Does the same apply to learning portugués?

I read your article with interest.  Thank you for opening up an interesting topic of conversation.  Well done!

I have been advised by some people that I need to think in portugués in order for me to become fluent in portugués.

I live in Rio de Janeiro and am immersed in the culture and the language.  I need to speak portugués on a daily basis, both in the home and elsewhere.  It is only very rare that I have the opportunity to converse at length with someone in English, other than one of my students.

I also find myself, (most of the time), thinking in English, then doing a mental translation into portugués before speaking... and vice versa when listening to someone, or even reading an article of news, etc...   However, I find myself more and more being able to understand and speak the language without a conscious translation.  

Does this mean that I am now starting to think in portugués, at least some of the time, or am I doing the translations sub-consciously?  I don't know the answer to this question, and would welcome any comments.

Kind regards

Kevin Cooke