Anonymous

3 March 2023

How is writing in English different from writing in your first language?

At home I speak mainly Cantonese. Growing up, I never officially learned how to read or write it, so I only know how to speak it. The first language I learned how to write was English. For comparison, Cantonese is very similar to Mandarin dialect wise, and once I learned Mandarin, I technically could read/write some Cantonese. Differences include a completely different writing structure, in terms of characters and syntax (flow of a sentence is reversed sometimes).

What has been your experience with writing at Carleton?

I struggled writing in college for the first and second years. I frequently hit writer’s block and had difficulty forming my thoughts into words. However, over my junior year, I developed tremendously in writing. Either it was due to my classes, the feedback I was getting, or my applying what I knew from all the mistakes in writing I acquired in the past.

What are some of the benefits of being a multilingual writer/thinker?

Sometimes, I can get a different perspective on writing by thinking about what I am going to write and how I would word it in another language. Then, by converting it over to English, I would sometimes get a better representation of something I want to articulate than in English alone.

What resources have supported your development as a writer?

My professors’ feedback, my peers, and the writing center.

What strategies have professors used to make writing a positive experience for you?

  • Give me a rough draft preceding a final submission
  • Constructive criticism
  • Allow time for peer review

What kinds of challenges have you faced as a multilingual writer?

Sometimes, it is difficult to articulate what I want to write. Sometimes, words in other languages do not have English counterparts.

What advice would you give faculty to help them support multilingual writers?

Give students the benefit of the doubt. Chances are mistakes in writing were not done by rushing or carelessness.

What else would you like faculty and staff at Carleton to know?

Thanks for the effort in trying to make Carleton a better environment where multilingual writers can also thrive and flourish!

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