Thinking in English

When we hear a word in our native language, we understand it instantly. We don't stop to think about the definition. But when we hear that same word spoken in another language, we have to go through an extra step to translate it. We hear a question in English, translate it into Tagalog, form the answer in Tagalog, translate back into English, and finally, reply in English.

The whole process just takes too long, which is one reason many Filipinos hesitate to speak English.

Learning to think in English takes practice. Not every now and then, but all the time. Your goal is to make thinking in English automatic. In a sense, you want to “think without thinking”.

Start out by looking around. Whether you are sitting at home, riding a bus, or out on the farm, look around and start mentally describing the things you see. Don't speak. Just use English sentences in your mind. You might discuss the scenery as you pass by on the bus, or you might think about your plans for the day. Anything to keep the conversation going. Make simple statements at first: "That tree is tall". Then mentally turn the statement into a question: "How tall is that tree?" Every time you get the chance, try to practice this. If you’re in a public place though, please don’t slip and start talking to yourself out loud!

Practice naming things in English too. Start simple: A truck. Then add descriptive words: A big truck. A big, yellow truck. A big, yellow truck with a dirty windshield. You can even try to answer the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How questions: "What is that?" "It's a truck." "Who is in the truck?" "The driver is in the truck." "When will it arrive at its destination?" "It will arrive in a few hours." "Where is it going?" "It's going to the city." "Why is it going to the city?" "It's going to the city to deliver its load."

The most important thing is to keep thinking in English!

Another good technique is to start a daily "What did I do today?" ritual. Every night, before you go to sleep, mentally ask yourself that question. And then spend a few minutes thinking (in English) about your day. Try to use long, detailed sentences.

Try to make “thinking in English” a daily habit. If you do, before you know it, it will come naturally to you.