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5 questions for a health professional about writing in English

What do health professionals say about writing in English when it’s not their first language?

Jérôme is a doctor temporarily working back at home in France. He doesn’t have to write in English at the moment but wants to maintain his momentum.

  1. How do you feel about writing in English?
    I worked so hard to get my IELTS 7 in writing and now I’m worried about losing the progress I made.

  2. What’s the hardest thing about writing in English?
    Currently there’s no need for me to write in English, so it’s difficult to be motivated.

  3. How do you overcome this? 
    My English coach suggested speedwriting about interesting patients and diseases. So most days I spend 7 minutes writing about one of my cases and email it to my coach and get feedback from her.

  4. What are your writing goals?
    In the future I have to write patient reports in English. I want to be able to write easily. I don’t want that stressed feeling when I’m sitting in front of a screen and don’t know how to start writing.

  5. What’s your advice for others who need to write in English?
    If you’re serious, then find a coach who can help you stay motivated and give you feedback. That has helped me the most.

See what other health professionals say about writing in English here, here and here.

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© Christina Wielgolawski