Ever feel like some people can chat with anyone, while you struggle to keep a conversation going? 

Don’t worry, it’s a skill anyone can learn! The secret? Being genuinely interested in others!

Think about it … Wouldn’t you rather talk to someone who wants to hear about your day, than someone who only talks about themselves? 

Author Frank Crane said it best: “The key to being a good conversationalist is probably a genuine unselfish interest in others. That, and practice”.

So, how do you show you care? Here are three tips:

• Ask questions! What do you like to do for fun? Where are you from? People love to talk about themselves, so give them a chance!
• Listen carefully! Don’t just wait for your turn to speak. Pay attention and show you’re interested in what the other person has to say.
• Be curious! Don’t be afraid to ask follow-up questions. It shows you’re engaged and want to learn more.

Conversation is a two-way street! By being a good listener and showing a genuine interest in others, you’ll be a conversation champ in no time!

P.S.: Practice makes progress! Talk to different people, ask questions—and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You’ll get better with every conversation!

Now go out there and chat away.

You mishear a word or a phrase and make up a new one. 

That’s what we call an eggcorn. 

The new word or phrase might even sound better than the original.

Let’s take “for all intents and purposes” (im Grunde), for example.

You might hear people say, “for all intensive purposes”.

Both phrases can be understood. But it’s the first one that is correct.

Here are some other funny eggcorns you might hear:

• old wise tale instead of old wives’ tale (das Ammenmärchen)
• escape goat instead of scapegoat (der Sündenbock)
• nip it in the butt instead of nip it in the bud (im Keim ersticken)
• mute point instead of moot point (ein strittiger Punkt)
• eardrop instead of eavesdrop (jmdm belauschen)
• wet your appetite instead of whet your appetite (deinen Appetit anregen)

So, next time you catch yourself using a funny new word or phrase, remember, you might just be creating an eggcorn!

Have you ever created one without even realising it at first?  

Language is always changing. New words and phrases appear all the time. 

Keep learning and having fun with English!

You’d love to feel confident in those international meetings, speak English comfortably, and make wonderful connections with other business people?

But you feel super uncomfortable just thinking about practising?

Relax! That’s where my free Speed Networking sessions come in!

I know how scary using English at work can be.  That’s why I created these sessions.

I want to offer you a relaxed and exciting way to:

• Boost your English skills: Talk naturally, get fluent faster, and feel more confident speaking English for work—all in a safe and friendly zone!
• Grow your network: Meet other cool business people from different fields. Who knows who you might meet and what amazing opportunities could come from it?
• Learn from each other: Share ideas, swap stories, and pick up tips from other experts in the group.

So, how do we make this magic happen?

• Organised fun: I have a clear plan for each session with short chats, so everyone gets a chance to talk and connect.
• Icebreaker helpers: We start with conversation starters to get things flowing and make the chats interesting.
• No pressure!: We focus on talking naturally—and don’t worry about making mistakes.

These free Speed Networking sessions twice a month are the perfect mix. Practise your English and build wonderful business connections—all at the same time!

Ready to boost your English for work? 

Sign up for my next Speed Networking session and experience the magic of connecting and learning in a fun and dynamic way.

You might be surprised at how much you can achieve!

P.S.  Perhaps Margot Dimi’s words can convince you: “Englisch lernt und trainiert man am Besten, indem man es spricht. Genau das ist bei Christine Burgmer ganz einfach via Zoom möglich. Ganz nebenbei lernt man auch noch wunderbare Menschen kennen. 5/5 Sterne von Herzen für ein wunderbares Angebot!“

My textbooks said Germans were sticklers for order.

My first day at work in Hamburg? Well, let’s just say the bus stop experience was a shock! 

Determined not to be late, I arrived at the bus stop way too early. Feeling like a model of efficiency, I planted myself firmly behind the bus stop sign.

Now, this is where things got interesting. 

As more people trickled in, they completely ignored the imaginary queue in my head.

Some stood casually in front of the sign, others just chilled to the side. 

Panic started to bubble up inside me. Didn’t these Germans believe in queues?  Didn’t they see the responsible newcomer patiently waiting?

After what felt like an eternity, the bus finally showed up. Everyone, including the apparent line-ignoring rebels, surged forward in a frantic scramble. 

And guess who ended up shoved onto the bus last? Yes, me! 

Flustered and a tad embarrassed, I vowed never to be caught so unprepared again.

It was a valuable cultural lesson, learned the hard way. 

Today I know German bus queues are a bit more relaxed than the textbooks let on. 

But hey, at least it makes an unforgettable story for my very first day at work in Germany.  Many, many years ago.

Forget your list of pros and cons. Sometimes shopping is all about the heart! 

In fact, almost 2 out of 3 people prefer to buy things from companies that care about the same things they do.

That got me thinking about why I started living an organic lifestyle over 40 years ago. (That’s quite a while ago, isn’t it?)

I still remember being the very first person to buy vegetables from a friend’s grandmother’s garden, and dairy products from a nearby organic milk farm. Plus, I was one of the founding members of our local organic shop—a place that provided everything the garden couldn’t—bread, eggs, chocolate, fruit, nuts, muesli, legumes, toiletries and more.

Of course, I’ve heard the rumours about ‘fake organic’ products lurking on the shelves. But here’s the thing. Many organic brands go through strict certification processes to prove their authenticity. (Just look for the labels that say a product has met strict guidelines for being truly organic.)

So why did I choose this path?

Well, there are several reasons.

I believe it’s good for my family because it means fewer chemicals and additives in our food and personal care items. And, it’s good for the planet because it supports farming methods that protect the environment and treat animals well. 

After all, most of us make decisions based on how we feel, not just what makes sense on paper

PS: Do you like to support companies that share what you care about?