It’s difficult enough to ask for help using email. Add in the fact that you’re not a native speaker of the language you plan to use and the challenges can add up. If you’re an ESL speaker looking to seek help over email using English, here are a few things you may want to take note of:
Ask nicely. You’re asking for a favor, not doling out your awesomeness. Nobody who receives your email needs to give you a response. Play nice and you just might get one.
Use a proper format. English speakers are used to receiving emails with short paragraphs, tight sentences and readable fonts. Do the same.
Shorten the pleasantries. You may feel obligated to try and butter up the recipient since you’ll be asking for a favor. While that could work, it’s a bit difficult in your case when you’re not that well-versed with the language. Sometimes, you might end up messing up the relationship by saying something wrong. None of this will happen if you keep pleasantries to a minimum and just get to the point. It’s okay to butter up a little. Just don’t do too much that you end up hanging yourself with your own compliments.
Language software helps. Use every English language software tool you have at your disposal. A spell checker should keep your writing free of bad spelling; a grammar checker should keep your sentences tight; a translation tool might assist you in clearing up some things; and a thesaurus can help you find the perfect word.
Basically, you have to ask nicely, write with a reader-friendly layout, get to the point and use a good language software. Beyond that, I’d just advise you to practice English more.
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