Google Chrome

Figure: Bad example - Chrome using Chinese as its language setting

Figure: Good example - Chrome using English as its language setting

How to fix on a PC?

You want all screenshots you take to be showing English. Most of the time it is as simple as going Tools | Options | Language | Default Language = English (US).

In Chrome, you can follow these steps directly:

1. Three dots bar at the top right of the Chrome window:

   ​
   

   Figure: Blank Chrome page showing the 'Settings' button, 3 small dots

2. Click on Settings:

   

   Figure: Showing the 'Settings' page

3. Click on Advanced:

   

   Figure: Advanced tab in Settings

4. Click on 'Add Languages':

   

   Figure: Add Languages to your current Chrome

5. Move English to the top

   

   Figure: Move English to top

How to fix on a Mac?

1. Change the language in System Preferences. Go to Apple menu | System Preferences | Language & Region.

   

   Figure: In macOS it’s simple to change to English

2. In Preferred languages, add English and select it as primary language:

   Figure: In Language & Region, add English

3. Reboot the system and verify that English is now the primary language for all desktop applications.

How to fix your Google account?

You should also change your Google language to English as well. If it is not already, take a look at these steps:

1. Go to www.google.com
2. Click on `Sign-In` or `My Account` if you are already signed in

   

   Figure: Google page without an account

   

   Figure: Google page with an account

3. Search for 'Language':

   

   Figure: Search for 'language'
   

4. Now click `Language` and search for English

   

   Figure: Language picker

5. Move English up to Default language by clicking on the arrow

   

   Figure: Move up English

6. Done! You changed your language to English.

How to fix your Gmail account?

1. Click on the cog then Settings

   

   Figure: Access to Settings on Gmail

2. Set language to English(US)

   

   Figure: Change language setting
   

3. Scroll down and click on 'Save Changes'. Done!
   

How to fix Mozilla Firefox?

1. Go to Options

   

   Figure: Access to Firefox options
   

2. Set Display language to English(United States), you may have to restart Firefox to apply the change

   

   Figure: Language settings
   

3. Choose your preferred language for displaying pages. Add English(UnitedStates) and move it to the top.

   

   Figure: Click Choose to change your preferred language
   

   

   Figure: Add English(United States) to your preferred language for displaying pages
   

4. Done!

How to fix on MS Azure?

Figure: In Azure https://portal.azure.com it is as simple as clicking on the Cog icon

How to fix on MS Office 365 (rich client)

Figure: The Office 365 cog does not show the language. Some cheap versions of Microsoft Office 365 only allow Chinese, so you need to uninstall and install the English version. It requires you to download a language pack which is a bit more of a hassle...

Figure: If you do not have the English version. In Microsoft Office open the rich client application such as Outlook or Word, then install and configure as per the image above

How to fix on Office 365 (https://outlook.office365.com)
  

​ 

 Figure: If you have the Inbox, Sent Items etc in Chinese then you will need to follow these steps
​​

​   1. Go to ​​https://outlook.office.com

   2. Click on "My profile"​​ in the top right corner​

​  Figure: Choose 'My profile'

   3. Click on "setting" button

​​  Figure: Choose 'Mail'

    4. Click on Region and time zone

  ​

  Figure: Choose Region and Time. Then when you change the ‘Language’ with the checkbox enabled, the problem will be fixed.

    5.In Windows10, Go to Settings| Language| Windows display language, click Windows display language and search for English.​

    6. Done. You have changed your language to English. Congratulations!~
​​​  ​

  ​Figure: After completing the fix.

• Try to always answer the call with video (if weak bandwidth, use it for the first 10 seconds and say "I'll turn off video to save bandwidth").
  
• Sound - Be ready with the headset already on (it looks disorganized plugging it in after you make the call)
  
• Sound - Check the sound quality of the microphone - you need a good mic and it should be close to your mouth - if you are using the laptop mic, sit in close.
  
• Video - Check the image quality of the camera. Beware of the angle of the camera - the ones with thin bezels now put the camera at the base, looking up your nose. Avoid them. Frame your head and shoulders in the shot, and keep the camera lens at or above eye level​ - use a cardboard box as a stand if necessary. 
  
• Video - Consider what is in the background - Keep a light source on your face, and try to avoid sitting with a window behind you.
  ​​Get your video background right. Check Rules to Better Branding.
  
• Video - Have a microfiber cloth and wipe off the lens from time to time.
  
• Text - It's always helpful to confirm things you're talking about with typed text during the call (Especially helpful for people with English as a second language).
  

Tip: Help the other person with following this rule by taking a screenshot and giving them a mark /10 with good and bad feedback on the call quality and background.

Figure: Bad Example - Ugly​​​ background showing an a​ir conditioner​​​

​Figure: Good Example - Nice background​​​

1. Set the default language on your computer as English(Australia).
    
2. After you finish editing, but before check-in, make sure Code Auditor and Link Auditor 0.
3. Check the whole page which you edited, and make sure no messy code or characters are there.
4. Ask someone beside you to check the rule or page you just edited.
5. Reply done in an email.

Open file with Encoding:

Figure: Use "Open With...&Figure: Use "Open With..." in Visual Studio to open the file

Figure: Set "... Editor with Encoding" as the Default Editor

Figure: Make sure your encoding is consistent with Sydney

Save file with Encoding: (Optional - it will be saved w (Optional - it will be saved with opened encoding automatically.)

Figure: Open "Advance Save Options..." in Visual Studio before checking in

Figure: Make sure your setting is consistent with Sydney

​So make it easier to add English speakers into the loop at a moments notice.

The most polite way of doing this is to mention in the email why you are using English.

Hi Joe, hope all is well. I wanted to confirm our conversation...

(This is in English since I have included a Sydney colleague... let me know if you need it in Chinese).

Hi Joe, hope all is well. I wanted to confirm our conversation...​

Web Content

When on a web page, install Grammarly Addon for Chrome so you can automatically check web content. For example, while editing in a CMS.

Figure: A typo caught by Grammarly plugin

Documents

When on Word, press F7 (or on the ribbon go to Review > Spelling & Grammar) to check your .docx text.

Figure: Click on "Spelling & Grammar" button to check your web content

Presentation

When on PowerPoint , press F7 (or on the ribbon go to Review | Spelling & Grammar) to check your .pptx text.

Figure: Click on "Spelling" button to check your web content

You should also keep "Check grammar with spelling" checked in your PowerPoint Options | Proofing:

Figure: Make sure "Check grammar with spelling" is enabled

Web Content

Any other text can be checked manually. Go to Grammarly, create a New Document and Paste your content to check your text.

Figure: A typo caught by Grammarly

Related rule

• Do you use Microsoft Word's spelling and grammar checker to make your web content professional? 
  

Figure: Bad example - can't call a phone number

Figure: Good example - Able to call phone numbers

Remote offices tip: Don’t make being overseas a barrier. ​Of course,​ it is always best to provide a local number as that gives clients peace of mind and keep their costs down. Not many clients will call an international number and there are lots of options -  http://www.skype.com/en/features.

The next best alternative is to at least show your overseas phone number.​

For a list of our recommended screen sharing tools, please check the SSW rules for remote support.​

​Another good practice that follows on from this, is to leave a S​kype session open. This eliminates to need to call your programming partner every time you have a query or question to ask.​