> You need to stop using your native language for some time. Completely.
I second this.
My German instructor mandated that all speaking in the class would occur in German (preferably thinking too)
So, you couldn't rely on English as crutch. It is astounding at how quickly the brain picks up key words when your main communication tool (English) is suddenly taken away. It is also very entertaining, to realize how the nature of our thoughts themselves becomes simple, when we think in a language while having a limited vocabulary
It led to funny situations too. When you don't even have the vocabulary to ask a question, how do you learn at all? When the instructor explains concepts to you in a language that you haven't learnt yet, how you gain insights at all !?
It appears to be a chicken and egg problem, but once the ball got rolling, it was arguably the fastest I learnt any new skill, bar none.
I second this.
My German instructor mandated that all speaking in the class would occur in German (preferably thinking too)
So, you couldn't rely on English as crutch. It is astounding at how quickly the brain picks up key words when your main communication tool (English) is suddenly taken away. It is also very entertaining, to realize how the nature of our thoughts themselves becomes simple, when we think in a language while having a limited vocabulary
It led to funny situations too. When you don't even have the vocabulary to ask a question, how do you learn at all? When the instructor explains concepts to you in a language that you haven't learnt yet, how you gain insights at all !?
It appears to be a chicken and egg problem, but once the ball got rolling, it was arguably the fastest I learnt any new skill, bar none.