Ever tripped over your words in English and felt that hot rush of embarrassment? 

You’re not alone. People everywhere face this.

But guess what? Those slip-ups are your stepping stones to fluency.

COME AND JOIN ME

My Speed Networking sessions are perfect to help you practise. It’s just you and another person in a breakout room. It’s a safe, real place for learning.

THE SECRET SAUCE

The more mistakes you make, the faster you learn. Why? Each slip-up is feedback. Each faux-pas a lesson in disguise. 💡

EMBRACE YOUR MISTAKES

Here’s the thing: Each mistake shows you’re human. Being perfect is boring. Show resilience. Turn those errors into guides on your journey to confidence. 🚀

TURN MISTAKES INTO WINS

Stumbled over a word? Used the wrong tense? Great! Your brain’s working hard to correct it. This helps you remember the right usage next time—and makes you more mindful. 🧠

TURN LEMONS INTO LEMONADE 🍋

Have you ever turned a linguistic lemon into lemonade? Share your funniest ‘oops’ moment with me. And let’s celebrate our courage to keep chatting, mistakes and all! 🥳

JOIN ME!

Don’t let nerves hold you back. Join one of my next Speed Networking sessions. Let’s stumble, bumble, and ultimately speak with confidence together.

Each mistake brings you closer to mastery. See you there? 💬

Ah, idioms. Those quirky little phrases that make English so colourful and, let’s be honest, sometimes confusing.

Did you know that there’s an idiom in English, “to kick the bucket,” which means “to die”?

Imagine the confusion of a non-native speaker hearing someone say their grandfather “kicked the bucket” and picturing an old man literally giving a bucket a good kick! 

Idioms can feel like a secret code you haven’t cracked yet if you’re not regularly chatting with native speakers.

But fear not! I’ve picked out five idioms that you might hear me use now and again. They’re some of my favourites, and I think they’re pretty fun. Plus, they add a bit of flair to everyday conversation (if you know others will understand you or you are prepared to explain what they mean). 

Let’s dive in.

1. 24/7: This one’s a classic. It means “all the time” or “non-stop.” Like when someone asks me if I’m available to answer their grammar questions, and I say, “Sure, I’m here 24/7!” (Well, almost. Even language trainers need sleep.)
2. Butterflies in my stomach: No, I haven’t swallowed a bunch of insects. This idiom means feeling nervous or anxious. Picture this: It’s like the feeling you get before a big presentation or when you’re about to ask someone on a date. Fluttery, right?
3. Easier said than done: This is for all those brilliant ideas that seem simple until you try to do them. Like my resolution to learn the ukulele. Easier said than done, especially when my fingers feel like they’ve run a marathon after just five minutes of practice.
4. Every cloud has a silver lining: This means that every difficult situation has a positive aspect. It’s a nice way to remind someone (or yourself) to look on the bright side. Like when your internet goes down, and you’re forced to take a break from endless scrolling. Silver lining: more time to read a book!
5. Finding a needle in a haystack: Used to describe something that’s extremely hard to find. Like trying to locate your keys in the mess of your living room. Or finding a decent movie on a streaming service without spending an hour browsing.

Do you have a favourite English idiom?

Gestern habe ich mich mit Christine zusammengetan, um an meiner Aussprache zu arbeiten.

Auf ihrer Website habe ich einige knifflige Wörter gefunden.

Ich bin also auf eine Fundgrube von Wörtern gestoßen, die selbst die besten von uns zum Stolpern bringen. Ja, mich eingeschlossen!

Unter Christines Anleitung habe ich mich an diese kniffligen Wörter herangewagt, eins nach dem anderen. Übung macht den Meister, nicht wahr?

Hier ist meine Hitliste, d. h. die Wörter, die ich so lange üben werde, bis sie mir wie Butter von der Zunge gleiten:

• kilometre: Warum sage ich immer “Kilometer”? Eine hartnäckige Gewohnheit des Gehirns, vielleicht?
• espresso: Ja, das ist im Deutschen auch so. Aber treffe ich es jedes Mal? Nö. Dieser schwer fassbare perfekte “s”-Laut…
• mischievous: Der hier ist ein Biest. Bedeutet ‘schelmisch,’ aber es zu sagen? Ziemlich schwer.
• mauve: Eine schicke Art, lila zu sagen. Fancy, aber weiß wirklich jemand, welche Farbe das ist?
• survey: Einfach, aber schlüpfrig. Einfach, aber rutschig, wie ein kurzer Blick auf die Ergebnisse einer Umfrage.
• jewellery: Schmuck. Einfach im Deutschen, ein verheddertes Halskettchen im Englischen.
• niche: Ist es “neesh” oder “nitch”? Ich schwöre, ich mache es richtig… meistens.
• comfortable:  Schluck die Silben runter, Baby! Wie auf einer Couch entspannen, aber über die Kissen stolpern.
• participant: Zungenbrecher-Alarm! Der persönliche Hürdenlauf der Zunge.

