How to change an Italian mind

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loukren

New member
Joined
Jan 16, 2014
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Italian
Home Country
Italy
Current Location
Italy
Hello guys,
first of all this forum is awesome and really usefull, many thanks for your great job.

I'm from Italy and I know my English skills are kinda poor, but somehow i can manage conversation with people from a lot of countries since i work in a cruise ship.
Lately i had to speak with English/American people and i saw all the weakness of my speeches.

I hate that when i try to speak English my brain first elaborate the sentence in Italian and then it translates word by word.
It might works sometimes, but i do believe it sounds really funny (or horrible :) ) to a native English speaker.

How can i change this attitude? I'm trying by reading books, watching movies or youtube's video in English but so far nothing changed.

Thank you, have a nice day!
 

PeterValk

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2013
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Dutch
Home Country
Netherlands
Current Location
Russian Federation
Try finding a an English language tutor.
Then you have someone to talk to who will correst your mistakes so you won't make them again and again.
You'd have to pay for this kind of service, but if your own service improves because of it, it might just be worth it.
(that's what I've recently started to do, not so much give English language lessons, but I offer people the opportunity to talk to someone who will help them improve their language skills instead of laughing at them)
There is no substitute for actually talking to real people.
As they say:"Practice makes perfect"
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
How long have you been working on the ship? It can take time to move your approach into your second language and to stop translating. After you talk to someone, run through the conversation again in your head and try to work out ways of saying it more naturally in English. For example, we don't use elaborate in the way you have in English, so check out the meaning and find a better word, then use it.
 
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