Quote:
Originally Posted by Wetdogeared
I've often head, and don't ask me where, that you don't have the true grasp of another language if you are knowingly doing the translation in your head.
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To Answer Geoff and Wetdoeared.
I speak several languages. I also Teach a few as well. I would say the short answer is as weddog stated. You tend to be able to speak when you no longer have to think in your native tongue.
I try to teach students
Not to think in their native tongue from the beginning. It helps immensely at later stages when speaking at intermediate or higher level. Then, as a speaker you answers are quicker and more natural.
As for multi-language speaking. IT actually helps you more than hurts you. I have had French and German words pop into my head when I am speaking Russian. This has helped me as there are many words in Russian from those languages.
When I first moved back to Japan. I had trouble speaking in Japanese, because Russian words kept popping in my head as I spoke ( I moved from Moscow to Japan to marry my wife). However, after a while it became easier.
In short, it can be confusing but most of the time it becomes naturural as does and skill. When I type in this thread I do not look at the keyboard. IT just comes naturally due to the typing class I had in secondary school (granted I do have typos from time to time). Speaking in several languages is similiar. It gets easier the more you learn of the language as well as the more languages you learn.