by Christine Burgmer | Jul 13, 2026 | Sparks of English |
Why ‘Smoking’ isn’t English You’re invited to a black-tie event. You tell your English-speaking colleague you’ll wear your smoking. They pause. “Your… what?” In German, a Smoking is that elegant formal jacket. In...
by Christine Burgmer | Jul 10, 2026 | Sparks of English |
Is it “headquarter” or “headquarters”? You’re in a meeting, about to mention your company’s main office. You reach for the word and pause. Is it “headquarter” or “headquarters”? It’s always...
by Christine Burgmer | Jul 9, 2026 | Sparks of English |
You don’t need another tip You saved the article. “Watch English shows. Find a language partner. Stay curious.” None of it was new. You’d heard it before. Here’s the catch. Reading advice feels productive. You finish the article feeling...
by Christine Burgmer | Jul 8, 2026 | Sparks of English |
Your brain isn’t broken. It’s just busy. Speaking your own language feels easy. It isn’t. It’s one of the hardest jobs your brain does. You just got so good at it that you stopped noticing. Now do it in English. You’re looking for the...
by Christine Burgmer | Jul 7, 2026 | Sparks of English |
A gentler word than “should” You mean well, so you say, “You should try this.” Or, “You should speak up.” The problem is that “should” can sound like advice. Even with good intentions, it can sound like you’re...
by Christine Burgmer | Jul 6, 2026 | Sparks of English |
What “international business English” really is Picture a meeting. A German, Brazilian, Korean, Finn. None grew up speaking English. The call runs in English anyway. Someone says, “Sorry, my English isn’t very good.” Good by what standard? No one in...
