Tips for Non-native Writers in English: Part One
Can a non-native writer in English write as well as somebody whose mother tongue is English?
First, a few words about myself. I am an Indian, and if you have to study in an English medium school in India, you have to be willing to pay the price – it doesn’t come cheap. My father was an ordinary clerk serving the government; he had five children to support, and also his own family to care for, for at least two decades. I began my schooling from Pune where my father was posted; Saraswati Vidyalaya, the school where I studied from first to third standard, taught in my native tongue, Tamil. So when my father got transferred to Allahabad in North India where Tamil schools were not available, we had two choices – to get admitted in English medium schools even if they were expensive, or join Hindi medium schools where they charged minimum tuition fees, if at all they ever charged.
My father consulted his friends who sent their children to English schools, and came home with a book. He gave it to me to read. He must have taught me the alphabets, though I don’t particularly remember it. He wasn’t one of those who could teach.
A typical English school in India
In a couple of days, I was taken to an English school, and fortunately the Principal gave me the same book to read, but I blinked. This book was meant for Lower Kindergarten (LKG) students. I remember the first lesson in that book even now, because I was shamed that I had been offered only a conditional seat in LKG, whereas my father wanted me to be admitted to third standard at least. The lesson went something like this:
Sing, Sing, Sing.
Sing Mother sing.
Can Mother sing?
Mother can sing.
Pat can sing.
Pat, sing to Mother.
Sing to Pat, Mother.
I was later admitted to Mahila Gram Inter College, a Hindi-medium school where they started with English only from Sixth standard. I was admitted to the Second standard, but was quickly promoted to the next class within a week or so. Hindi was new to me, but I picked it up quickly and informally on the playground where we had to play and interact with other kids in Hindi. Children pick up languages fast, as they learn instinctively through observing actual usage and forming their own rules. It’s like learning swimming by jumping into water and imitating others’ paddling moves instead of learning hydrodynamics and Archimedes principle. Another ‘double promotion’ helped me make up for lost school years.
Once again, my father was transferred to Delhi. My next school was Delhi Tamil Education Association. This government-aided school catered mainly to Tamil children, and the primary school used the native language to teach, though English was introduced in Third standard itself. Not having gone beyond the alphabets, the problem looked insurmountable, but it was not. I am emphasizing this, because I will be visiting this point later.
My last sojourn was at Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. In this small town, there are only government schools teaching all the subjects in Hindi, or schools run by Christian missionaries catering chiefly to children of the wealthy and the military personnel living in this military station. I could not survive long for several reasons, because people here looked down on those natives who couldn’t speak English fluently. There were other reasons beside this, and I returned back to Delhi to study, and completed my Higher Secondary education in 1968.
One of the reasons for beginning with this long and possibly irrelevant story is that I simply wanted to share a little about myself with a community with which I have grown to identify myself with over the past year and more. More importantly, I wanted to establish my credentials in talking about a subject that played a central part in my early life. In my later life, I served a copy editor/ editor in a few organizations.
I shall continue to speak on Writing Tips for Non-native Writers in English: Part 2.
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Tags: English grammar, Writing, writing tips
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March 16th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
That was a very interesting personal story Uma. Thanks for posting it and that too in such an honest way!!
March 16th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed this article and can’t wait for part 2. It is written in a really interesting manner and I loved reading it all.
Thanks for creating and sharing it, uma. i would also like to wish you and your entire family a very happy navratre.
March 16th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
I like this piece. Very interesting and written in a fun manner. Great work!
March 17th, 2010 at 2:40 am
Very interesting, Uma. I have fond memories of “Sing, mother , sing” myself. Now, of course, things are different. The books have changed. You seemed to have travelled from place to place, and your article is an eye opener for someone like me, who pretty well got her education in two cities. And for me, even that one uprooting was painful (Kolkatta to Delhi), so I can well imagine your endeavours to adapt to a constantly changing scenario.
March 17th, 2010 at 4:24 am
Great share..keep work on dear..
March 17th, 2010 at 10:54 am
I had a pretty similar learning experience, alternating between Malayalam, Hindi and English. In private though, I chose English, a language to my liking and joy. Yes, I empathise with whatever Uma Shankari has described here with such lucid honesty.
March 18th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
hi Uma, you remind me of how I study my English. Very sincere. Keep on the nice work.
March 18th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Nice share.
March 18th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
What a great insight into your life Uma! While I have never studied in Allahabad and Meerut, my military dad was posted to Faisabad. So I know what the schools in the region are like!
How did you develop the great command you have over the language? or is that in part two?
March 22nd, 2010 at 6:35 pm
You certainly have a knack for languages, It’s wonderful for you that you do.
March 22nd, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Beautifully writen and great advice for those seeking to teach English . Thank-you . I look forward to the Web series . j
March 26th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Oops I read part two before I read part one. In any case, both articles contain very helpful info. You did a wonderful job.
March 26th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Interesting Personal Story… Thanks for sharing..
April 13th, 2010 at 10:53 pm
Very nice share, Uma. I know you are one competent writer.
April 17th, 2010 at 11:47 am
You write well. Your words are the best credentials you could have. What an interesting background you have. English is my native language and I have plenty of trouble with it. I will be reading part two soon.
September 3rd, 2011 at 10:22 pm
I was inspired buy your story… It was quite an adventure… Like you English is also my second language. But that wont stop me from using it in my writing… I feel honored to have a little glimpse of your inspiration… Thanks..
September 11th, 2011 at 6:57 am
Well, you definitely have a mastery over English that I will never have over Tamil, Hindi, Urdu or even German. The idioms seem to be the hardest parts of a language to master as they are somewhat fluid, and it helps if you learn a language when you’re young. Of course, one must only look as far as Vladimir Nabokov to prove the point that non-native English speakers can indeed style and mold the language in ways that 99% of native speakers could never dream of doing.