can using L1 while studying L2 cause problems?

[rpgherogaz]

I have been teaching myself Japanese for just over a year now.

I read Japanese at a similar speed to English, I have no problems with Kanji, and it causes me little stress (even kansai ben) I use the AJATT method, and I am very determined.

However, i find myself connecting japanese words to english words, because thats how i learnt them.

I use smart.fm to boost vocab, and that forces you to connect an english word to each japanese word....

Latly i use a jpn-jpn dictionary to learn new words, whenever I can understand the whole definition but the english crops up when i look for example sentences and my brain aborbs it!

I find then whenever i read, or try and listen to podcasts, I am involuntary translating in my head!

This slows me up and I miss things, leading to understanding...nothing...

So using L1 (language 1) causes this? Or is it just a natural step to take before getting good and adept at a language?

Tasukete!!!!

Gaz

[QuackingShoe]

There's English in my head when I'm not very familiar with the vocabulary or grammar. If I'm comfortable with them, there's little English.

I use J-J and J-E resources.

[empress_of_asyl]

I have had a similar problem in the past which i got over. I think the key is to learn your words and your grammar so well that when you hear it you JUST know it. Try not to translate in your head because yes you won't absorb anything. You just have to know exactly wat is being said by thinking in japanese. To get to this stage you just need a lot of exposure to the spoken language. And when i'm thinking to myself i try to think to myself in japanese. Write things in your diary in japanese, write your shopping list, things to remember etc etc in japanese.

I think it is exposure because i experienced this in year 12, i have studied japanese all throughout highschool, and everything was taught in English. I now study japanese at university and the method of teaching is different - there is no english, i get taught japanese in japanese by japanese people. And i found that with the greater exposure when i listen to my teachers now i just get it. there is no translating.

Exposure and practice go hand in hand to good japanese

Stephanie.