Here’s a simple 4-step formula I learnt from Cognitive Psychologist, LeeAnn Renninger, to help us give clear, helpful feedback, without sounding critical.

Step 1: The Micro-Yes (Because Nobody Likes Surprises)

Start by asking a quick question to prepare the other person. This lets them know feedback is coming and gives them a chance to say yes or no.

Example: “Do you have a minute to chat about the presentation?“

This sets the pace and gets the other person involved from the beginning.

Step 2: Be Specific (No Blur Words!)

Skip vague words like “unprofessional” or “unorganised.” Instead, point out specific things you saw or heard.

Example:  “In the presentation, some of the data wasn’t clear. Next time you could include charts to make it easier to understand.”

Being specific helps the other person know exactly what to work on.

Step 3: Explain the Impact

Tell the person how their actions affected you. This helps them understand why the feedback matters.

Example: “Because the data wasn’t clear, I wasn’t sure what conclusions to draw.“

Explaining the impact creates a connection and makes the feedback more meaningful.

Step 4: Ask a Question

End with a question to involve the other person and turn it into a conversation.

Example: “What do you think about using charts next time?“

Asking a question encourages them to participate and find solutions together.

Bonus Tip: Ask for Feedback Too!

Great feedback givers also ask for feedback on themselves. This shows you’re open to learning and helps you improve.

Remember: Don’t wait for feedback to happen. Ask for it regularly!

Ready to put these tips into action? Try giving feedback using this formula today! You might be surprised at how well it goes.

Why in the world would anyone put a pillow on their fridge?

Well, hold on to your hats, because it’s actually quite a fascinating tradition. Putting a pillow on your fridge is believed to bring you good luck.

So, if you’ve got a spare pillow lying around, why not give it a shot? Just plop it on top of your fridge. And see what happens.

By doing this, you’re not just joining in the fun yourself; you’re also becoming part of a worldwide celebration. Right from the comfort of your kitchen. But let’s be honest, how many of us have ever done this before?

But, it’s not just about the act itself. It’s about the joy, the laughter, and the little bit of silliness it brings into our lives. Because, let’s face it, we all need a good giggle every now and then, don’t we?

So, here’s the plan: snap a selfie of your fridge with its new pillow on top and share it with me. Because being part of something bigger can make us feel extra special.

Now, the big question is: will you join in? Remember, it’s all in good fun. And who knows, you might just sprinkle some extra luck into your home.

Off you go now! Your fridge (and pillow) are waiting for you!

P.S. I have a built-in fridge, so I’ll be putting a pillow on my freezer. I hope the results will be the same! 😉

Or ‘absolutely wallpapered’ after a night out? 

If you’re scratching your head, let me explain. 

Brits have this knack for turning practically any word into a synonym for ‘drunk’—just by adding an ‘-ed’ to the end of it. (British comedian, Michael McIntyre explains in detail!) 

Very much like the Sámi people of northern Europe who have 300 words for snow, Brits have 546 words dedicated to being ‘plastered’, ‘sloshed’, ‘hammered’… All words explaining they’ve had one too many.

This hilarious tradition isn’t a joke—it’s backed by a study from Prof. Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer, who spent a year delving into the British love for booze (and words describing it).

She found out that this quirk is uniquely British—you wouldn’t find it in Germany, for example. 

So, we’ve seen how many words end in ‘-ed’,  but there are also exceptions. These include ‘legless’, ‘tipsy’, ‘merry’, ‘woozy’, ‘squiffy’, ‘tight’ and many more.

And why are there so many ways to say ‘drunk’?

It lets Brits talk about their drinking adventures with a bit of fun, ignoring the not-so-great parts of drinking too much.

So, cheers to Brits enjoying a pint and their clever way with words!

A father turns to his daughter, all smiles, and says, “You’ve done well in your exams! As a reward, I’ve got a car for you. It’s not new, though. I bought it ages ago. But before you take it, pop over to the used car dealer in town and see what they’d offer for it.”

So off she goes. When she returns, she says to her father, “They’d give me €500 for it. They said it’s a wreck.”

Her father just nods and says, “All right. Now, take it to the pawn shop.”

