Entertaining, short, and clear presentation of the STE specification and rule sets. Overall, a good mix of rules, examples, and exercises. The course was very much on point and encouraged me to write in a more structured way. This will help the readers to properly understand my message even in business writing. Shumin had a very calm way of leading all of us through the training. Her style of teaching is rather empathetic and she keeps the group working effectively with timely breaks in between. Thanks Shumin for an enjoyable course with the perfect score of 10/10 in terms of trainer evaluation.
Cécile Roos, Corporate Translation Manager Schindler Management Ltd
Airbus is widely known to have strict STE quality checks that are difficult to meet for outside suppliers. Learning how to optimally use a documentation standard like ASD-STE100 is a substantial boost to our technical writing team’s capabilities and significantly improved our compliance rating!
Raja Sureshbabu Global Head of Aerospace Vertical, Tata Consultancy Services
Best STE rules for my learning are:
- Use simple verb tenses
- Put commands first in warnings and cautions
- Use active voice
- Do not use present participles or gerund.
TCLoc Master's Student University of Strasbourg
Shumin is personable and easy to work with, so it was great to work together on aviation management related events during her tenure. She is a good communicator, and a consultative manager who would often involve others in problem solving, team building, and focuses her time on more important activities while providing proper recognition, which I am appreciative of.
Joyce Tay Senior Executive, Programme & Event Management at Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore
I have worked with Frans for a number of years now, first as a collaborator and later, alas, as a competitor. I have no hesitation in recommending him for his abilities as a linguist, polyglot, and technical innovator. In addition, he is an accomplished speaker, and a great salesman for his products. As someone who works closely with the ASD Simplified Technical English writing standard, I have been impressed with the breadth and depth of his knowledge of that subject. He is a world leader in the implementation of Controlled Language processes. So I am very happy to endorse him.
Rick Wojcik Associate Technical Fellow, Boeing
Shumin introduced the very interesting concept of a controlled language in the form of Simplified Technical English (STE). My favourite STE rule is to use approved words from the dictionary only as the part of speech given. In the two-day duration, we were able to familiarise ourselves with all the STE rules as well as practical steps for implementation of this controlled language standard. Shumin is very capable of explaining STE concepts in a brief but accurate manner, giving us easy access to a highly technical subject. Love the humour you inject in between lines!
Top Qualities: Concise, Personable, Knowledgeable
Lycke Koersen Marketing Coordinator, Maats Pipeline Equipment
A very important and highlighted point during the introduction is that STE is an English language specification that is not only applicable for companies in the aerospace & defence industry. Rule 5.2 where you only have one instruction per sentence is important to us. Not being able to use the verb "CHECK' that is only used as an approved STE noun poses a challenge to me all the time. I really appreciate the STE writing rules that give us the possibility to improve the consistency of our documents.
The workshop exercises were of high interest value and drive home the point that it is important to learn by doing. Although a time-consuming process, the writing workshop impressed on me that the need to prioritise the analysis of our internal documents.
Shumin is a competent trainer who does not only focus on explaining and enforcing the "writing rules", but is always available to understand and empathise with the training needs of the class.
Marco Valtangoli Corporate Technical Author, Schindler Management
The Simplified Technical English course content and requirements provided by Shumin Chen were an absolute good fit with the TCLoc Master's program. A technical communicator has to know about the existing specifications for technical documentation. Furthermore, this course helps the students to acquire new skills in order to enhance the accuracy and clarity of contents.
TCLoc Master's Student University of Strasbourg
I have found Shumin to be a very patient and knowledgeable instructor! This is a great course that offers me an in-depth look into all of the technical English writing rules. I will recommend this course to everyone!
Consultant, Technical Writer Sigma Technology Information AB
Rules about noun clusters (no more than 3 words, use of hypens and use of articles/demonstrative adjectives) and sentences (use of short sentences with a max. of 20 words without contractions and write only one instruction per sentence, but also use of vertical lists and connecting words) are definitely my favourite ones!
The first session with you was interesting and carried out well!
Overall, however, you did a very good job, rescheduling the assignment until we finished the TCTrainNet course, and I enjoyed attending your live meetings!
Master's student, TCLoc Programme University of Strasbourg