero!

[@soultrail7]

I just wanted to thank you for a no-nonsence scientific approach to language teaching. It's a rare thing in the world where a growing number of self-proclaimed language gurus offer 'magic pill' methods which in fact lead nowhere.

[@normaquesada7307]

Thanks!!! Finally someone who really understands that thinking in a different language takes time. Greetings from Mexico 🙂

[@evaristoml]

The best explanation of thinking in English. In all the world! Thx

[@HikariNyappy]

BRILLIANT! I love how you explained everything so simply! I've been working as an English teacher, and I know the theory of language learning, but trying to communicate it to my students so that they get a better learning experiences is one of the things I need to work on, and it was so magical the way you explain it 💕 Thank you for sharing!!

[@elleenglish4937]

I somehow thought of this video today so I went back and watched it again. The first time I watched this video was several months ago. At that time, I was bothered by the 'translating in the brain' thing, I watched a lot of 'how to stop translating in your head' 'think in English' videos, I had to say none of those videos helped. I watched this video as well, but at that time, I don't understand what you said. After 6 months of speaking practice, 'translating in my head' decreased a lot. Time and practice! So true. Do you know about the Ping pang ball? Now I know. Thank you so much, Christian.👍

[@tinininho]

Hard work plus patience is the overall technique. After that try to assimilate new conceptions and practices of learning, based on reserachs not in opinions. Remember tho focus, but also don't push your self to hard. Give a break to your head is important as working hard. Rationalize (not think) in the desired and focused new language of study. Practice makes it perfect.

[@goodlikemaster]

Interesting this approach to explain why the people translate...I perceived this phenomenon in my mind also at beginning , in other side, I noticed which I wasn't thinking in my Portuguese while using English .I even never mind about this phenomenon of automatic translation , now I'm able to use English without effort. Perfect you didactics teacher , the way which you approach about a subject that everyone surely already experienced is brilliant ! Keep ahead with your work , you're light up many minds :)

[@zetus01]

I think the point of turning English in Your head on is at the moment when you don’t know/notice in what language was the information delivered to you

[@lilianagallo8771]

Patient and enough practice is the clue!!! Thank you!!

[@Kimberlycolas6]

The best teacher for ever 💖

[@ros.rafffran]

GreatChristian!! Clear and honest, I think you’re not seen very well by your so-called 'colleagues' .. but don't worry you and them do jobs different .. and I have not to add something else.. Thank you very much from all of us

[@eliz--]

Thanks for showing us how to learn english form a scientific perspective!!

[@ivopires4145]

I don't know what I do for to thank you teacher. I really love your lessons. I'mm from Brazil and would like know you. Thank you guy.

[@dulcegracianadiaz707]

Tengo un nivel básico en ingles y entendí todo el video, es una de las pocas personas que habla así de claro, cosa que me ayuda bastante. Gracias!

[@vinnycosta7647]

I'm brazilian and I already speak english, but it's really nice to watch your videos just because they have so much usefull and interesting information. One more subscriber for you :)

[@criscorRufus]

You are the best Christian !

[@hugocorrea9456]

You're a great man teacher!! Blessings from Argentina!!

[@multicachondo]

Yes, I agree with you, according to my experience learning English you start thinking in English over time. You've explained it easy and understandable plus funny. Thank you

[@JATR1X]

i've been thinking in english as my second language for many years. i can attest that this thinking practice helps a lot. at first this a completely active process, but it later becomes more and more natural. i think, stopping the translations in your head is the mandatory step of becoming fluent in a language.

[@jeffseben5890]

You're amazing, Christian! We have much more than English learning, here! And that's awesome! Because you just made everyone think in English during the video. But, further, you clarified the process! That's the point! You explore the subject like a scientist and bring it to us as a teacher, an excellent teacher!.... I think you are not only a teacher, but a good language scientist. Thanks a million for sharing it with us!!!

[@SimpleEnglishVideos]

I love this video. Bravo!

[@karlachavarria7455]

Hi Christian. That was a good answer! The pin pon ball theory. Pacience, yes why not. From the time I started to watched all the videos in youtube at the present time, I can say now that I can write to you a comment and put it in the comments' line. Before of these activities I never imagen to do that!

[@ghoulachafik7086]

@Christian, I personally started to think in English after more than 20 years learning and using English. Very good stuff man.

