Tips for Writing in Your Second Language

29.12.2024 0 Like 0 kommenttia

Struggling to write in a foreign language? Student Ambassador Anastasiia shares her tips on writing texts in your second, third, (or more!) language.

Many of us who come to study in Finland from abroad have to write assignments in our second, third, or even fourth (or more!) language. Writing a thesis in a language other than your mother tongue can be challenging, but it’s manageable! Whether Finnish, English, or Swedish, it’s possible to overcome many difficulties with writing when you have a good plan and attitude. In this post, I will share tips on writing your texts in your second language.

I am Anastasiia, a student ambassador from the Academy of Fine Arts. My mother tongue is Russian, and I have been using English as my main language of communication for many years. Recently, I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the Academy of Fine Arts. I completed my studies in Finnish, so I also wrote my thesis and other assignments in Finnish. It was challenging for me to write in a language that wasn’t my strongest. But with a bit of planning and some tools, it was certainly less stressful. I want to share with you the things that helped me write without worry.

Start Early

When you are writing in a language that is not your strongest starting early is essential. Whether it’s a learning diary, thesis, or motivational letter, writing in a foreign language will take much longer than usual. It’s crucial to set aside enough time to write and ensure there’s enough time to get feedback and edit your text. Break your writing into smaller, manageable goals with deadlines and stick to them.

Work on Vocabulary

If you have a specific topic to write about, familiarize yourself with its vocabulary. Read articles and books on the topic, marking down the words that might be useful later. It’s also helpful to learn some commonly used academic phrases for transitions, arguments, and citations.

Make a Good Outline

Having a good outline for your assignment can be incredibly helpful. If you know what you want to say and have a clear structure for your text, it will make the writing process smoother, and your text will be more logical and understandable. When you have an outline, it’s also easier to schedule—set deadlines for writing according to your structure.

Focus on Clarity

When writing in a foreign language, misunderstandings are unavoidable. I couldn’t even count how many times I misunderstood or misused a word. To make your writing clearer, simplify your language by using clear and straightforward sentences, and avoid overly complex grammar and expressions. Try to avoid unnecessary words and focus on communicating ideas concisely and effectively.

Ask for Feedback

When you spend a lot of time with your text, you might start to lose focus and overlook mistakes or inconsistencies. Asking a friend who knows the language you’re writing in to proofread your text can help you notice these small details. Help from a native-speaking colleague, friend, or mentor can be invaluable. What helped me when writing my thesis at school was booking time with my teachers to go through my text together and check that it said what I wanted it to say.

Use Technology

It can be challenging to start writing in a foreign language. When you feel stuck, it’s okay to write down ideas in your stronger language first and then translate them. If you’re using Google Translate or DeepL for translating, I recommend using the translation for inspiration only and then rewriting it in your own words. This helped me get into the flow of writing in Finnish, and later I could start writing by myself without a problem.

Using grammar-checking tools to proofread your text can also be very helpful. Grammarly is an excellent choice for texts in English, but for other languages, ChatGPT or other AI resources can be useful for grammar checking.

Be Gentle with Yourself

Writing in a foreign language is hard. There will be misunderstandings and mistakes. Remember that it takes a lot of courage to use a language you’ve learned through your effort, and you should praise yourself for being so brave. Learn from your mistakes, and remember that perfection isn’t required—clarity and understanding are more important than perfect grammar.