Quick answer: skip the passive voice in technical English. It's harder to interpret for non-native readers, and in...
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non-native speakers
For engineers who work in English as a second or additional language in their professional lives.
Fluent on Paper, Stuck in the Room
A few weeks ago I was scrolling through LinkedIn and came across a post that stopped me. Not because it said something...
What Engineers Can Learn From Professional Translators
Clients ask me to translate their documents all the time. A tender specification, a contract, a technical manual. The...
Does Your Accent Hold You Back at Work?
Your accent is not the problem. If you're a non-native English speaker working in international engineering, chances...
Best TV Shows to Learn English: 13 Picks for Engineers
You already know you should practise your English more. You also know that opening a grammar textbook after a full day...
Soft Skills for Engineers: It Is a Translation, Not a Transformation
I once had a teacher who only gave out the highest mark or the lowest. Nothing in between. No middle ground. No room...
Why Engineers Need Emotional Intelligence (And Already Have More Than They Think)
There is a joke that engineers are not people persons. That they prefer systems over conversations, data over...
Technical English for International Teams: What Engineers Actually Need
You know your engineering work inside out. You can solve complex problems, manage tight project timelines, and...
Business English for Engineers: What It Is (and Why You Need More Than That)
You've been learning English your whole life. School, university, maybe even a language course or two along the way....
Is English Important for Engineers? Not Just Numbers
You became an engineer because you love numbers, right? So why do you also have to learn how to write and present? If...
How to Keep Learning English When You’re a Busy Engineer
5 Tips for Engineers That Have Nothing to Do With Grammar If you're an engineer trying to improve your Technical...
How Engineering Communication Styles Differ Around the World
Engineering isn't the same everywhere. The physics and the math are universal, but how you present a project, write a...
Self-Talk: The Quickest Way to Sound More Natural in English (Without Adding to Your To-Do List)
You're a busy engineer with international projects, client meetings, and tight deadlines. The last thing you need is...
Why I Started a Podcast for Engineers (And Why You Couldn’t Find One Before)
Back in 2021, one of my engineers spotted a fancy microphone in the background during an online lesson. "Do you sing...
How to Write Business Emails Faster (As an Engineer)
Staring at a blank email, watching the cursor blink, while a two-minute task turns into twenty? You're not bad at...
Let’s Talk Trash
I need to tell you a funny story. A couple of weeks ago, I met with a new client for the first time. Let's call...
The Semicolon: Not a Comma, Not a Full Stop.
As a proud member of Generation X, I really don't mind a text message written entirely in lower case, not even a...
Why Engineers Are Naturally Good at Learning Technical English
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Most engineers assume language learning is the opposite of engineering. Logical....
How to Work in an International Engineering Team: Practical Tips That Work
If you're a non-native English speaker on an international engineering project, you've probably had this moment:...
The Hidden Risks in Global Engineering Teams
Most international engineering teams work in English. Some team members are fluent. Others are proficient. A few might...