With Cantonese being my first language, it was difficult in writing and reading in English. As most people perhaps expect it for it to magically happen. I can assure you that it is not as easy as it seems.
Excluding English out of the scene, my parents were enthusiasts about languages and felt that I would also be better off in studying Mandarin, as well as my mother tongue and English. It was confusing.
It took a while before I got to grips in studying Mandarin and Cantonese, achieving very positive results I then focused on my English Grammar and my Writing skills. This of course was very difficult, being that I was already at University but it was prominent that it was compulsory, if I wanted to get good grades that was.
Disregarding everything that I have learnt in Cantonese and Mandarin school, my only focus was in English. I read as much as I could, ensuring that I had pronounced the words correctly and practicing my writing skills as much as I possibly could. It was no laughing matter nor was it easy. Especially having to perfect a language and having essay deadlines come close.
These days, writing has become a leisure and post University means that I can read genres that are outside of my major study scope.
Teaching my other half Cantonese has allowed me to make good use of my knowledge. Translating for Science Docs has further proved that Literature is something of good use and by using it will there improvements.