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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/45477
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

> I don't know what else to do. If anyone has advice on how to make an ESL character sound realistic, I would appreciate it.

All answers so far, as promoted by the question, aims for advancing understanding of the foreign language and culture. For an assignment, that seems to be quite ambitious. Without knowing the assignment boundaries I would like to add some ideas of "what else". These ideas could help even if the assignment was specifically "make believable dialogue" or "write varied characters".

> He just sounds like an English speaker who doesn't really speak English well.

Similar to [translation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translation_convention) you could choose to write the dialogue in perfect English instead. IMHO that would be a highly realistic way to tell the story. Use other signals to frame the setting and introduce characters.

Can they meet in a scenario (airport, university, abroad) where the language difference can be briefly mentioned and build character rather than dialogue? Would they have a relationship opening for language discussion (friends, teacher, tourist)? How long has it been?

Could it be the culture, food and area knowledge that tells the reader which character is less familiar with London/Boston? Are they necessarily in England or can the ESL be the one most comfortable, using his knowledge to help the other person (even without using any of the other language)? Even the way they dress or appear is a possible key to the introduction.

> He's supposed to be good enough to get by, but not fluent in English.

Depending on setting "almost fluent" would then be as realistic as anything less. "Getting by" is however a fairly low criteria. _He pointed at the map and said 'Hotel'._

Standing by the suggestion to use perfect English there could still be some additional signals in the dialogue to hint that it's "translated".

- Slight pauses to find the next word or longer pause to think through what to say. Possibly with written out thoughts of grammar rules or whatever.
- Asking for confirmation, even though it was perfect: _Do you understand what I mean? Was that the right word to use?_
- Repeating and rephrasing some key messages, as if being afraid of misunderstandings. Either the character does it herself, or they do it in dialogue. _-I feel misunderstood most of the time. -Like, you're doubting your language abilities?_

Things like this could be a normal part of any real verbal dialogue, but to make it less tedious reading, it's usually stripped out. Adding some of it back in could be a useful effect.

PS. I know this is a very old question, but it was recently active and I felt it needed another answer for the sake of balance.

Original score: 1