Talking to Someone who has ESL

I'm awful at learning new languages. It's really hard. There are so many new words & rules to learn.

I really admire people who have English as a second language.

And not just those who are fluent, but those who are still learning.

The dumbest people in the world are those who make fun of others who flub nuances of language, those who laugh at people who make minor grammatical errors or pronounce words incorrectly. The dumbest people in the world think that if someone can't understand their language, they need to speak to them louder and more condescendingly. 

“It costs nothing to not be a dick.”

Everybody wants to be understood. Everyone wants to be able to express themselves. When you're in a country where your language isn't native, it can be a constant struggle and really disheartening.

So be patient. Do your best to be understanding. And don't be a dick, it costs nothing to not be a dick.

Help where you can to teach your ESL friends a new phrase or two once a week. If you want to go the extra yard, you can find programs that help immigrants practise conversation.

Let's talk.