Lisa Delpit, Language in the Workplace

I think it’s important to remember that someone’s language background is going to affect whatever they do. Even within the United States, dialects and slang differ from region to region. This usually doesn’t affect communication that much, but the problem becomes worse when someone comes from another country, and English is their second language. It’s important to be tolerant of the mistakes those people make, but also be willing to help them improve their English, because the way someone speaks and writes can affect their career. Striking a balance between being helpful and condescending can be tough, but as long as everyone involved tries to be patient and open-minded, working with people with a different language background can really be rewarding.