What do you do if your non-native colleagues need feedback in your language?

Clarity can best be achieved by understanding the language level of the listener as well as viewpoints common to their culture. Observe carefully to see that the message is reaching them. Find common ground.

When providing feedback to non-native colleagues in my language, cultural sensitivity is crucial. Understanding local feedback norms is key; for instance, direct yet constructive feedback is common in our country/company. Leveraging technology like Teams or Zoom for captioning aids comprehension. Additionally, offering written feedback provides reference and reinforcement. By being culturally aware and utilizing appropriate communication channels, we can effectively support our non-native colleagues' growth and development.

From a teacher’s perspective, empathy is fundamental. Listening to your non-native co-workers patiently will give them confidence and consequently a healthy relationship will be built providing the group with great benefits.

Be Clear and Concise: Use simple language and avoid jargon. Focus on Key Points: Highlight areas for improvement without overwhelming them. Offer Constructive Criticism: Suggest specific ways to enhance their language skills. Encourage Practice: Recommend reading, listening, and speaking in the target language. Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge their efforts and celebrate milestones. Remember, patience and empathy are essential when helping non-native speakers improve.

When providing feedback to non-native colleagues in your language, it's important to be clear, constructive, and considerate. Here are some tips: 1. Avoid slang, idioms, and complex vocabulary. 2. Give precise examples to illustrate your points. 3. Patient and Encouraging: Understand it may take them longer to process the information. 4. Offer Written Feedback: Written feedback can be reviewed at their own pace and used as reference. 5. Use Visual Aids: Diagrams, charts, and other visual aids help convey messages more effectively. 6. Follow-Up: Offer to discuss the feedback in a follow-up meeting. Remember, the goal is to aid their understanding and improvement, so ensure the feedback is delivered with empathy and respect.

Patience is a must in helping people learn/understand another language. You will, most likely, need to use different strategies, repeat, explain in different ways, give several examples.

Visuals: definitely! We must make use of what is out there: images, photos, videos, tables. Whatever can support an oral and written feedback.

You can reinforce your support, help. Make sure your colleague feels free and comfortable to approach you anytime with any question or doubt. By just saying exactly that to said colleague. :-)

I bet for this one: The previous suggestions were on my journey to learn English and the best way to learn a language is undoubtedly by speaking with native speakers. This immersive approach offers numerous benefits that accelerate language acquisition and deepen understanding in ways that textbooks and classroom instruction alone cannot match. So, I will contribute with my time to have great conversations sharing a delicious cup of tea or a cappuccino. So, será un placer!

*sharp intake of breath* YIKES!!! That can be soooooooo patronising!!! Do NOT do this without first asking whether they are looking for additional resources. Any such suggestion had better come with the offer to pay for said resources! Unless I asked, I would find this highly offensive, even if it came from someone in a position of authority over me and related to a language in which I am not at all proficient. If I am in that country, then you can rest assured that I will make an effort to source language learning materials and probabaly know better than you what resources are available.

That question is very unclear and IMHO too wide open for generalisation. What level is their language at? What is our professional relationship? If an expert in their field, they might know the jargon.... As per the advice given above: Yes, be clear, but also be careful not to patronise people just because you know that they are operating in a language that is not the first they acquired. Chronologically, English is my 3rd language, but I describe it as my primary language because I am now more comfortable in English than in my 1st or 2nd language. I know English better than most "natives" who often also struggle with the regional dialect in my area (Scouse) and I have spent 25 years teaching English to English kids.