How do you speak fast/fluent in foreign language, when you have to think and translate in your mind?

Question

As a student of a foreign language, i try yes.. but i keep getting stuck and even though i try to speak fluently and fast , i mess up because i try to understand what i'm saying and i dont. how do you develoop speed when even after studying the words for a long time, you stil have a tendency to try to translate in your mind( to your own language) as you speak?

Answer 1

When you are fluent it is not just in speaking, but you can think in that language as well. That prevents the mess ups you are talking about. You develop the speed by actually forcing yourself to think in that language. Start reading books or newspapers in the language you want to learn to become proficient in it.

Answer 2

it takes a long time to become naturally versed in a language. How long did it take you to learn english? do you have to think about how to say something there? speed, accuracy, and fluency all come with lots of practice and time. Try this. With a friend or a classmate, have conversations with them a few nights a week. Speak only in a langage that you are studying. Correct each other as you make mistakes. That is how I became fluent in pig latin as well as frnech and for a while, german. and its probably what i will do with my hindi. If you guys learn a new section, practice on your own with the material that you already know. then add the new section and then finally practice with your friend. the easiest way to practice your speed is to find a penpal on IM that can speak fluently, accurately, and fast. That will help you.

Answer 3

After a lot of practice, you will start thinking in the language you are speaking at the moment. At the beginning is natural to think in your language and translate, just keep practicing, Buy a microphone (if you don't have it yet) go to the chat rooms and practice. People would help you, people love when you try to speak their own language. So, I think is a good Idea.

Answer 4

Probably. The UK is in Europe, so flights would require you to be able to speak in the language of the country you're going to, especially since you're going to be in that country to fly back to the UK. Well, I don't know the specifics but you won't only have English speaking passengers. Going back and forth from France and the USA, all the air hostesses were able to speak English and French from what I could see/hear especially when they make announcements. They said the same thing in both languages. In Paris, just about everyone who worked at Charles de Gaulle was able to speak English as well, even if it wasn't their native language which I could tell.

Answer 5

You have to live in the country, so it becomes automatic. You dont need to think, it becomes a natural reaction. But the only way to get this is to live in the environment and study there the language .
If you are studying a language but you are far away from its context you will never reach that level

Answer 6

It takes pratice. It has gotten to the point now that it is just like a light switch in my mind that switches my though patterens from English to Chinese and back. I still hit snags every so often though.
The best way to practice is with native speakers of what ever language you are learning. try to speak as fast as you are able to.

Answer 7

You just need to practice. If you know any one who speaks that language try speaking it for the whole day with that person. That's what my friend did with me when she wanted to speak spanish faster and more fluently. I helped her by correcting her if she made a mistake.

Answer 8

Eventually you don't even think about it. It's like aquiring a new piece of slang. In your lifetime you've learned stuff like "Owned", "snap", or whatever (Lame I know, but it's an example so meh) and now you don't even need to think about it to use it. The words are synonymous. I am semi-fluent in italian and spanish, neither of which did I start learning before I was 14. I work in a kitchen and speak a sort of pidgin spanish, and understand what is said to me, and I don't even have to think about it too much. "Que paso, ese? Nada, wey. Y tu?"

Answer 9

Don't translate as you speak, you need to learn to think in that new language. To get started instead of imagining the word in english, try imagining an image of that word.

Good luck!

Answer 10

That is the biggest mistake u can do when i tried to learn a new languaje.

When i was learning English my teachers always told us that we needed to think in English.

If u think first in a phrase and then u try to translate it in most of the cases its not going to work out.

I think u need to be familiar with the lenguaje, for example read a book in that lenguaje, watch some tv shows, etc.

Good luck