How non-English speakers can write better
Online Talk
13-October 2021
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm (GMT+07)
How non-English speakers can write better
Dr. Khoa Le, Research Associate at Ulster University, UK
Dr. Khoa Le, Research Associate at Ulster University, UK
Here’s some practical advice on how to write better English if it’s not your native language…
I was briefly fluent in French when I was 20. I knew this for two reasons: First, I’d gone to visit a friend in Quebec City and ended up getting so sick with a throat infection, I had to see a doctor. I spoke to him in his native language assuming I had no choice — and, at the end of the appointment, he complimented me on my use of the language. I was thrilled. A few months later, I remember walking home from school one day and realizing that I was thinking in French. Another thrill.
Sadly, as a result of not practicing for more than 35 years, I’ve lost the language. I can understand small snippets of conversation but I can no longer speak it, beyond a stylish bonjour. Still, I have enormous respect for those who can manage more than one language.
Recently, a number of English-as-a-second-language readers — Andrii Khakhariev, among them — have emailed me asking for advice on how to improve their writing. I don’t regard myself as an expert in this area but I’ve done some research and here are seven strategies I can suggest: Continue...