Life Changing Mindset

How do you learn the "mindset" of a new language?

When translating something from Spanish to English verbatim (and vice versa) it makes no sense. It seems as if it's more than just grammar and sentence structure, there's like a mindset that's being used. How do you learn that?

Public Comments

1. GET A BOOK THAT SAYS LANGUAGES FOR DUMMIES

2. I believe the "mindset" can be found by knowing the grammar. No language can be translated verbatim. That would be ignoring the grammar,

3. Learning the mindset of language requires you to understand the structure of the sentence. When you understand the structure and grammar of a sentence, you can learn how to grasp the meaning that you want to present.

Vocabulary is important because in Spanish and other languages, you have multiples or levels of politeness. In Spanish, many verbs have several versions like the verb "to be." You need to know what criteria meets the usage of the verb.

Learning a language is not the same for all. You have to find the methods that work best and if you are a foreigner and try your best, you will most likely be understood and appreciated for trying.

Probably one of the best ways to really get into the "mindset" of a language is to spend time with native speakers or immerse yourself in the environment in which the language is spoken.

4. I think it's a combination of culture and language.
I believe once someone understands the culture they more capable to develop "mindset".

Simple things with the language is better understood.

Examples:
In English we are "in" pictures. In French we are "on" pictures.
The French never "have" food as they "take" food.

These concepts are somehow linked directly to cultural mindset and reflected into the language.

Learning about the culture has helped me understand why they would say they are "taking their meal" oppose to "having their meal".

5. Wow, that's a really good question.
My advice on this would be to simply stop translating things in your mind over to English. I know it's a lot easier said than done but I think this is crucial. A lot of times when a person uses English to think through a Spanish sentence it causes certain grammar issues to come up. That's because certain things that work in English don't work in the Spanish langauge. So when you learn a new word or phrase or if someone is talking to you in Spanish don't bother trying to figure out what the phrase would be like in English. This is okay at the beginner level but should not be done after that. Instead pay close attention to the native speakers when they speak. Pay close attention to their word usage and grammar set up within sentences. Do the same thing when reading texts in Spanish. Then when it is your turn to speak or write something in Spanish you can use similar ways of expressing yourself in order to sound more like a native would as opposed to thinking in English first and then translating over to Spanish. This isn't something that can simply happen over night so just give it some time.
Best of luck!

6. Learning a new language is more complex than you may think. It is not something that you can learn in a matter of minutes or weeks or even months.

There is no one secret to learn a new language. You have to take level-appropriate courses, see movies, hear songs, read books and magazines and visit websites and interact with speakers of that language.

What you will learn is the basics of grammar, vocabulary, common phrases, spelling, proper pronunciation, and the mindset or culture of the native speakers.

After a few months of dedicated study you will start to make sense of the language you are studying. Maybe after a year you will be able to hold conversations. Finally, after a couple of years of study you may well become fluent in that language.

If this sounds boring, then just befriend a native speaker and learn from him or her, or at least get a good bilingual dictionary.

7. Nusias9 hit the nail on the head. The mindset of a language is more than just the grammar; it's the culture as well.

To really learn the mindset of a language, you really need to immerse yourself in the culture.

I learnt the mindset of French by growing up in Canada where I can see French everyday on things I buy. I watch the news (local and national) in French. I watch hockey in French. I fill out government forms in French...if I can, those can be tricky sometimes.

I learnt the mindset of Japanese first by teaching English to Japanese people and concentrating on how they speak English. Then I made Japanese friends. Then I went to Japan and stayed with a few friends, and then I backpacked across the country. Eventually I ended up living in Japan and getting married.

To really fully understand a language, to be fluent (and no, I"m still not fluent in Japanese, that will take a long time because it's so different from English) one must immerse oneself in the language and culture.

8. I agree totally with Stay Gold. I have come to the same conclusion in my own linguistic studies, and I believe this is a vitally important step on the road to fluency.