Welcome to this week’s Sparks Plus — your quick, practical boost for clearer, more confident English.
Five short sections, all easy to read and use right away.

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1️⃣ Quick Win

It’s dependent on, not dependent from.

❌ The result is dependent from the weather.
✔ The result is dependent on the weather.

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2️⃣ Real-World English in Action

Denglish rescue:
A client said: I visit my parents all 2 weeks.

In English, we say:
✔ I visit my parents every 2 weeks.
✔ I see my parents every other week.

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3️⃣ Christine’s Pick

BBC Learning English – 6 Minute English
Short episodes on interesting topics, spoken clearly, with transcripts to follow along. Great for listening and reading practice at the same time.

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4️⃣ Reader Question

Q: Should I say in the weekend or at the weekend?

A: In British English: at the weekend
✔ I saw friends at the weekend.
In American English: on the weekend
✔ I saw friends on the weekend.

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5️⃣ Spotlight

Want to practise speaking in a safe, friendly group?
Join my next Speed Networking for the Bold & Brave.
It’s free — and you’ll leave feeling more confident in English.
Save your place here.

Some professionals still write English emails as if it’s 1985 — formal, stiff and about as friendly as a fax machine.

Here are 5 classics that need to retire (along with shoulder pads and floppy disks):

❌ “In response to your request…”
✅ “Thanks for your message.”

❌ “Please do not hesitate to contact me.”
✅ “Let me know if you have questions.”

❌ “We would like to inform you that…”
✅ “Just a quick update:”

❌ “Enclosed please find the document…”
✅ “I’ve attached the document.”

❌ “Kindly be advised that…”
✅ “Here’s what you need to know:”

📌 Plain English isn’t less professional. It’s just easier to read. And in today’s inbox, nobody has patience for dinosaur English.

💬 What’s the most old-fashioned phrase you still see (or secretly use)?

I see this mistake everywhere:
📂 “In our new building, I have an own office.”

The fix? Simple:
✅ “I have my own office.”

👉 Because in English, own always needs a partner — my, your, our, his, her.

It never goes solo with “an.”

💬 Your turn: Which small English mistake do you keep spotting at work?

In the UK, that means underwear.
In the US, it means trousers.

Same word. Totally different picture. 🙈

Here’s the bigger point: English isn’t one language. It’s many. And sometimes the difference is funny (pants). Other times, it can make you feel awkward, lost or even invisible.

But here’s the truth: those mix-ups don’t make you less professional. They make you human. And often, they make you memorable.

Global English isn’t about getting every word “right.” It’s about being clear enough to connect — and confident enough to laugh when the word goes wrong.

💬 What’s your “pants moment” — the word that got you strange looks but left you with a good story?

Too many German professionals think they have to sound serious and perfect in English to be respected. The result? They hide their quirks. They flatten their personality. They end up sounding stiff, even robotic.

Here’s the truth: quirks are what make people remember you. They show you’re human. They build trust. They make conversations feel real, not rehearsed.

When I tell clients that I do square dancing, they laugh. And then they lean in. Because it’s unexpected. It’s personal. And it makes me more than just “the English coach.”

Your quirks don’t make you less professional in English. They make you more memorable.

💬 What’s one quirk of yours that makes people smile or remember you?