StoryLearning Podcast

087: How to avoid translating in your head

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Pete asks: "I'm learning Portuguese, how can I avoid translating in my head?"

In this episode:
  • Translation is inevitable
  • It's a useful strategy as a beginner
  • Translation stops being useful as you move to higher levels, and you're dealing with nuances in the language which often don't have translations
  • Stopping translating in your head is something that happens naturally over time

    • Tips for moving away from translation:

    • Be happy with a certain level of ambiguity in the language - fixating on understanding every word is counterproductive
    • Look for patterns and phrases in the language, write them down, notice them being used in different contexts, the begin to use them yourself
    • Deal in phrases and sentences, not single words
    • When watching movies etc, relax and be present with the language, don't try to understand everything
    • Spend time on all four skills
      • ...more
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      StoryLearning PodcastBy Olly Richards
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