Learn to express your thoughts, feelings and ideas in English, without worrying how it might translate back into your ‘Mother-tongue’.
Remember that we’re not specifically striving to become an expert ‘Interpreter’ or ‘Translator’. These professionals require great skill in the languages they use.
Our goal at the moment is that when we speak in English, we should think in English.
Guaranteed to improve your spoken English!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Sometimes we find it is very hard to use a word or an expression to express us accuratelly and then we choose to use our native language to explain,and translate it into English .That may be the reason why lots of us did not form the habit!So maybe we should work hard to enlarge our other knowlege about English as well!
Hi Nancy,
It’s fine, when preparing for a conversation on a particular subject (or subjects) to use a good ‘Chinese to English Dictionary’ (if Chinese is your Mother-tongue) to help in finding the important ‘keywords’ you need to describe your thoughts, feelings and ideas. What we’re saying here is that when you’re speaking in English, try to ‘form’ your ideas etc. in English, and not in your Mother-tongue.
Also, try to understand English expressions (like “go jump in the lake”) in English, and don’t worry about how they might translate into your Mother-tongue.
Thanks for your comment.