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.

---

1️⃣ Quick Win

Interesting or interested?

• Interesting describes the thing.
  ✔ This book is interesting.
• Interested describes the person.
  ✔ I’m interested in this book.

---

2️⃣ Real-World English in Action

Denglish rescue:
A client said: We are 5 people in the meeting.

In English, we usually say:
✔ There are 5 people in the meeting.
✔ Five of us are in the meeting.

---

3️⃣ Christine’s Pick

Just in case you missed this:  10 English Pronunciation Errors German Speakers Make — a clear, practical guide to common mistakes and how to fix them.

---

4️⃣ Reader Question

Q: Can I say “He makes a wonderful job”?

A: In English, we say He does a wonderful job.
We “do” a job, not “make” one.

---

5️⃣ Spotlight

If you run workshops in English, here’s a handy resource for you.
My A–Z Glossary of English Terms for Workshop Tools & Supplies lists the words you need for everything from flipcharts to sticky dots — with both British and American terms where they differ.
Download it here.

 

When I work with more advanced English speakers, I notice something fascinating:

It’s not about the grammar rules. It’s not about the vocabulary. It’s not about the perfect sentence structure.

Just last week, a client stopped mid-sentence: “I have… so much… emails?“

Here’s what’s interesting – she already knew the rule:

✅ “so much” for uncountable (water, time, money)
✅ “so many” for countable (emails, meetings, people)

But that pause wasn’t about grammar knowledge.

The real story?

She knew the answer. She’d learnt it years ago. What held her back wasn’t missing knowledge – it was missing confidence.

I see this pattern constantly. Professionals don’t need more rules. They need permission to trust their instincts.

Yes, remember “so many emails” is correct. But more importantly… stop letting these tiny doubts silence your voice. Your expertise matters more than whether you chose “much” or “many.”

Ready to break free from overthinking?

P.S. Which grammar rule makes you pause? 

Have you ever frozen during an important moment?

Last week, one of my clients shared a story that broke my heart. During an important job interview, when asked about her motivation for the position, she completely froze.

This happens more often than you think. In fact, I’ve seen it countless times:

• Experts losing words mid-conversation
• CEOs stumbling during presentations
• Managers going blank in meetings
  

The truth is, English anxiety doesn’t discriminate. It hits everyone, regardless of their position or experience level.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

• Everyone has been there
• They’re opportunities for growth
• These moments don’t define you
  

When my client came back for coaching, we worked on simple, powerful responses. We practised until she felt a lot more confident.

Two weeks later? The second interview? A completely different story. She got the job!

Why am I sharing this story with you? Because right now, someone reading this might be feeling the same way. Thinking they’re the only one struggling.

You’re not alone in this. Not at all.

Have you experienced anything similar? 

P.S. Remember: It’s not about never freezing – it’s about how you bounce back.

Nothing frustrates me more than when clients tell me:
“I’m waiting until my English is perfect before speaking up.”

Here’s the thing I’ve learned after 25+ years of coaching:

Perfect English doesn’t exist.

And waiting for perfection is the biggest trap I see German professionals fall into.

Let me share what actually works:

1. Start speaking NOW – even if you make mistakes 
2. Focus on getting your message across
3. Use the English you already know
4. Learn from each conversation

I’ve seen hundreds of clients transform when they:

• Stop overthinking every word
• Just jump into conversations
• Build confidence through practice
• Let go of the need to be perfect

Because here’s the truth: Your English improves BECAUSE you use it, not the other way around.

My advice today:

Take that small step. Speak up in your next meeting. Share that idea you’ve been holding back.

Trust me – your future self will thank you.

PS Yes, you’ll make mistakes. Yes, it might feel uncomfortable. That’s exactly how you grow.

If you’re talking to Brits, go with “holiday.” Americans? They’ll expect “vacation.” Global audience? Both work, but watch out – “holiday” can mean those public days off too.

Most German speakers get stuck on this one. They freeze up, worried about picking the wrong word.

But honestly? You’re making it harder than it needs to be.

Want my tip?

Just say “time off.“

It’s clean, clear and works everywhere.

Everyday Examples

• “I need some time off to rest.”
• “Can I take time off next week for my family?”
• “She’s taking time off because of illness.”

What about you? Which version do you usually go for?

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.

---

1️⃣ Quick Win

Don’t add an “s” to information.

❌ I need more informations.
✔ I need more information.

Why?
In English, information is uncountable. It doesn’t have a plural form.
You can say:
✔ a piece of information
✔ some information

---

2️⃣ Real-World English in Action

Denglish rescue:
A client said: I have birthday today.

In English, we say:
✔ It’s my birthday today.
✔ Today is my birthday.

We don’t “have” a birthday in English. We “have” a party or celebration, but the day itself is your birthday.

---

3️⃣ Christine’s Pick

Inspiration Resource: TED Talks — short talks from experts on almost every topic you can imagine. Many have subtitles in English (and other languages) so you can listen and read at the same time.

---

4️⃣ Reader Question

Q: Is it life music or live music?

A: It’s live music — pronounced like laiv (rhymes with jive and hive).
✔ There’s live music at the café tonight.

---

5️⃣ Spotlight

Want to speak English more clearly, confidently and without overthinking?
My 1:1 coaching helps you say what you mean in English — naturally, clearly and with the confidence to lead conversations.
Find out more about my coaching here.