Navigating English As A Second Language

My mother tongue is Dutch, but my professional life has almost entirely happened in English. I don't give it much of a thought now, but reflecting on my career shows that the majority of people I worked with were bilingual. A skill that is easily taken for granted.

At Deel for example, I am surrounded by colleagues who are also navigating their careers in their second, third, or even fourth+ language. It is inspiring to see how we all make it work, bringing our diverse backgrounds together through a shared medium.

When you start out, there is a constant "buffering" icon in your mind. You hear the English words, your brain maps them back to Dutch, you formulate a response, and then you translate it back. It was exhausting.

I have been at a point for some time now, where I can’t imagine doing my job in Dutch. It would just be too weird. Many words (like roadmap, prototype, and refinement sessions) just don’t translate back to Dutch in a satisfying way.

💡 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭

During my career I noticed different shifts. I stopped treating English as a tool and started treating it as my default environment.

The Dream Test:

I knew I had crossed the line when I started dreaming about work meetings in English.

The Internal Monologue:

My "to-do" list in my head stopped being in Dutch.

Contextual Memory:

I can remember a specific design feedback session perfectly, but if I had to explain it in Dutch, I would probably stutter.

🧠 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

Switching languages is not just about communication; it is about cognitive load.

Reduced Friction:

Thinking in the target language removes the "translation tax" on your brain.

Faster Intuition:

You react to social cues and professional nuances instantly rather than a second too late.

Fluency is not when you know every word. It is when you stop caring that you do not know a specific word because you have the confidence to describe it anyway.

How long did it take for your "mental buffer" to disappear when learning a new language?

#EnglishAsASecondLanguage #CareerGrowth #BilingualLife #ProductDesign #ProfessionalDevelopment #DeelLife