Is English Your Third Language? Here’s How You Can Think in English
Learning English is often considered a daunting task, especially if it's not your first language. But here's the truth: if English is your third language, or even your second, it's normal to feel disconnected from the language. English, like any other language, requires not just knowledge of vocabulary and grammar but also the ability to think in it. However, thinking in English doesn’t come naturally for most learners – it takes practice and effort.
If you're struggling with English, here's a question for you: Can you truly think in English? If your answer is "no," don’t worry. It's not something that happens overnight. It requires time, patience, and, most importantly, active practice. Let’s break this down:
English Learning: Not as Easy as You Think
It’s true – learning English isn’t as easy as some might think. When people say learning English is easy, they're usually referring to the basics, like basic greetings or introductory phrases. But real fluency? That's a whole different game. If you think learning English is easy, chances are you're still at the primary level. You’re still at the "learning what you already know" phase – things like saying “Hello,” “How are you?” or basic introductions.
But real learning goes beyond that. It involves understanding complex sentence structures, learning new vocabulary, and being able to express yourself on various topics. It’s about being able to think and speak spontaneously, without relying on translation. And this is where most people get stuck – they never move beyond basic phrases and simple conversations.
"Frog in a Well" Syndrome: Are You Stuck?
There's a famous metaphor: "A frog in a well does not know the ocean." If you’re not actively practicing and learning English in different contexts, you could be limiting your potential to expand your language skills. You’re the frog in the well, surrounded by what you already know, but unaware of the vast ocean of possibilities in the language.
To truly master English, you need to step out of that "well" and open your mind to new ways of thinking. You need to widen your boundaries, challenge yourself, and go beyond just textbook exercises. You need active practice in real-world scenarios to develop that natural fluency.
Open Your Boundaries: How Active Practice Makes a Difference
The key to thinking in English lies in one thing: active practice. When you practice English actively, you’re constantly using the language in real-life situations, and that’s when the magic happens. Active speaking, reading, listening, and writing – all of it helps you think in English, internalize structures, and express yourself naturally.
One of the most effective ways to do this is through a structured, guided course that helps you practice English in real-life situations. Rather than just memorizing words, you need to engage with the language, speak it regularly, and push yourself out of your comfort zone.
Join Our Active Spoken English Course
At ENNglish, we understand the importance of active practice. That’s why we’ve created the Active Spoken English Course – a course designed for learners who want to improve their speaking skills and think in English naturally.
Our course spans 360 days, offering a whopping 450 hours of immersive learning. You’ll receive 450 ENN Practice Sets that include everything you need to master the language:
- Total Syntax
- 12 Tenses
- Primary, Modal, and Marginal Auxiliaries
- All Sentence Structures
- Various Kinds of Sentences
This isn’t just about theory. Our course is packed with active, real-world speaking practice to help you go beyond the basics and start thinking and communicating fluently in English.
Don’t Be the Frog in a Well
If you’ve been stuck at the same level for a while, it’s time to open your boundaries and dive into the ocean of English fluency. Active practice is the bridge between “knowing” English and actually living it.
So, are you ready to stop translating in your head and start thinking in English? The journey might not be easy, but with guided, active practice, you’ll make progress faster than you ever thought possible.