15/02/2025
đ§ How to Train Your Brain to Think in EnglishâEven If Youâre Stuck Translating Now
Have you ever been in an international meeting, trying to follow the conversation, but your brain just wonât keep up? You hear something, translate it in your head, think of a response in your language, translate it back⊠and by then, the discussion has already moved on. đ©
The problem isnât your vocabulary or grammarâitâs that your brain isnât trained to think directly in English yet.
Hereâs how you can fix that and start responding faster and more naturally in business conversations:
1ïžâŁ Think in Simple English First
Donât aim for perfect sentences in your head. Start small:
đč Instead of thinking âPotĆebuji napsat e-mailâ â then translating â âI need to write an email,â
đč Just think directly: âI need to write an email.â
Train yourself to skip the translation step by practicing with short, simple thoughts.
2ïžâŁ Describe Whatâs Around You (in English!)
Wherever you are, challenge yourself to name objects, actions, and emotions in English.
âĄïž âMy laptop is on the table.â
âĄïž âIâm finishing a project before lunch.â
âĄïž âThis meeting is going well.â
Your brain will get used to forming English sentences instantly, without needing your native language as a bridge.
3ïžâŁ Use an English-to-English Dictionary
If you always translate new words, your brain stays in âtranslation mode.â Instead, use a monolingual dictionary (like Cambridge or Oxford) to understand words in English.
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Example: Instead of translating âcomplicatedâ â âsloĆŸitĂœâ, learn its meaning in English: âdifficult to understand or explain.â
4ïžâŁ Shadow Native Speakers
Listen to business English podcasts, interviews, or meetings and repeat sentences out loud right after you hear them. This helps your brain process words as English, not as translations.
5ïžâŁ Simulate Business Conversations
The best way to train your brain? Practice real-life business situations in Englishâbefore you actually need them.
Thatâs exactly what we do in The Instant Business English Acceleratorâąâwhere Czech & Slovak IT professionals master real meetings, negotiations, and fast conversations so they can speak with confidenceâwithout getting stuck translating.
đĄ Thinking in English is a skill. And like any skill, it can be trained. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes.
Which of these strategies will you try today? Let me know in the comments! đ