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...
by Christine Burgmer | Jul 3, 2026 | Sparks of English |
A Mini Typology of English Learner Behaviours After years of working with executives, founders, consultants and specialists, I’ve noticed something delightful. No matter how senior or experienced someone is, certain English‑communication behaviours appear again and...
by Christine Burgmer | Jul 2, 2026 | Sparks of English |
Let’s make this official… 👋 We’ve been connected for a while. Or maybe you’ve just found me. Either way, here’s a little about me. I was born and grew up in England, but I’ve lived in Germany for more years than I care to admit. I took up...