[@sumannara4757]

The same connecting way I feel while learning English and French. It's very true.

[@anv.4614]

Thanks dear Christian, I have been playing Ping Pong for more than 10 years. However, I would say after your video I have improved it definetely.

[@zahoors]

You are brilliant. I love the way you speak your mind. Thanks.

[@paulaandreacoronadoportela9049]

Love your videos. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and the scientific articles.

[@frankoarmani4352]

When I was studying english in Mexico, in one school called "quick learning" our teacher always said. -Hey think in english!

[@andreabancone162]

As a kid I had the chance to live abroad and therefore I can speak fluently in three different languages. I do happen to think in English or French even though im Italian, what surprised me though was that I could also dream in these different languages, not that often but still

[@marinacarassatohopson3474]

You are simply the best!!!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!!

[@jvmaxg]

Thank you

[@maha5]

Thanks for all the hard you put in the explanation. Thanks.

[@romiagua2746]

Concordo. Você mandou muito bem. Parabéns. 📚🎩

[@TheFernandopozes]

I am an English teacher in Brazil and I completely agree with you! Congratulation, very good video!

[@deepdarkmidnight]

I speak 3 languages fluently (the 3rd one still in progress) and I never used that mental translation that a lot of people talk about. When I use one of the 2 languages that are not my mother tongue, I don't feel like I'm supressing the later anyhow, I feel like I have to make the effort to use my vocabulary in the target language as good as possible. If I don't know how to express an idea, I just stop talking and think about it. In German it was and still is sometimes, very hard to keep the ideas connected while talking, in English is now natural. I no longer have to look up for the words in my head. But with translation or not, the key is definitely patience and dedication.

[@maxxu8]

Well, we do mental translation when we don't know how to use the target language to express an idea directly. In such a situation, we are facing two choices: either do the translation or have a complete failure to express the idea in the target language. Most people would choose the former one.

[@deepdarkmidnight]

Max Xu That's true, and I have to use translation from time to time, even to remember how to say a word in my mother tongue (it has happened before). But I've read some people cannot think in the language they speak and they have to constantly translate.

[@HoryTB]

Interestingly it's and it has been always the same to me - at least in case of English: never translated in mind, just were saying things. Also interesting that I did have to put grammar things i.e. tenses in order in my mind but the whole procedure is like when you were children: pick up words, formulas etc. then practice them. The key is, I believe, talking in the other/new language - and not studying it. Talk, talk, talk!

[@maxxu8]

HoryTB I don't know. Is there a theory that adults generally cannot pick up a foreign language as kids do? I have met a lot of Chinese immigrants because I myself am a Chinese immigrant. Those who didn't know English when they first came to North America as an adult don't seem to be able to pick up English naturally. Many of them who have lived in an English environment for 30-40 years can only speak broken English with a very limited vocabulary. Acquiring a foreign language without studying sounds wonderful but I need more successful cases to convince me. I have to admit that my experience is limited in Chinese speakers acquiring English and English speakers acquiring Chinese. Maybe, picking up a language that is very similar to one that you already know can be done in a more natural way?

[@HoryTB]

I studied German at high school for 5 years and don't really remember (balls sank under), studied Russian even longer at same and younger age - didn't like it (sorry) didn't learn and don't remember. In the meantime read and translated songs in English - liked it - then studied English at 21 yo., now have been practicing it for 11 years living in London, still, have accent and will always have unlike a child who goes to school and picks it up there. It is ultimately question of interest then young age "purely". You lose your interest about many things with the years go by, still, can learn new things if you are interested in. So I would scale it down to 2 main components: age and interest: 1, children like sponge sucking knowledge in, and open, 2, you can learn things easier, or at all, - even children - when it interests you.

[@user-gw6bn5td8p]

the best teacher ever

[@carlosnattera2644]

I m always happy lesting Kanguro english Thanks

[@traininggrounds9450]

Being lost in translation is a real thing. Every culture has its own mind and it stems out of expression with their own language. The primary thing I focus on is getting into the mind and attitudes of the culture of the language I'm trying to learn and this has everything to do with what they've chosen to express the same ideas. We all experience the same earth and the same everyday needs. But we have all learned to relate to them differently and describe them using different associations. Learning the people's specific way of approaching expression is the number one important thing to becoming fluent. So yes, you do need to think like the people who speak the language in order to speak it as they do. That's the whole challenge to becoming one of them. Many people don't have this level of discipline and just learn the one way translations and they never get to experience the acceptance that comes with being fluent. But just as memorizing one way translations takes time and effort so does trying to understand why they express themselves in the way they do. It has a lot more to do with your strategy of learning, discipline and experience than it does with pure brain power. You can suppress any language as long as you have a firm grasp of the mind of the language you want to speak.

