Did you know that there are several words we use in German that sound as if they’re English, but they often mean something completely different?

A ‘slip’ is a mistake. We also talk about a ‘slip of paper’ (ein Blatt Papier). Perhaps you mean ‘panties’?

If you’re like me, you love films with a ‘happy ending’ (and not a ‘happy end’)!

A ‘shitstorm’ is not used in the same way. It’s not that common in English, and means a messy and repulsive situation.

And what you might call a ‘castingshow’ is what we call a ‘talent show’.

Oh, and an ‘oldtimer’ is an old person. Perhaps you mean a ‘veteran’ or ‘vintage car’?

And if you’re in the English-speaking world and want to have photos taken, remember to ask for a ‘photo shoot’ and not a ‘Photoshooting’.  I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you!

“Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club—the community of speakers of that language.”
Frank Smith

Okay, if you’ve been reading my “Sparks of English” for some time, I  wouldn’t call you a learner. You’re already a communicator of English. You might just not have the chance  to speak on a regular basis.

If this is you, why not come and join our free Speed Networking sessions every two weeks. And if you feel you need more support one day, we can talk. There are three ways you can work with me!

Stores use lots of tricks to make us buy more than we want and to get us to spend more money.

Find out what three of these shopping tricks are in The Atlantic’s short video here. 

Were they new to you?

Do you find it difficult sometimes to choose fonts for your projects?

If you need helping in finding fonts that look good together, you might like Sachin Ramje’s suggestions.

So what do you think of Sachin’s suggestions? Have you found your favourite font pair?

I use two browsers, Safari and Google Chrome.

Blake Burge’s posts on Twitter have helped me discover a few hidden Chrome features that I found very helfplul. I thought you might like them, too.

Do you have too many open tabs?  Keep them open and get organised by forming Tab Groups:
• Select multiple tabs
• Right-click
• Add tabs to a new group
• Expand and retract as needed.

Do you have a few sites you visit again and again? Trying pinning your tabs:
• Right-click the tab and select “pin”.
• The tab is reduced in size and pinned to the left-hand side of the screen.

You’d like to bookmark tabs into folders?
• Right-click the window
• Bookmark all tabs
• Create folder
• Done!

You’d like to copy a link, send to your devices, create a QR code and more?
• Go to your address bar and click the “share” icon.
• Select your choice and you’re done!

Interested in learning about more Chrome features? Visit Blake’s Twitter thread.

Strange, but I don’t know anyone who plays skat, although the Deutsche Welle says that more Germans play it than football.

My father used to play, although it wasn’t easy finding two other players in England! 

I really can’t remember if he played with those German-suited playing cards—with acorns, leaves, hearts and bells—or whether he used the French-suited ones we all know so well.

I have just read that to play skat, you need a good memory and to be able to calculate in your head, and that a good skat player counts the cards passing in every round.

Now I know why I was never interested in learning to play the game!

What about you? Do you play skat or do any of your family members play the game?