If I could think in Spanish then I could speak in Spanish. If I could think in Spanish then I good do anything in Spanish.
How then can I start to think in Spanish?
There is no secret to thinking in Spanish. You just start.
You don’t need permission. You don’t need a certain level of Spanish. You don’t need a particular set of vocabulary or grammar in your long term memory. You just start.
So what should I think about? There are lots of scenarios you could try. In fact, there are thousands of combinations. Maybe you are trying to get a gig as a wedding singer. Or maybe you lost your pet lizard and need help from the locals in order to find it. You just start.
We all have an inner monologue. Unless, you have a special conditions that doesn’t allow the inner voice to speak. Or maybe you have control over your inner voice that rivals that of a buddhist monk. Either way. You just start.
In today’s episode of the Real Fast Spanish Tips podcast. We will look at the techniques you can use to start thinking in Spanish. We discuss where you could try to think in Spanish and some of the scenarios you could experiment with. But, as I have pointed out already, there is no secret. You just start.
In the podcast, I give you a few scenarios. There are plenty more than this. But this list is to help you start brainstorming:
- Ordering food in a cafe
- Proposing to someone
- Negotiating a deal (buying a car)
- A job interview
- Asking for a rare book in a rare book bookshop
- Explaining to someone why you were eavesdropping (how you going to get out of that one)
- Quitting your job (could you do that politely in Spanish, what would you say)
- Confronting a jealous lover and explaining that you haven’t been cheating on them. (poner los cuernos) (no te pongo los cuernos)
- How about if you are woman and you have to explain to your boyfriend you are pregnant. (would you break the news softly and spread out or are you going to take the bandaid and just rip it off)
- How about teasing a secret out of somebody. (how would you gain their trust)
Quote from the episode:
“You can build great wisdom and genius by spending time each day in grateful communion with your inner voice.” – Dr. John F. Demartini
How else can you start thinking in Spanish?
Podcast: Play in new window
Impeccable timing Andrew, this is something that I’ve only recently noticed: perhaps not entirely ‘thinking’ in Spanish (yet), but not actively translating everything. It starts with the easy words like prepositions, and grows from there.
Progress is being made, thanks!
Hey Alan, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Yeah you’re right, start with the easy words and build from there. You will be converting total vocabulary to useable vocabulary when you practice this way. See if you can throw yourself into a few conversational scenarios. Where you can use your imagination to explore and experiment with your vocabulary.
I do! In the shower, while I’m walking, while I’m swimming… This stems from the need to examine the missed opportunities: the spanish ticket office assistant in the theater who I didn’t speak to because I couldn’t remember how to ask her from which part of Spain she came, or the spanish chef who asked me “¿quieres probar?” outside the tapas bar, but I gave him the blank look because I didn’t know what probar was. I’ve revisited the conversations that should have happened, but didn’t. Next time I’ll be ready!
Nice!!! Every time you make a little mistake like that it should be easier to remember for next time. Keep up the good work.
Hi Andrew, awesome tips, it’s definetly 100% powerful to improve vocabulary by preparing before time about certain topics and practicing with your inner voice! great post