Blogging in a foreign language. How hard can it be?

I’ve started a service of free comments on DP forum in order to find some quality blogs out there and one thing kind of marked me. People blog a lot in English even though their English sux. Badly. So, i was wondering why?

It’s pretty simple, English written blogs may benefit from greater exposure, as more than 50% of the globe’s population understand even a bit of English. OK, that’s settled, but how hard is it for a nonnative English speaker to blog in this language?

It’s hard, trust me. Native English speakers have advantages when it comes to communication and vocabulary over the nonnative speakers. It’s easier for them to express their ideas and make themselves understood. It’s also a lot easier not to make any mistake. Just think about how well do you know your native language and imagine that’s exactly how familiar native English speakers are with … English. But, is it not possible for a foreigner to blog in English?

Of course it’s possible, but there are some things he should take care of:

• Study that language. Vocabulary, semantics, grammar, everything. After you’ve done all these, and you consider you might be able to blog in English, make a couple of tries and ask some native English speakers what do they think about you’re writtings. And ask yourself that too.
• Use dictionaries. Even though you manage to master English there will always be terms you don’t know about. That’s why a good dictionary is a must have when writting things in a foreign language.
• Use spell checkers. They are a great asset and can really eliminate some spelling mistakes. But remember, they can only detect morphological errors and not semantic ones. So they are helpful but yet limited.
• Write and practice a lot. Cause practice makes better. Also, learn to accept criticism. If someone tells you your English is pretty bad, don’t take it as a personal offence, just think what you can do to improve it

I have to say I’m not a native English speaker, and some of you might have noticed that. Even though I’ve been studying this bloody language since i was 5 (that makes it 17 years now), i still have things to learn. But I’m doing alright ay? What do you think?

Tags: blogging, hard, language