File: /ram/wgchairs.sxi Date: April 21, 2023 Slide 1

English as a Second Language

James Seng, Singapore

Harald Alvestrand, Norway

File: /ram/wgchairs.sxi Date: April 21, 2023 Slide 2

Consideration for ESL participants

(in IETF Meetings)Rule of Thumb - Use simple EnglishRepeat the question and do a quick summary before moving on to the next topicPrepare important questions and flash them on the screen before taking consensusBe patient … they take some time to articulate● A translator would help but discouraged

ESL = English as Second Language

File: /ram/wgchairs.sxi Date: April 21, 2023 Slide 3

Consideration for ESL participants

(in Mailing Lists)Rule of Thumb : Command of English != Technical competencyTolerate broken English but never try to guess what they say if it is not obviousGet to know some friends who are multilingual and ask them to help to bridge● Never ignore their ideas in the process of

building consensus

If they are writing I-Ds, encourage a co-author who has better command of English

File: /ram/wgchairs.sxi Date: April 21, 2023 Slide 4

Consideration for ESL participants

(Culture differences)Rule of Thumb: Listen, Ask and ListenDon’t believe in what you think you hear● Different culture have different choice of wordsIETF has a very difficult culture which may be considered “hostile” to some people● Culture Shock: Not everyone fit in right away● Encourage them to read the Taos of IETFNot all likes to voice their opinion in public● state that you are open to hearing concerns in

private conversation or in email and work with individuals to help them both to understand issues and to express any concerns they have to the group.

File: /ram/wgchairs.sxi Date: April 21, 2023 Slide 5

ESL participants should consider

You are joining a working organization. Expect to learn its culture.You have to talk to people in order to understand.Don’t expect this organization to have a single opinion on any topic.Don’t expect the organization to agree among itself what the rules are.Do expect to be treated equivalently with others!

File: /ram/wgchairs.sxi Date: April 21, 2023 Slide 6

Tools: Structured Discussion Slides

Recommend use of slides for structured discussion and consensus calls

Openness includes accessibility to non-native English speakers, hearing-impaired people, etc.

Written consensus questions result in higher quality and more credible responses

File: /ram/wgchairs.sxi Date: April 21, 2023 Slide 7

Tools: Summaries

In email lists, state explicitly what the current issues are and what the current consensus is thought to beGives participants less material they MUST understandStrips away irrelevant hyperbole, language and shades of meaningExcellent tool anyway

File: /ram/wgchairs.sxi Date: April 21, 2023 Slide 8

Summary

Speak clearly.Listen carefully.Expect people to be different.Focus on the work!