Focus on the English you actually use at work: short written updates, clear pull request descriptions, explaining your project in two minutes and asking questions in meetings. Practise daily with recordings and writing drafts. For remote roles, clear written English often matters more than a perfect accent.
What people tell me
I can read technical English fine and I understand documentation and videos, but when I have to speak in an interview or a meeting I freeze, translate in my head and lose my point. My writing is also slow because I keep worrying about grammar. English is not my first language and I mostly speak another language with friends and family. I want to apply for remote and international roles, and I feel my communication, not my code, is holding me back.
A composite of the messages behind this question, with personal details left out.
Key takeaways
- You do not need perfect English. You need clear, simple English for specific work situations.
- For remote roles, written communication often matters as much as speaking: updates, pull requests and messages.
- Prepare and rehearse the few things you say most often, such as introducing yourself and explaining a project.
- Record yourself explaining technical topics and listen back. It is the fastest way to improve speaking.
- Short daily practice for months beats occasional intense courses.
You need work English, not perfect English
Many engineers I talk to, including many from Pakistan and other countries where English is a second language, read technical English perfectly well. They follow documentation, understand talks and write code comments. What holds them back is producing English under pressure: speaking in an interview, explaining a problem in a stand-up, or writing a clear message quickly.
The good news is that work English is a narrow, learnable skill. You do not need a native accent, advanced vocabulary or flawless grammar. You need to be clear, structured and understandable in a handful of situations that repeat every week.
The situations that actually matter
| Situation | What good looks like | How often it happens |
|---|---|---|
| Introducing yourself | 60 to 90 seconds: background, current work, what you want next | Every interview |
| Explaining a project | Problem, what you built, one hard decision, the result | Every interview |
| Daily or weekly update | Done, doing next, blocked on | Daily in most teams |
| Asking a question | Context, what you tried, the specific question | Several times a week |
| Pull request description | What changed, why, how to test | Every change you make |
| Disagreeing politely | Acknowledge, give your reason, suggest an option | Occasionally, but it matters |
If you can do these six well, you can work comfortably in most international teams.
Written English first, especially for remote work
Remote teams often run on writing: chat messages, tickets, documents and pull requests. Clear writing lets people trust you without meeting you, and it gives you time to think, which makes it the easiest place to start.
- Keep sentences short. One idea per sentence. Short sentences hide grammar mistakes and are easier to read.
- Lead with the point. "The login bug is fixed; the cause was an expired token" beats a long build-up.
- Use structure. Bullets and headings help readers and reduce the English you need.
- Reread once before sending. Remove unnecessary words.
- Use tools to learn, not to hide. Grammar checkers and editors like Hemingway Editor show where your sentences are long or unclear. Read their suggestions and understand them instead of accepting blindly.
The GitLab Handbook section on communication is a good example of how remote teams expect people to write, and it is free to read.
Speaking: rehearse, record, repeat
Freezing when speaking usually comes from translating in real time and trying to find perfect words. The fix is preparation and repetition.
- Script your most common answers. Write your introduction and a two-minute explanation of each project. Then reduce each to bullet points.
- Say them aloud daily from the bullets, not the script, so it sounds natural.
- Record yourself explaining a technical topic for two minutes: how an API works, what a database index does, a bug you fixed. Listen back and note one thing to improve.
- Use simple words. "Use" instead of "utilise". Simple English sounds confident.
- Learn a few pause phrases: "Let me think about that for a second", "Could you repeat the last part?", "Just to confirm, you mean...". They give you time without awkward silence.
- Practise with a person at least once a week: a friend, a study group or a mock interview.
For listening and general practice, BBC Learning English is free and has short, practical lessons.
A 30-day plan
| Week | Daily practice (20 to 30 minutes) | Weekly output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Write your introduction and project explanations; say them aloud each day | A 90-second intro you can say without notes |
| 2 | Record one two-minute technical explanation daily; listen back | Seven recordings and a list of your repeated mistakes |
| 3 | Write all updates, messages and commit or pull request text in clear short English | Five well-written pull request descriptions or project READMEs |
| 4 | Two mock conversations or interviews with a person | Feedback notes and an updated intro |
Keep the daily habit after the 30 days. Most people notice a real difference after two or three months of steady practice.
A few notes on accent and confidence
Your accent is not the problem. International teams are full of different accents. What matters is pace and clarity: slow down slightly, finish your sentences and pause between ideas. If someone does not understand, rephrase in simpler words instead of repeating faster.
It also helps to stop apologising for your English. A clear "Let me explain that another way" sounds far more professional than "Sorry, my English is not good".
Common mistakes
- Studying grammar books instead of practising real situations. Grammar improves faster through use.
- Writing long, formal messages. Simple and direct reads as more professional in tech teams.
- Memorising scripts word for word. It sounds robotic and falls apart on a follow-up question. Use bullet points.
- Avoiding speaking until you feel ready. Speaking is the practice. Start with low-stakes conversations.
- Only preparing for interviews. The same skills decide how well you do in your first months on the job.
If you are still stuck
If your goal is remote work paid in foreign currency, read How do I find a remote software job that pays in dollars? and, for explaining technical ideas specifically, I struggle to explain my ideas to other engineers. If you would like to practise explaining your projects with someone who has hired and mentored engineers, join Sefism. It is free to learn, you get credits when you join and your first roadmap is free, and as a member you can book a 1:1 session.
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