A German friend once told me they’d arranged to meet a British business partner for the first time.
The partner was picking them up from the airport.

In the email, my friend wrote:

“When you see me, please wink so I know it’s you.”

What they meant: raise your hand and wave. 👋
What the partner read: close one eye slowly, like a secret signal. 😉

Just imagine that.
One person waving enthusiastically.
The other… blinking at them in the arrivals hall.

It’s funny.
It’s harmless.
And it’s a reminder: language isn’t just about knowing the words — it’s about knowing how they’re used.

These little mix-ups happen to all of us.
They make great stories — and even better teachers.

💬 What’s your favourite (or funniest) language misunderstanding?

She wrote the comment.
Re-read it.
Deleted it.
Again.

Why do confident professionals freeze when it comes to writing in English?

It’s rarely the content.
You know your stuff.
You’ve got the insights.
You’ve lived the experience.

But the fear creeps in…

What if my grammar’s wrong?
What if I sound unprofessional?
What if they notice I’m not a native speaker?

So you hesitate.
You hold back.
You stay silent.

Here’s the shift:
Stop aiming for perfect English.
Start sharing your expertise.

Nobody’s counting your mistakes.
But they will notice your silence.

Native speakers care about ideas.
They respect people who speak up across language barriers.
They want to hear you — not just polished phrases.

Start small:

• React to a post
• Write one short comment
• Share one quick story
  Then do it again next week.

Your words are worth reading — even with the wrong tense or a missing article.

💬 When was the last time you judged someone for a grammar mistake? Exactly.

Today you’ll find out why ‘soll’ isn’t always ‘should‘.

It’s one of the most common Business English mix-ups I see — and it’s not just a ‘tiny grammar detail’.  It can completely change your meaning.

• Rules: “I’m supposed to…”
• Advice: “You should…”
• Plan: “The train is due…”
• Rumour: “Apparently…”

But if you use ‘should’ for all of them…

Advice sounds like rules.
Rules sound like suggestions.
And schedules sound like guesses.

In global business, that can mean deadlines missed, instructions misunderstood and agreements that never happen.

Does this little chart below help? (💡 Notice how in 3 out of 4 cases, ‘should’ changes the meaning — sometimes subtly, sometimes completely.)

If you’d like the full breakdown (with examples and a quick-reference chart), here’s my guide: German soll/sollte vs English should

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

Not: We see us tomorrow. But: See you tomorrow.

Why?
In English, we don’t use “see” reflexively in this way.
You’re really saying, “I will see you tomorrow” — but in friendly speech, we drop “I will” and simply say, “See you tomorrow.”

2️⃣ Real-World English in Action

A client told me: “I am since five years in this company”.

In German, we say: “Ich bin seit fünf Jahren in dieser Firma.”
In English, we use the present perfect for this kind of “since” phrase:
“I have been in this company for five years.”

3️⃣ Christine’s Pick

Podcast I Recommend: 6 Minute English by BBC Learning English — short episodes on interesting topics, at a clear pace, with transcripts you can read as you listen. Perfect for B1/B2 learners.

4️⃣ Reader Question

Q: Can I write “I’m looking forward to see you” in an email?
A: Close, but no. After “look forward to,” use the -ing form:
“I’m looking forward to seeing you.”

5️⃣ Spotlight

Want more quick wins for your English?
I’ve put together 50 English Tips you can read in just a few minutes a day.
They’re practical, easy to use, and perfect if you want to sound more natural without learning complicated rules.
Get them here on Gumroad.

Maybe we’ve even spoken it. 😉

You’re in a meeting and someone says:

“Can you please control the numbers again before we go into the conference?”

Or:

“I was in the Home Office today and had a meeting with my Chef.”

Sounds fine to German ears.
But to international colleagues? Confusing.

In real Business English:

• Control = manage, govern, have power over (not “check”)
• Home Office = in the UK, it’s the government department for immigration, policing, security and passports. In US English, it means your work space at home or a company’s main headquarters — not “working from home” in general.
• Chef = a professional cook (your boss is your manager or boss)

The problem isn’t bad English.
It’s thinking we’re speaking English… when we’re actually speaking Denglish.

The good news?

Once you notice these habits, they’re easy to swap for real Business English.

And that small shift opens doors — and builds trust — with global partners.

💬 Your turn: Which Denglish expressions have you caught yourself using this week?