Stop Translating. Start Thinking in English.
Do you do this?
- Hear an English sentence.
- Translate it into Japanese in your head to understand it.
- Think of your answer in Japanese.
- Translate your answer into English (checking grammar rules).
- Finally speak.
If you do, no wonder you are tired! This is called the “Translation Monitor,” and it is the biggest wall between you and fluency.
The Problem: “Apple = りんご”
When most of us started learning English in Junior High School, we learned lists:
- Apple = りんご
- Dog = 犬
- Run = 走る
We wired our brains to route every English word through a Japanese definition. English -> Japanese -> Concept.
This is slow. It’s like trying to run a marathon while carrying a dictionary.
The Solution: “Apple = 🍎”
To build an “English Brain,” we need to cut out the middleman. We need to wire English sounds directly to images and feelings. English -> Concept.
Babies don’t learn that “Dog” means “Inu.” They see a furry animal, hear their mother say “Dog,” and the connection is made instantly.
How We Train Your Ears and Eyes
In the “Fluent Forever” method (which we use at Starfish English), we stop using Japanese translations as soon as possible.
Instead of writing “Dog = 犬” on a flashcard, we put the word “Dog” on the front, and a picture of a cute puppy on the back.
When you see the picture, your brain feels the meaning immediately. No Japanese required.
Experience the Shift
In our 1-Day Domestic Immersion Course, we force this switch. By banning Japanese for 10 hours, your brain eventually gets tired of translating. It gives up. It starts to just accept the English as it comes.
That moment—when you stop translating and start just “understanding”—is a magical feeling. It’s the “English Brain” waking up.
Want to feel it for yourself?