Shumin possesses an in-depth knowledge of the English language and of Simplified Technical English (STE). We covered a lot of ground in the area of STE within a short time!
Berry Jansen Senior Technical Author, Triview
I find that STE rule 2.1 extremely useful in technical documentation to avoid ambiguity. Rule 3.6 is one of my favorites because you need to master well syntax and language to always avoid passive voice. It was a good excercise, thanks Shumin for this interesting and challenging topic!
Master's student, TCLoc for Technical Communication & Localisation University of Strasbourg
TAI hired Frans to work with our experienced team and help them to improve their ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English skills. Frans helped us to identify areas for improvement both in our own documents and in those supplied by our customers and partners. At the end of the training, we all had learned simple yet effective methods to improve the quality, readability and compliance of our writing. Most importantly, we learned how to scrutinize text for commonly made mistakes and how to balance compliance with optimum readability. We enjoyed working with Frans, who has a pleasant personality and an open mind. I am happy to recommend him to any company that wants to improve its documentation, be it for compliance reasons or to facilitate translation. Top Qualities: Great Results, Expert, Good Value
Halil Kan, Logistics Specialist, Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI/TUSAS
I love how you can apply the concept of STE to many industries whether or not you choose to work as a technical writer. Shumin was very clear in her instructions and it's too bad I could never catch up on time to review her entire courses and pose questions "in real time". The rules concerning the technical verbs and names + the categories for the different exceptions makes STE a very flexible standard that responds to the needs of specific users.
TCLoc Master in Technical Comunication & Localisation 2018 University of Strasbourg
The introduction to Simplified Technical English (STE) was simple to follow and understand. Rule 1.4 to use only the approved forms of verbs and adjectives from the STE dictionary is something that I appreciate very much. Applying the rules faithfully was a challenging albeit enjoyable process. There is a lot of good writing rules to learn here. I've found the exercises to be very useful for learning reinforcement, and they have helped me to apply STE rules in a more efficient manner and I've gained a much better understanding of STE as a result. Shumin's training methodology is easy to follow, and she offers us great technical writing advice and has simplified the process for us. Every aspect of this training is a 10/10 for me.
Nour Bazuhair Engineer Trainee, NIMR Automotive
I worked with Frans on a project for translation for technical manuals. It was a pleasure to work with him and he was very professional. He responded to our queries quickly and informatively and he was an asset to have on the project, as he has a vast knowledge of technical translation. Top qualities: Great Results, Expert, On Time.
Juliette Grant International CH-47 Logistics Specialist, Boeing
The course was quite challenging for me intellectually, in the way that there were a lot of rules to take in in order to be able to apply them to the text given in the assignement. To spot the errors in the text and choose the correct rule for the problem wasn't always easy, but I thought the assignment itself, i.e. the practical application of the theory, was an effective way to evaluate the learning curve of the student. To cut a long story short, yes, I think the content and the assessment are appropriate. After what I have learned in the course, it seems appropriate and relevant for technical communicators to know STE at a professional level!
Master's Student, TCLoc Master in Technical Communication & Localisation University of Strasbourg
Frans Wijma has done excellent work for The Boeing Company in providing translation, translation system design, custom translation processing software, translation tool training, and translation system troubleshooting and tuning. He is familiar with the data structures of technical publications and has the ability to create solutions for interfacing the customers data with translation aid systems. Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, Expert.
The ASD-STE100 course I attended by Shumin was very intensive yet enjoyable. Besides the standard format and company templates used when creating documentation, STE rules helped me understand that there is an alternative approach to technical writing. By shrinking the size of my vocabulary, I am effectively using only one word for one purpose. With STE, my goal is to focus on what I would like to communicate effectively, rather than to simply place information into a template.
Mehmet Emin Ozmen Manufacturing Engineer, FNSS Savunma Sistemleri A.Ş.
Personally, it became clearer to me that STE is a language that one can learn to pick up. This includes the standard vocabulary and customised dictionary that is built for every company or product. In other words, STE is a ‘way of life’ in the field of technical writing and documentation. The ASD-STE100 exercises covered a wide spectrum of topics from choosing between approved and non-approved words to recreating documentation in STE. Shumin expertly guided us from classroom learning mode to real-life practical application of STE rules. The materials that she presented were informative and very convincing. Top Qualities: Practical, Convincing, Informative
Martin Broekhuis Technical Editor, Webasto
