Hi, Darla!
Your question is very interesting. This is crucial especially in the light of SFI's field operations spread over more than 200 countries almost covering the nook & corner of the Globe.
I agree very much with you when you say communication is significant withTeam members, a2a friends, Forum members Support Wing of SFI, etc.,
Please understand me we are not Writers or poets or Literateurs to have extraordinary skills for expressing in English. Simple workable, idiomatic English is all that is enough for getting on with your important communications without sounding novice.
1. To be a good Communicator (writer as you put it), you have to write, write & write continuously..
As you feel writing continuously is a problem for you, I have a suggestion: Supposing you are trying to write a mail to your Affiliates. Please prepare a draft as far as possible in your own hand and not on computer. It is a tough thing to do in one's own hand when a computer is available. But you have to draft it in your own hand. Once drafting is completed:
1. Please check up for spellings. Pl. do not feel hesitant. If you have a doubt, take help of a good Dictionary (Not elaborate edition but an abridged/concise edition) of good reputation and standing.. If there are spelling mistakes, do not worry.
Pl. See for its meaning, etymology, and noun & verb forms and note down the meaning and remember it. As we grow in our age, memory will be short instead of being sharp. It may be appearing to be tedious and difficult but if you want to improve your communications, though appearing to be circuitous, this is a better method.
2. After doing away with all spelling mistakes, please check up for any grammatical and syntax errors. I will tell you slightly in a detailed manner:
a. Please check up whether number (singular & Plural), & tense are agreeing with the verb form.This is the most important aspect of sentence construction in English. In order to ensure that syntax and Grammar errors are not there, you must...I repeat you must write, correct, rewrite and improve up on your drafting (writing). The next step is easy for you, but warrants incessant repetition.
3. Please take hold of children's English books (1st to 6th standard). The vocabulary, grammar and all are simple, easy to follow understand and imitate. Even the story Books! If interested, you may first follow the story. But during second reading follow how grammar is positioned appropriately. In the third reading, you may try to follow the agreeing of tense, & number with verb/verb form.
Yes! It is painful, long-drawn & tedious. But after repeating this exercise with three or four drafts, things will fall in line. Without your knowledge, you start writing very good, simple, idiomatic English drafts.
4.Once you start drafting good communications, it is a matter of transfer of knowledge, that is you will be able to draft notifications, communications, mails, Messages etc., But you need to take care of subtleties of writing i.e.formalities of communication, courtesies of communication which you will get anywhere.
5. We will learn so many things if we have the will & determination. Kindly try to follow this tedious but untenable method of writing/drafting communications. After coming to SFI, I cultivated the approach of application of logic, Patiently following others till they complete their version & so many things. If we really want to do things, age is no bar.
6. If you are not from English speaking country, Do not worry. We have inter-disciplinary/ Language Dictionaries Say for example Russian to English and English to Russian.
6. This is the method for not too-well-to-do Affiliates. In case you can afford, You have Language learning courses(both direct & distant learning), speaking courses through Audios, Videos and DVDs. Whatever you resort to there is no short-cut for learning and hard work. Hope this will be of help to you
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