People often ask why I teach global English instead of British or American English—especially since I’m a native speaker! The reason is simple: I’ve seen how traditional methods fail professionals.

A Moment I’ll Never Forget

I once watched a skilled German executive freeze in an international meeting. He had studied English for years, but when an American said, “Let’s touch base offline,” and a British colleague said, “Let’s table this,” he was lost. The same words meant different things.

The Problem with Traditional English

English isn’t just one language—it’s many. Regional phrases create confusion, making communication more difficult.

A Better Way

Global English:
✔ Focuses on clear, simple language
✔ Avoids confusing idioms
✔ Helps professionals speak with confidence

When my clients stop worrying about “perfect” English and focus on clarity, they become stronger, more confident speakers.

That’s why I teach global English.

What about you? Have you faced similar challenges?

Bright red apples hung just beyond the garage roofs behind our street. Tempting. Forbidden. Perfect.

My best friend Margaret and I were not bad children, but we were adventurous. So, we climbed onto the rooftops. They wobbled beneath our feet, tin surfaces creaking with each cautious step.

But the reward was worth it. Two shiny apples plucked straight from the branches, cool and firm in our small hands.

We walked down the street, happily crunching our treasure, when we spotted a policeman approaching. He paused, smiled warmly, and asked, “Good apples?“

Suddenly, my heart raced. Even though we had done nothing seriously wrong, doubt flooded my mind. Did he know? Were we in trouble?

This is precisely how many professionals feel when speaking English in business settings. They know their English is perfectly adequate, but when attention turns to them, anxiety takes over. “What if I make a mistake? Did I use the right tense? Is everyone judging my accent?“

The truth? No one is waiting to catch you. Just like that policeman who simply appreciated our enjoyment, your colleagues value your contributions, not your grammar perfection.

Confidence comes when you take a risk and trust yourself. When you focus on your message rather than your mistakes.

Ready to move from ‘Umms…’ to Unstoppable? Let’s talk.

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. You might feel ill, have an emergency or just realise you can’t make it. But how do you cancel an appointment at short notice without upsetting the other person?

1. Say sorry. A simple “I’m really sorry for the late notice” shows that you respect their time.
2. Give a reason (if possible). You don’t need to explain everything, but something like “I’m not feeling well” or “Something urgent came up” is polite.
3. Show appreciation. Instead of saying, “Thank you for your understanding”, try “I really appreciate your patience” or “Thanks for your flexibility”. This sounds warmer and more personal.
4. If possible, offer to reschedule. Saying “Can we find another time?” shows that you still value the meeting.

A little kindness goes a long way—even when cancelling! 😊

When journalist Angela came to me, she was about to start a new job that required a good command of English. She wasn’t feeling confident enough, so she reached out to work on her fluency and confidence.

How did we start?

We began by talking about her background. I asked simple questions like, “What kind of work do you do?” and “What’s your experience in journalism?” These helped Angela relax and talk about what she knew best.

We identified the areas where she felt unsure—like speaking up in meetings or explaining her ideas clearly. No grammar exercises! Just real conversations based on her real life.

While she spoke, I made notes in the chat—so she could see gentle corrections and helpful feedback without being interrupted.

We also strategised how she could practise English naturally in her daily routine—during short breaks or social events.

A big win? Angela started speaking on camera and then watching herself afterwards. That helped her notice small improvements and feel proud of her progress.

She was ready—and confident—for her new role.

The other day, I received an interesting message from a German-speaking colleague.

He wrote, “To my German ears, ‘take care’ sounds like a warning, like I’m in danger – for example, ‘When climbing Mount Everest, take care.’“

At first, I smiled because I understood the confusion.

In English, “take care” is a common way to say goodbye, like “stay safe” or “look after yourself.” In fact, I often use it to end an email!

But in German, it can feel like a serious warning, especially if you’re not familiar with the phrase.

If you’re looking for other ways to say goodbye in English, you could try:

• “Stay healthy”
• “Take it easy”
• “Until next time”
• “All the best”

These all carry a friendly tone and are used to wish someone well, without the feeling of danger.