I think you are on the right idea. This goes beyond language learning, but empathy for the other person you are communicating with. Even if I'm talking to another American, communication is greatly improved with empathy-- trying to understand their mindset and perspective. My conversational path will follow what I think their perspective is, and produce an excellent result. I've tested and proven this in sales work I've done.

I'm an American. Thinking like one will help, this is basic communication skills, which goes beyond basic linguistics. Before standard languages how do you think people communicated? If you understand the "message" the language will become understood: http://youtu.be/d0yGdNEWdn0 Watch that video it will blow your mind! (American idiom meaning... to amaze you) http://youtu.be/d0yGdNEWdn0 He says if you know some basic principles, then you can be fluent in a language in only six months!

"How to think like Americans." "How to think in American." (This sounds a little funny. American is not a language.) Something to keep in mind is that English-speaking countries do have different cultural values, so thinking like one country's mentality (whatever that even means) really won't help your English much. Use the grammar and vocabulary and phrases you already know - these are the patterns English speakers use to "think in English". If you're still thinking in Chinese, then be aware you're simply using the patterns of that language to order your thoughts. Practise using the second-language patterns.

If it would have been true there wouldn't have been english(uk) or english(ind) or from other countries like Australia, France, Germany. All speak differently, accents are different. What you need is to talk what you know & learn that you don't.

To speak English you don't need to think like an American but if you should think in English it will helps you surely.