---
title: Working in my native language requires empathy
teaser: 'It''s exhausting to communicate all day in your non-native language, but
  we can practice kindness and understanding to relieve some of that mental load.

  '
tags: communication,community,inclusivity,dei,happiness
author: Matheus Richard
published_on: 2022-03-09
---

A couple of weeks ago, I was talking with a coworker and mentioned I'm working
from Brazil, and how sometimes it's frustrating communicating things in English.
They replied _"I cannot imagine how it is working in a second language"_. This
was when, for the first time, I understood that my work experience is
not the same as everyone else's.

I haven't thought about it this way. I've always seen myself doing the exact
same thing as my coworkers. But that comment made me realize that on top of the
"normal" work we do, non-native speakers also have this "always running
background process" of communicating in a second language.

I remembered how sometimes I felt insecure about my speaking skills, mainly when
I was the only non-native speaker in a meeting. I remembered not being able to say
**exactly** what I _wanted_, but what I _could_ say that was close enough.

![A woman saying 'Do you know how frustrating it is to have to translate everything in my head before I say it? Do you even know how smart I am in Spanish?'](https://images.thoughtbot.com/blog-vellum-image-uploads/29cp8eCJSaG7nCzHosKr_im-smart-you-know.jpeg)

This is not to say that we shouldn't work in English --- although having other
Brazilians here sure made me feel more at home --- nor that non-native English
speakers are better somehow. I'm saying to others in a similar situation
that it's okay to be tired after a whole day of work in a foreign language. It's
okay to make mistakes. It's okay to forget words. It's okay not to understand
some things. It's okay to be a human being!

## How companies can support diverse remote work

As a native speaker or a company, you can be helpful too! Being aware of how
others feel is the first step towards a healthier work environment. Using
[simpler language] and having a more [diverse team] also helps. Relying more
on written communication is also less stressful because people have time to think,
reword sentences at will, and use tools like translators and Grammarly.

[Working fully remote] enabled thoughtbot to hire people worldwide, and I cannot
stress how culturally enriching this has been for the team! But it does [require
kindness]. Not only to others but, in particular, _be kind to yourself_!

[require kindness]: https://thoughtbot.com/blog/empathy-online
[simpler language]: https://pudding.cool/2022/02/plain/
[diverse team]: https://thoughtbot.com/blog/dei-at-a-company-level
[working fully remote]: https://thoughtbot.com/blog/we-ve-gone-remote