“Speak Your Mind In Your Language”

Your Words Your Way

Photo by Hannah Wright on

I came across a post on a Facebook group. A woman was seeking ideas on how to spend her time while her husband was at work and wanted suggestions on earning money too. Some people offered genuine help, but one comment stood out: “Learn some English, please.” The reason? Her post had grammatical errors. But here’s the thing: if she conveyed her message effectively, does grammar really matter?

This got me thinking. People from South East Asia often seem obsessed with English, likely due to British rule and the notion that education implies English proficiency. It’s tough when people judge others solely on their English skills. Meanwhile, folks in France, Spain, Italy, and Japan aren’t fazed about speaking imperfect English; they’re proud of their languages. Why the double standard in countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh?

Language proficiency is undoubtedly a valuable skill, but judging someone solely on that can be quite harsh.

Correcting someone publicly, especially when others respond with laughing emojis, can also be insensitive.

Native English speakers often speak only one language, whereas people in India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh speak multiple languages and are proficient in their mother tongue.