Auch LinkedIn. Frank sagt “link-ed-in”. Christine? Völlig anders! (Wer hätte gedacht, dass zwei Silben so umstritten sein können?)

Meine Suche nach der richtigen Aussprache geht weiter. Pass auf, Welt. Ich komme mit perfekt ausgesprochenen Wörtern zu euch.

Und ich freue mich!

Deine Greta

Let’s shake things up a bit, shall we? 

When someone asks you, “How are you?“, what’s your usual answer? Do you stick to the usual “I’m fine, thanks,” “Not so bad,” or “Could be better”? Maybe you’re a bit more cheerful with, “I’m doing well, thank you.” 🌤️

But what if we tried something different and added some humour? Imagine just how much more fun our conversations could be. 😂

So, let’s break the routine, add some quirkiness—and show our fun side. 🚀

Next time someone asks, “How are you?“, surprise them—say something unexpected like:

• “Just one step away from ruling the world.”
• “Feeling as awesome as a unicorn on roller skates.”
• “I’m like a squirrel on espresso—excited and a bit jumpy!”
• “I still haven’t worked that out.”
• “Busy being fabulous, as usual.”
• “Just waiting for my big break into stardom.”
• “I’d be doing better if I had a million euros and a pet cheetah, but other than that, I’m okay!“
• “I’m 45 but I feel like 65.” Or “I’m 60 but I feel like 30.”
• “Feeling more like a dancing queen than a grumpy bear this morning.”
• I’m doing so well, I might just burst into song.” 
• “Honestly, never better. I woke up feeling like I could win a gold medal… at napping.”
• “My energy level is at an all-time high, like Tom the cat chasing Jerry the mouse all over the house.”

Adding a dash of humour can certainly make everyday interactions more enjoyable and memorable! 😄👍

How could you respond?

Germans and potato salad—a match made in heaven, right? At least, that’s what I thought, standing in the kitchen, determined to surprise my then-boyfriend (now-husband) who was busy tending to the garden.

Armed with a cookery book I found lurking in the kitchen cupboard, I excitedly flipped to the potato salad recipe. It began with a cheerful, “Man nehme Pellkartoffeln und schneidet sie in feine Scheiben...”

Hold on a second. “Pellkartoffeln? What exactly does that mean?” 

A quick check in the dictionary told me it means “potatoes in their skins.”

You’d think a whizz-kid like me, who did well in cooking theory exams at school, wouldn’t struggle with this. But cooking theory is one thing. Actual cooking? Now that’s a whole new game.

So, there I was, scrubbing and slicing potatoes as thin as paper, and tossing them into my salad dressing. All while keeping it hush-hush so as not to spoil the surprise.

Fast forward a few hours. Dinner time came. I served my pride and joy—my potato salad. 

And can you guess what happened next? 

My boyfriend burst out laughing. “Oh dear, Christine,” he said, wiping a tear from his eye. ”Pellkartoffeln means potatoes COOKED in their skins!”

Can you believe it? Talk about a facepalm moment. 🤦

Has anything similar happened to you before? I’d love to know.

So what did I learn?

1. There’s no shame in saying, “Hey, I’m not sure what this means.“
2. Mistakes happen, but that’s how we learn. In the end, the experience (and hopefully the delicious food) is what matters most.

Have you had any similar cooking mishaps?

Do you ever feel like English is a giant puzzle you just can’t solve? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Learning a new language takes time and practice, but it can be a lot of fun.

Today, we’re going to talk about a website called “News in Levels.”

This website has news stories about all sorts of topics, but the cool part is they come in three different levels.

• Level 1 is like having bike stabilisers you need when learning to cycle. It uses simple words and short sentences, making it perfect for beginners.
• Level 2 is a little bit harder, and
• Level 3 is for those who are almost ready to ride their bike without stabilisers.

But wait, there’s more. News in Levels doesn’t just have boring news stories. They also have audio and video clips.

Interested in The EU after the election? Check it out here.

Or how about ice cream made from maggots? Yes, you heard that right. Find it here.

Or maybe beer made of wastewater? If you’re brave enough, it’s here.

News in Levels has something for everyone. So, if you’re looking for a fun and easy way to improve your English, check it out.

You might even learn something new (and hopefully not too gross) along the way.