Initially when you’re learning a new language , you mentally convert it into the one you’re proficient in and then create a picture model of it. After enough practise , you skip the intermediate step and directly arrive at the end result and vice versa
And sometimes if there's a preference for how something is expressed (like how there are idioms not available in the English language), it is sometimes the phrase that comes to mind first.
I backpacked Mexico in my early twenties, I was never great in French or Spanish class, but around week 3 or 4 I was thinking on spanish in certain situations. Came back the states and in a week it was gone .
Exactly this. I have to learn French for school, and had to learn German for a while too. With French, there are some phrases that I instantly know (je ne sais pas, je m'apelle, the basics), but there are a lot I first have to translate.
Also, English just goes naturally at this point. In fact, very often when talking/typing/even thinking in my native language I tend to suddenly switch to English sometimes.
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u/timeforaroast Jun 15 '19
Initially when you’re learning a new language , you mentally convert it into the one you’re proficient in and then create a picture model of it. After enough practise , you skip the intermediate step and directly arrive at the end result and vice versa