University of Wisconsin–Madison

New Plain Language Certificate offered by Cultural Linguistic Services

Have you ever wanted to get your message across faster and clearer?
Effective communication matters.

Cultural Linguistic Services (CLS) is pleased to announce its new Plain Language Certificate. We are extending our popular Introduction to Plain Language workshop to offer a new three-part training series. Participants will gain a deep understanding of core plain language strategies to engage in concentrated writing and design practice. Instructors will focus on word choice, grammar, organization of content, and format to improve the readability of documents. This certificate comprises three workshops: 1) Introduction to Plain Language 2) Write with Plain Language and 3) Design for Plain Language.

Questions? Feel free to contact CLS English Language Learning Instructors and Trainers.

Please see the description of each workshop below. CLS will offer this certificate twice this year. Register here to reserve your seat and begin in June: http://go.wisc.edu/27djyu

Cultural Linguistic Services looks forward to supporting your effective communication efforts.

Plain Language Certificate
Register here to begin in June: http://go.wisc.edu/27djyu

  1. Introduction to Plain Language (1.5 hours):
  2. Effective communication is vital in all aspects of our personal and professional lives. This interactive workshop will introduce you to strategies ranging from word choice and font selection to “teach-back” and grammar tweaks. Develop a toolkit of techniques to communicate more smoothly in conversation and writing with both native and nonnative English-speaking colleagues. Come learn how people across campus—and across the globe—rely on plain language strategies to save time, money, work, and frustration by promoting better understanding and customer satisfaction.

    *You can attend this workshop as a stand-alone training.

  3. Write with Plain Language (2 hours):
  4. Review and practice plain language guidelines to choose the right words. Gain a deeper understanding of core plain language strategies to engage in concentrated writing practice focused on:

    • Word choice and simplify
    • Grammar
    • Organization of content

    Improve the readability of a document the trainer provides and negotiate successful editing in a small group setting. Complete a homework assignment by editing a brief writing sample using plain language strategies

    *You must complete Introduction to Plain Language before registering for this workshop.

    ** Maximum 16 participants

  5. Design for Plain Language (2 hours):
  6. Review and practice plain language guidelines to design for readability. Gain a deeper understanding of core plain language strategies to engage in concentrated design practice focused on:

    • Sentences
    • Format
    • Lists and tables

Improve the readability of a document the trainer provides and negotiate successful editing in a small group setting. Share the text that you edit with your group to demonstrate plain language strategies. Present a final product.

*You must complete Introduction to Plain Language and Write with Plain Language before registering for this workshop.

** Maximum 16 participants

Participants will gain the Plain Language Certificate after completing the three workshops.

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