[@patoman13]

Wow thank you!!!!

[@DanielAlves-ko9xs]

I love this class! Thanks so much!

[@havanamalecon-music5303]

Thank you Cristhian, you are a big professor.

[@turarbekqazaq2145]

Thank u my teacher and see u in class! You are genius!

[@Canguroenglish]

See you in class!

[@EpsilonPrimeTransformers]

I'm Swedish but (because of all media I consume on the internet) I very often think in English, to the point that I sometimes mess up the gramer of my native Swedish.

[@deysianemaciel2023]

The process is different when you are a kid or a teen. It is all about neuroplasticity. Things get harder when you get older, due to social responsabilities, time management, and endogenous neurogenesis. greetings from Brazil!

[@katherinemartlet508]

Thank you for your videos, it's so inspirational!

[@redfirewolf4186]

Thanks, Christian. I am a native English speaker, but these videos are very helpful for me learning Spanish as well. You are helping a lot of people and we all appreciate your effort and hard work to teach us!

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks, I really appreciate your kind words!

[@rosacasiero4250]

Wow Christian, what a great lesson!!!! I'm going to watch this video over and over again, what you said it's so important and highly interesting. Everybody keep saying to start thinking in English and stop translating, but I knew that it couldn't be that bad, of course not translating every words but at least have a sort of organization knowing that each language has a different structure in sentences and different grammar, but this process it's very important it's like a support for us, without it everything would fall down. It's like a child when he learnes to walk, first he needs a support and only after that he starts walking properly. Therefore, at the end of the day the concept is always the same; Time, be constant in your study, and lots of passion. Thank you so much teacher, for confirming what I already assumed! 😊

[@user-ub9yb2bs2t]

My native language is Ukrainian. As common knowledge, the Russian language is very popular in our country. Thus I know two languages. Your advices, of course, are so accurate and wise. Thanks a lot for your wonderful video. By the way, you have a nice jacket.

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks!

[@khalidtoumi2045]

you are my best teacher in youtube... i Want to tell you thank you so much for your help

[@vicentejr.t.palomo8485]

im a new fan Christian from the Philippines. I love how you explain ideas. Patience is a virtue even in speaking a second language.

[@user-gp8dq3ur3c]

You are fantastic man and teacher. Thank you!

[@walmirkonis]

excellent video as always...thanks

[@julianabrandao8850]

You are the man!!! I love you classes.

[@truthlives5317]

Thank you you gave me hope

[@marcomusictv3854]

Thank you so very much for this amazing explanation... I loved it!

[@Canguroenglish]

My pleasure!

[@sanjukarmakar4228]

Love you, dear brother Christian. You are my best teacher. from IND

[@vanessalima901]

Thank you so much .It was an amazing class.. "Patience"

[@ekaterinabrou2323]

Thank you so much!

[@victorianodperez9349]

I've been working hard and apparently without good results this year 2019 but as soon as I came across with this presentation I have changed my mind, now I realize that after hard work and dedication I can become fluent in English, I would be able to speak without a mental translation up there in my head. Yes it takes time but who cares as long as you know that you are in the right way. It is only a matter of time, as you are saying: BE PATIENT! Gracias y Happy New Year.

[@GarlicGrinder9]

My native language is English, but I am also proficient in French, but not fluent. I began learning French in highschool 4 years ago and continue to learn it through college. Not once have I been told to "think in French." I don't nor have I ever seperated the languages I know into "buckets." Here's what I do mentally. Take the word apple for example. This word I associate with a tart red fruit (as well as a brand of electronics and personal devices.) This is the "apple" folder. It's labeled in my primary language, that being English. In the "apple" folder is the English word, as that was my first language. There are also a few other "documents," such as "pomme" the french word, Apfel, the German word, and Ringo, or 林檎, the japanese word.

[@jaguarazul]

Genial ! Gracias

[@katiabuffolo2317]

Great teacher

[@rudyscopel8910]

Thank you Christian, your videos are very helpful!!