Written by Jane Kuang | Copyedited by Dana Sorensen

I was born and raised in a small city where English education was not advanced at that time. My curiosity about the English language and my struggle to break through my language limitations led me to attend the Plain Language and Editing programs at Simon Fraser University. The sense of vulnerability and the disquieting dependence on others for support bothered me for a long time until I learned to face my limits with grace and improve within my capacity. 

Now, as an emerging editor who worked as a paralegal in litigation for a decade, I have witnessed firsthand the communication barriers that arise from differences in language and culture.