When I joined Messenger, my English was bad. As a non-native English speaker, it was hard to communicate. Hopefully, that’s changed by having an inclusive team and by working on my English. Here are some tips I listed to help your team being more inclusive if you’re a non-native English speaker:

When you don’t understand, ask to reformulate instead of repeating

I remember this awkward moment, when I asked three times my design lead to repeat a question. This situation would have been better if I asked to reformulate instead.

Suggest people avoid acronyms as much as possible

I was working on Instagram Direct and I asked my manager what IGD meant. If it’s hard to learn new English words, acronyms are way harder. Sometimes, acronyms can exclude people from conversations.

Ask for something to review before a meeting

I know it’s extra work, but when I don’t have context on a meeting before it starts, it’s hard to structure my thoughts and articulate my questions. A pre-read, a Figma file, a product brief: anything helps.

Suggest that you need some time to pause before your questions

By the time I’ve formulated my question in mind, the team have often started a new conversation. If you need time, advocate for it. “Could we pause here? I have a question I’d like to ask.”

Ask an ally if they can ask for your opinion in meetings

When your ally notices you haven’t spoken up in a meeting, they can engage you directly and give you the opportunity to give your opinion. When a teammate asks for my opinion, I feel so valued and thankful.

Ask for confirmation that what you said was clear

A lot of time I presented something with the feeling of being clear. But sometimes the questions I received make me realize that nobody fully understood my explanation. Don’t hesitate to pause as you go and ask if people are following.

Set expectations by educating your team on the fatigue experienced

I didn’t understand why I needed so much sleep starting this new job. Focusing all day on a different language costs a lot of energy.

Let people know that you encourage feedback

For example, I like to know if I am pronouncing a word incorrectly, or I have made spelling mistakes.

Take notes

Writing notes helps me to keep track of discussions. When I can’t take notes (because I’m presenting a project for example) I ask someone to do it for me.

Take English classes

It’s a time and money investment, but it’s extremely helpful. Do not hesitate to take classes to improve your English.