Episode description
In episode 623, Dalit Vaknin shares her journey of overcoming the challenges of building a successful blog in her second language, English, and how other non-native English speakers can do the same.
Dalit, a former dietician, is a passionate food blogger and culinary enthusiast. After relocating to the US, she turned her love for food into a thriving blog specializing in artisanal ice cream. Dalit's mission is to inspire others, especially those whose first language is not English, to pursue their passions through writing and blogging. She believes language should never be a barrier to sharing your unique voice and stories with the world.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to keep motivated when blogging in English as your second language, how to overcome self-doubt and use visual aids and other useful tools.
Key points discussed include:
- Embrace the journey: Blogging in a second language may be challenging, but approach it with an open mindset and celebrate your progress along the way.
- Leverage visual aids: Use process shots, arrows, and visual cues to make your content more accessible and engaging, especially when language skills are still developing.
- Start simple: Begin with straightforward recipes and gradually increase complexity as you build confidence in your writing.
- Immerse yourself: Read cookbooks and other blogs to familiarize yourself with the specific vocabulary and formatting used in the food blogging niche.
- Utilize helpful tools: Take advantage of resources like Grammarly, ChatGPT, and capitalization checkers to improve your writing and catch errors.
- Seek feedback: Ask a trusted friend or family member to review your blog posts and provide constructive feedback to help you improve.
- Practice speaking: Participate in blogger groups or conferences to practice your English speaking skills and gain confidence in communicating your ideas.
- Celebrate small wins: Recognize and appreciate the progress you make, even if it feels slow at times. Each blog post is an opportunity to grow.
- Embrace mistakes: Understand that perfection is not the goal. Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process, so be kind to yourself.
- Leverage your strengths: If English is not your native language, remember that you have the unique advantage of bringing a fresh perspective and diverse experiences to your blog.
Connect with Dalit Vaknin