She does as he says and returns with a shrug. “They offered me €100. They said it’s too old.”

“Hmm,” her father murmurs, “Now, why don’t you show it to the car club? Let’s see what they think.”

With a wave, she heads off to the car club. And when she comes back? Her eyes are wide. “They offered me €50,000! They said it’s an old Porsche, a collector’s dream.”

Her dad just smiles. “See, my dear,” he says, “don’t feel bad if people don’t see your worth. It just means you’re in the wrong place. The people who know your value? They’ll appreciate you.“

So here’s the thing: Never sell yourself short. The right people will pay the right price. They’ll see your worth. You just need to find them.

_____________

to sell yourself short = sich unter Wert verkaufen

Heute ging es weiter mit meiner Reise durch die spannende Welt des “Plain English”, dem Konzept, das Christine, meine geduldige Englisch-Trainerin, so oft propagiert.

Natürlich weiß ich, dass Briten, Amerikaner und Co. ihre eigenen Redewendungen und Sprichwörter haben – manchmal so unterschiedlich, dass man als Nicht-Muttersprachler ganz schön ins Grübeln kommen kann.

Genau deswegen ist “Plain English” so wichtig! Es geht darum, so zu kommunizieren, dass alle uns verstehen, unabhängig von ihrer Muttersprache.

Das bedeutet natürlich nicht, dass wir komplett auf Redewendungen verzichten müssen. Aber es ist wichtig, sie bewusst einzusetzen und darauf zu achten, dass sie im jeweiligen Kontext auch von unseren Gesprächspartnern verstanden werden können.

Trotzdem habe ich Christine gebeten, mit mir einige ihrer Lieblingsredewendungen zu üben. Denn bald kommt meine englische Freundin Ruth zu Besuch, und ich möchte sie natürlich mit meinen Sprachkenntnissen beeindrucken (mal sehen, ob’s klappt ).

Zwei Redewendungen haben es mir besonders angetan:

1. “A penny for your thoughts”

Wenn ich in Gedanken versunken bin, fragt Christine oft: “A penny for your thoughts, Greta“. Wörtlich übersetzt bedeutet die Redewendung “Einen Pfennig für deine Gedanken“. Im Englischen wird sie verwendet, um jemanden zu fragen, woran er/sie gerade denkt.

Also übe ich gerade:

“Hey Ruth, you seem lost in thought. A penny for your thoughts?” (Hey Ruth, du siehst so nachdenklich aus. Was geht dir gerade durch den Kopf?)

2. “It takes two to tango”

(Ob Christine merkt, wie oft sie es benutzt?) Wie Christine erklärt, bedeutet diese Redewendung, dass man für eine erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit oder Beziehung immer zwei braucht. Es kann sowohl im privaten als auch im beruflichen Kontext verwendet werden.

Ich weiß, dass Ruth im Moment Probleme mit ihrem Chef hat. Vielleicht kann ich sie zum Nachdenken anregen, indem ich sage:

“Remember, Ruth, ‘It takes two to tango’. Even though it’s tough right now, a relationship always requires two people to be committed. Perhaps this is an opportunity for something new and better?“

Mit diesen beiden Redewendungen im Gepäck bin ich bestens gerüstet, Ruth mit meinem neu erworbenen Sprachwissen zu beeindrucken… und ihr vielleicht sogar ein Lächeln aufs Gesicht zu zaubern.

Heute haben wir einige Redewendungen geübt! Aber zuerst will ich diese zwei mir einprägen.

Ich bin gespannt, welche weiteren Schätze Christine mir noch näherbringen wird.

Bis nächste Woche!

Greta, die neugierige und ungeduldige Englisch-Schülerin

You have some amazing news, but then someone bursts your bubble with grammar talk. ‍

That’s what happens when you say, “I have a good news.” 

“News” is a word that can’t be counted (sorry for getting technical). That just means it doesn’t pair with ‘a’ or ‘an’ like other nouns.

Instead, you can say:

• “I’ve got good news!”
• “I’ve got some good news!”
• “I have a piece of good news!” (For something specific)

Now go ahead and share your awesome news with confidence!