Hey there! This is TOP episode 316. I Think? I’m Thinking? Here’s the Difference.
You read English. You understand English. You’ve been learning for years, but when it’s time to speak your mind just freezes, and the words don’t come out. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. My name’s Ola, and this is Teacher Ola Podcast. I’m here to help you finally speak out loud. This isn’t about perfect grammar or fancy vocabulary. This is about your voice. Your words. Your real English.
So before we start, I want to tell you something important, something that can truly change the way you speak English. This Tuesday, at 7:35 p.m., we’re starting the Winter edition of Say It Out Loud, my Speaking Club and speaking program that gives you exactly what you’ve been missing: real practice and real confidence.
We’re going to meet twelve times, talking about exactly the things people talk about every day: small talk, work, holidays, travel, shopping, food, health, the environment, and everything in between. But the difference is how we do it. Every meeting is packed with strategic speaking tasks: role plays, scenarios, functional language, real-life reactions, and hardcore practical speaking training. I focus on equipping you with the tools you actually need to feel absolutely confident every time you speak.
Because fluency is not magic. It’s not talent. It’s a muscle. And you build that muscle through practice. In order to achieve fluency, you need unshakable confidence. And in order to achieve unshakable confidence, you need training, hours spent speaking, reacting, and expressing yourself. That’s how your voice becomes strong. That’s how your posture and your body language start to support you. That’s how you finally feel proud of the way you sound in English.
And remember, you join this program forever. You get lifetime access to all materials: grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation. You get unlimited access to our monthly Extra Class. The next one is already tomorrow (November 15) at 11:30 a.m., where we’ll work on the first conditional in the context of future technology — super fun, zero pressure. You can join without your camera or microphone. You can just listen, participate from home, or talk only when you feel ready.
But that’s only one part of the program. You also get unlimited access to me personally through our WhatsApp interactive voice chat. Every day I leave you a small speaking task. You record your message, and I send you personal feedback — your grammar, your pronunciation, your vocabulary, everything. I help you grow day by day. And I really am focused on your results, because I know exactly what I can deliver.
And here’s the deeper truth: you’re not doing this just to “improve English.” You’re doing this because you want to feel confident. You want to feel capable. You want to express yourself without fear. Speaking English is not only a language skill — it gives you freedom, opportunities, personal growth, and self-realization. It feeds your need for competence, connection, self-expression I know these are big words but this is really what you want.
So if you’re ready to stop thinking in Polish… if you’re ready to stop translating every sentence… if you’re ready for your words to finally match your thoughts, join us. Join the Winter edition of Say It Out Loud. The program costs 1,400 zł. You can pay in ten installments of 140 zł or in four installments of 370 zł. And you join for good. For life.
Go to teacherola.com/kurs and join us. I can’t wait to help you grow. Also, you can read more about the program at siol.pl.
So today I want to show you something really small but useful in everyday English: the difference between I think and I’m thinking. These two look almost the same, but they don’t mean the same thing, and if you learn the difference now, your English will immediately sound more natural.
Let’s start with I think. When you say I think, you’re giving your opinion. It’s what you believe, what you feel, or what you decide in your mind. It’s not about right now or this moment. It’s just your view. For example, if someone asks you, “Is this film good?”, you answer, “I think it’s great.” That’s your opinion. You’re not talking about the process of thinking. You’re talking about the opinion that already lives in your head.
Now, I’m thinking is different. I’m thinking describes the process happening right now. It’s like your brain is working at this moment. You haven’t finished deciding yet. You’re still in the middle of it. For example, if someone asks you, “What do you want to eat?”, and you don’t know yet, you can say, “I’m thinking.” So I think = opinion. I’m thinking = process happening now.
Another thing people confuse is I think that, I think so, and I don’t think so. They are not the same. When you say I think that, you introduce your opinion with a full sentence. For example: I think that this is a good idea. You can drop the word that and say: I think this is a good idea. Both are correct. But you cannot say I think so with a full sentence. I think so means yes, I believe it’s true, but without repeating the whole sentence. For example, “Is she coming today?” — “I think so.” And I don’t think so means the opposite: no, I don’t believe it’s true. For example, “Is the shop still open?” — “I don’t think so.” Notice that we don’t say I think no. That sounds unnatural. The natural English way is I don’t think so.
Practice time! Alright, so let me give you ten very natural, everyday sentences you can use immediately. The first five use I think, because we’re talking about opinions. The next five use I’m thinking, because we’re talking about the process.
Repeating sentences out loud is a great start. It warms up your voice, it trains your mouth muscles, it helps you get used to the sound of English coming from you. And yes, it can even automate a few useful phrases. But let’s be honest: this alone will never give you real fluency.
If you want to stop thinking in Polish…
If you want to stop translating every sentence in your head…
If you want to finally speak with ease, with speed, and with the kind of confidence that feels natural and honest…
Then you need to start speaking with real people.
This is exactly why Speaking Clubs and conversation classes matter. In Poland, so many learners avoid them. They study grammar, they watch videos, they repeat sentences but they don’t actually talk. And without talking, you hit the ceiling very quickly.
I’ve been teaching English for 13 years. I’ve worked with groups, pairs, individuals, hundreds of students who felt nervous or blocked at the beginning. And I know exactly how to help someone open up, feel safe, and finally start speaking freely. My course is built on everything I’ve learned: zero stress, zero judgement, a supportive community, and practical speaking tools that actually work.
Because the truth is simple: you can’t learn to swim by watching videos, and you can’t learn to speak by staying silent.
If you want English to feel natural… if you want to trust yourself when you open your mouth… if you want your words to flow as fast as your thoughts…
Then it’s time to step into real conversations with real people — and I’m here to guide you every step of the way. Join SIOL at teacherola.com/kurs. Ok, let’s practice. Listen and repeat out loud:
I think this song is actually really good.
I think she’s right about that.
I think we should leave a bit earlier.
I think I’ll skip that.
I think this is my favourite hoodie.
I’m thinking about changing my phone soon.
I’m thinking of ordering sushi tonight.
I’m thinking about what to wear tomorrow.
I’m thinking of taking a break this weekend.
I’m thinking about joining a new gym.
And that’s it. Just remember: I think is your opinion. I’m thinking is the process. I think so means yes, I believe it. I don’t think so means no, I don’t. And I think that starts a full sentence. If you keep this in mind, your English will instantly sound clearer and more natural.
If you want to keep going, head to teacherola.com/316 and grab your free worksheet. It’ll help you repeat the key phrases from this lesson.
But remember: repeating alone is not enough. If you want real fluency, real confidence, real conversations… you have to start speaking with real people. And that’s exactly what my course Say It Out Loud was built for.
Enrolment for SIOL is now open at siol.pl and also at teacherola.com/kurs. Inside the course, you don’t just “learn English” you train speaking. You’ll get structured lessons, a safe and supportive Speaking Club, a WhatsApp voice chat where I guide you and give personal feedback every day, monthly live sessions, and lifetime access.
Everything inside is designed to help you finally be yourself in a foreign language.
Thank you so much for listening. Stay fearless, take care, and say it out loud! I’m your teacher, Teacher Ola, and you’ve been listening to Teacher Ola Podcast. Bye for now!