Learning by Revising: Coaching and Feedback Strategies for Clearer Writing
(2025) Brussels Plain Language Experience 2025 - Uniting for a brighter future: A new era for plain language — Location: Brussels, Belgium (5.November.2025)
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- Abstract
- This interactive workshop is intended for professionals who support others in writing clearly, whether as trainers, team leaders, reviewers, editors, or internal writing advisors. Communication and human resources professionals are well aware that even the most effective plain language training is often not sufficient to ensure that a team, department, or organisation communicates clearly and consistently over time. What frequently makes the decisive difference in developing writing competence is sustained guidance on real texts. This type of feedback-based support — coaching, in fact — enables writers to internalise plain language principles through experiential learning and to apply them with increasing autonomy. Drawing on thirty years of experience in plain language training, Anne Vervier and Greet Angèle De Baets will present a structured approach to feedback coaching that they have developed and now teach to managers, editors, and peer reviewers. These methods help writers build lasting confidence in producing clear and effective documents. The session will include: 1. A concise presentation of the approach: - When and how to intervene in the writing process. - How to give comments that help the author rewrite unclear parts and build lasting plain language habits. - Examples of effective feedback strategies from training and practice settings, in multiple languages. 2. A practical segment: - Participants will practise formulating clear, constructive comments on professional texts. - Each participant is encouraged to bring a short text from their own organisation that requires revision for clarity. - Texts may be in French, Dutch, English, German, or Spanish (languages spoken by the facilitators). - All texts will be shared digitally during the session. This workshop offers practical tools for fostering a sustainable plain language culture within organisations. The feedback techniques presented can be applied in different contexts: as part of a training course, as a follow-up activity, or as an internal practice where a team leader or designated colleague provides ongoing support. Rather than framing this work as coaching in the hierarchical or corrective sense, the facilitators present it as a collegial, learning-oriented exchange that supports experiential learning, fosters autonomy, and encourages mutual responsibility for clear communication.
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De Baets, G., & et al. (2025). Learning by Revising: Coaching and Feedback Strategies for Clearer Writing. Brussels Plain Language Experience 2025 - Uniting for a brighter future: A new era for plain language, Brussels, Belgium.