You’re sitting in a café, trying to remember a word in English. You turn to your colleague and ask, “What means…?“

Oops! It sounds as if it should be right, but it’s not.

Instead, here’s what you should say:

1. “How do you say [word] in English?”

2. “What’s the English word for [something]?”

These questions are much clearer and correct.

Picture yourself confidently asking for the word you need and your colleague giving you the perfect answer. Much better, right?

Remember this tip, and you’ll sound like a pro in no time.

Want to learn some fun, new English words? Here are three playful ones to try out.

Our first word is “procrastibaking.”

Ever had a big project due, but instead of working, you found yourself in the kitchen whipping up a batch of biscuits? That’s procrastibaking. The sweet smell of freshly baked treats fills your home, but your real work is still waiting.

Our next word is “coffice.”

Imagine sitting in a bustling coffee shop, surrounded by people typing away on their laptops, answering emails and sipping lattes. That cosy corner of the café has become their “coffice”—a mix of coffee shop and office. It’s a great way to vary your work environment while enjoying your favourite brew.

Finally, let’s talk about “bromance.”

This refers to a close, platonic friendship between two men who love hanging out together. They might watch sports, play video games, or just chat about life. It’s like the bond of brothers but between best friends. (Just to be clear, it’s non-romantic.)

Have you ever procrastibaked, or do you prefer working from your coffice? I’d love to know!

Ever tried playing the ukulele?

I remember how wobbly my fingers felt on the strings at first? Simple chords seemed impossible. But I kept going, practising every day.

I started with basics—like “Happy Birthday.” Slowly, my fingers learned where to go, how to strum without a tangle. Eventually, they danced on their own.

Learning English is just like that. Your first “Hello, how are you?” might feel awkward. Maybe you stumble, but with each day, it gets easier.

Begin with simple greetings and short phrases—like strumming a few notes. Piece together sentences. Sure, sometimes you’ll hit the wrong note, but that’s okay!

Trust me, I’ve made plenty of mistakes! The secret? To keep going. Every musician and language learner hits bumps. Keep playing, keep speaking. Little by little, it clicks.

One day, you’ll chat in English or play that song without thinking. Remember, every expert was once a beginner.

So, keep practising. Keep speaking. Soon, your sentences will be music to our ears. 🎶

Ever wondered what Oktoberfest feels like? Let me take you there.

Imagine a huge fairground buzzing with happy people in colourful clothes. The air is thick with the smells of sizzling sausages and fresh pretzels. That’s Oktoberfest.

Now picture a tent as large as a football field. Inside, long wooden tables are filled with people laughing, singing and sharing stories. Waiters rush by, balancing massive mugs of golden beer—some carrying up to ten at once.

And the outfits! Men sport leather shorts called lederhosen, while women twirl in bright, flowing dirndls.

Although I missed it this year (I was in London), my friends’ stories paint a clear picture:  Oktoberfest isn’t just about the beer. It’s a celebration of food, fun and friendship that you won’t want to miss.

What do you think? Is Oktoberfest all about the beer or all about the atmosphere?

Uff, heute war wieder Englisch-Tag und mein Kopf brummt wie ein Bienenstock.

Christine, unsere Sprach-Zauberin, hat sich vorgenommen, uns den Unterschied zwischen “simple past” und “present perfect” beizubringen – und zwar “British style”. Als ob Englisch nicht schon kompliziert genug wäre.

Also, da hocke ich wieder mit Franz (Mr. “Ich-schaue-nur-noch-BBC”), und Christine legt los. Und ich denke mir: “Moment mal, war das nicht das, was wir letzte Woche hatten? Past ist doch past, oder?” Ha! Von wegen!

Christine erklärt’s uns dann so:

• “Simple past” ist für Aktionen, die komplett abgeschlossen sind. Wie “I studied BWL in Cologne” (Ja, das hab ich tatsächlich getan, auch wenn’s sich manchmal anfühlt, als wäre es in einem früheren Leben gewesen).
• “Present perfect” ist für Dinge, die in der Vergangenheit passiert sind, aber noch relevant sind. Wie “I’ve forgotten most of my English” (Traurig, aber wahr!).

Und dann kommt der Hammer: Die Briten, sagt Christine, lieben das “present perfect” wie ihre Afternoon Tea. Sie benutzen es ständig, besonders mit Wörtern wie “just“, “already” und “yet“.

Franz, dieser Besserwisser, ruft gleich: “Oh, I’ve just understood that.” (Angeber!)

Ich sitze da und denke: “Great, jetzt muss ich nicht nur Englisch lernen, sondern auch noch britisches Englisch?“

Aber dann bringt Christine ein Beispiel, das sogar ich verstehe:

Sie sagt: “Greta, in American English you might say ‘I already ate’. But a Brit would say ‘I’ve already eaten’.“

Und dann macht’s KLICK! Ich rufe: “Oh, I get it! It’s like saying ‘Ich habe schon gegessen’ instead of ‘Ich aß schon’!“

Christine strahlt, Franz guckt beeindruckt (Ha! Wer ist jetzt der Klugscheißer?), und ich fühle mich, als hätte ich gerade die Queen beim Tee übertrumpft.

Aber dann fragt Christine: “So, Greta, have you ever been to London?“

Und ich, ganz stolz auf mein neues Wissen, antworte: “No, I’ve never been to London, but I went to Paris last year.”

Bäm! Simple past für die abgeschlossene Reise nach Paris, present perfect für meine andauernde Nicht-Erfahrung mit London. Ich bin ein Genie.

Mein Weg zu “proper British English” ist noch lang, aber hey – “I’ve already made progress.” (Siehst du, was ich da gemacht habe? Present perfect, Baby!)

So, jetzt muss ich aber los.

Bis zum nächsten linguistischen Abenteuer, 

Deine (fast) anglophile Greta

You’ve invited English-speaking guests to a traditional German meal—Rouladen.

Now they want to know how you made them:

• Ingredients: Thin slices of beef, tangy mustard, bacon, onions, pickled gherkin
• Preparation: Spread mustard on beef slices, stuff with bacon, onions, and pickles. Roll up into parcels.
• Cooking: Simmer in a rich gravy until tender.

Rouladen are the ultimate German comfort food. They’re perfect for special occasions or Sunday lunches. I often prepare them on Boxing Day.

So, tell your guests they’re experiencing a taste of German tradition and hospitality. And trust me, they’ll be asking for seconds!