Why You Should Stop Translating in Your Head

When Adi first moved to Australia, he had a notebook full of perfect English sentences. But every conversation felt like a mental marathon—listen in English, translate to Indonesian, think of a response in Indonesian, then translate back to English. By the time he replied, the conversation had already moved on.

Then one rainy afternoon, his roommate Josh asked, "Wanna grab some brekkie tomorrow?" Adi froze. Brekkie? His mental translation system crashed.

The Translation Trap

Adi's teacher explained why translating doesn't work:

1. It's Slow - Real conversations wait for no one

2. It Sounds Unnatural - Languages don't translate word-for-word

3. It's Exhausting - Your brain works 3x harder

How Adi Learned to Think in English

1. Started Small

• Labeled emotions in English ("I'm frustrated" not "Saya frustrasi")

• Described daily objects ("Blue toothbrush" not "Sikat gigi biru")

2. Used the "5-Second Rule"
   When asked a question, he'd:

• Picture the answer instead of words

• Force himself to respond within 5 seconds

3. Embraced "Broken" English
   He permitted himself to:

• Mix up grammar ("Yesterday I go shop")

• Use simple words ("Big rain!" instead of "torrential downpour")

The Breakthrough Moment

After 6 weeks, magic happened at a barbecue:
Josh: "Mate, pass the snags?"
Without thinking, Adi tossed the sausages and replied, "Catch! Need sauce too?"
No translation. No delay. Just English.

Why This Works

• Creates New Brain Pathways - Like learning to ride a bike

• Builds Confidence - Mistakes become progress markers

• Makes English Feel Natural - It becomes a tool, not a subject

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Your Turn!
Try this today: When you see something, name it in English ONLY. Comment below:
🌧️ What's the first thing you "thought in English" today?
🚀 What's your biggest translation struggle?

Share this with someone stuck in translation mode! #ThinkInEnglish

"The day I stopped translating was the day I finally started speaking." - Adi

Pro Tip: When stuck, visualize the situation instead of words - your brain will find the English naturally!