Blogging 101: English or First Language?

Hi everyone :D
I got so many good response in my first blogging tips post (#1 Follow Me Please?). Thank you! :)
Today I present to you, my 2nd post about Blogging Tips: "English or First Language?"

As a blogger, I also have encountered hard moments with English. I don't say that I'm expert in English, because I still do A LOT of grammatical mistakes everyday. When I started this blog, I also hesitated to choose which language I should use permanently for this blog. Well, finally I've chosen English, because English is an universal language and every people in this world supposedly know this language.

First Language means:
- (Linguistics) a person's native language
- The language learned by children and passed from one generation to the next
- The first language that you learn to speak

img credit: www.oakland.k12.mi.us

I believe most of you also have experienced same problem with me..
Which one we should choose? English or First Language?



Before you decide.. There are some factors that need to be considered...
1. Fluency level
What language are you most fluent? Don't force yourself to write in language that you're not familiar at all. For example I love Korean, and I've learned about basic Korean sentences and hangeul; but I won't write full blog post in Korean.. simply because I CAN'T and I'm not so confident. LOL XD

It's okay if you want to improve your English skill with blogging activities (like I did), as long as you DON'T use google translate every time (without learn about English grammar properly)
I'm born in Indonesia, and of course I'm very fluent in Bahasa Indonesia :) But I still want to blog with English because I want to practice and improve my English skill.
If you still want to use English, but you don't want to learn proper English grammar and only rely on google translate.. JUST STOP IT. Use your native language instead.. Because google translate's English is confusing >_<

For example:

My 2nd review on this blog (published on 28 February 2012)

Look at my terrible grammar >___< hahaha. I didn't use google translate.

2. Where your audiences come from?
You can track your audience in blogger.com dashboard (stats > audience). You will see clearly where your audiences come from :) For my blog, my audiences mostly come from Indonesia, United States, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, China, etc.
My blog's readers come from many countries all over the world, so my decision to choose English as my main blog's language is apparently right ^_^ if your blog's readers mostly come from your own country / state, maybe you should use your first language (just in case you don't speak English).

3. Do you feel comfortable?
Are you comfortable when write posts in English? Do you tend to be clueless and don't know how to express your feelings in English? Or you might be more comfortable to write in your own native language?

When I started this blog in English, my English skill was so awful and terrible -___- I felt little bit uncomfortable about it. Somehow I ashamed with my own writings :( But I forced myself to improve my English skill. Now, my English skill is STILL far awayyyyyy from perfection, but I can see my English skill get better each day :)

When you don't know what language you should choose, just remember this.. express your feeling and thoughts in language that you are most comfortable with :)

PS: Sometimes I write post in Bahasa Indonesia as well, depends on my mood at the moment ;P

For example: 

I wrote Diary of My braces series part 1, part 3 and part 4 in English, but I wrote the part 2 in Bahasa Indonesia.. Why? Because my I couldn't express my feeling in English due to lack of English skill >_<

4. Know your target audience
If you want to post about local product or want to introduce a local new brand, I highly recommend you to use your native / first language. Why? Because your international readers don't need your information about your local product or brand. Plus, NOT every Indonesian can understand English.. Your English post will confuse them and they can't understand your post obviously..
Otherwise if you want to write a review or beauty tips for everyone, you better use English as universal language (especially when your product or brand is a well-known brand, everyone will look for those information).

For example:

Taken from Sugar Pot Waxing review

I wrote this review in Bahasa Indonesia because its product is only sold in Indonesia at the moment, and my International readers should not need this information :)

5. Or even better... Two languages in one post
Somehow, when you want to provide important information that you want your international or local readers understand clearly, you can write it in two language in the same post (English and your first language). I know this kind of post need more effort to be realized, but you will definitely satisfy your international or regional readers with information that you provide :)

For example:

Taken from POND's Translucent Pinkish White Complete Review

I think that's all! :)

Choose English or First Language is totally your decision, please don't be affected by others' opinion :)

Just in case you are an English beginner like me and chosen to write your blog in English, don't give up to improve our English skill ^____^ Practice makes better! Practice makes perfect!

Thank you for reading :D

and see ya on my post!