OMG, krass! Ich, Greta, BWL-lerin aus Köln, die Englischkönigin von damals (okay, ist ‘ne Weile her), traue mich endlich wieder an die Weltsprache. 

Business auf Englisch? Mit internationalen Kunden? Hölle, ja! Aber hey, not alone. Mit Christine, der English Conversation Coach, und meinem Englisch-Profi-Boyfriend Franz an der Seite kann nix schiefgehen.

Okay, mein Business-Englisch ist etwas eingerostet, aber hey, dafür ist Christine ja da.

Franz hingegen, der Angeber, plappert schon wie ein Wasserfall.

Heute hat Christine mich erneut auf einen typischen deutschen Fehler hingewiesen, den ich ständig mache. 

Im Englischen verwendet man ja das Simple Present für allgemeine Tatsachen und wiederholte Handlungen,

Christine schmunzelt immer, wenn ich Sätze sage, wie: “I’m working in my office every day.” Für sie ist das Simple Present, also “I work in my office every day“, die richtige Form. 

Sie erklärt mir, dass das Simple Present im Englischen auch für Zustände verwendet wird, die immer gleich sind, wie zum Beispiel “I live in Germany” oder “I’m a career coach”.

Ach ist es schwierig, mich an diese Regel zu gewöhnen. Immer wieder ertappe ich mich dabei, dass ich das Present Continuous verwende, obwohl ich eigentlich das Simple Present benutzen müsste. 

Aber Christine ist geduldig und hilft mir immer wieder, die richtige Form zu finden.

Man sagt nicht: “I’m always getting together with friends at the weekend” (Am Wochenende treffe ich mich immer mit Freunden), sondern einfach nur: “I always get together with friends at the weekend.”

Jetzt habe ich es verstanden. Trotzdem kommt es immer wieder vor, dass ich solche Sätze falsch baue.

Zum Beispiel habe ich neulich zu einem Kollegen gesagt: “I’m not usually going shopping in the evenings” (Normalerweise kaufe ich abends nicht ein), anstatt einfach nur “I don’t usually go shopping in the evenings.”

Christine hat mir den Unterschied so klar erklärt, dass ich jetzt auf jeden Fall bewusster darauf achten werde.

Ja, ich werde die Notizzettel mit “Simple Present” beschriften und an den Schreibtisch kleben! Vielleicht auch an den Kühlschrank?

Deine Greta, die sich langsam, aber sicher verbessert (dank Christine!)

I remember back in the day, when “with deepest gratitude” and “I trust this message finds you well” were the norm in our correspondence.

As a former Bilingual Private Secretary, I’ve witnessed many changes in writing styles over the years. Today, people want clear and simple language they can easily understand.

So, let’s ditch those dusty phrases and update your email writing for the modern world! 

Ready to make your emails shine? Let’s dive in!

Rather than this …	Try this …
I would like to express my gratitude for …	Thank you for …
Kindly be informed …	I wanted to let you know …
I would like to bring to your attention …	I’d like to point out …
I refer to your email dated …	Thank you for your email of …
Please accept my sincerest apologies	My apologies / I apologise
As per our discussion	As we discussed
For your kind consideration	Please review (this document/proposal)
In conclusion …	To sum up / Finally …
I trust this email finds you well	I just wanted to check in
Best regards	Talk soon / See you soon / All the best

Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please contact me if you have any questions. I’d love to help.

 

Have you ever noticed how much we Brits love to chat about the weather?

It’s our favourite national pastime, right up there with queueing and drinking tea! ☕️🌦️ 

One minute we’re basking in the sunshine, the next we’re caught in a downpour. It’s all part of the charm of living in the UK, isn’t it? (Well, that’s what I remember!)

But let’s be honest, we’re never truly satisfied, are we?

If it’s not pouring down outside, we’re complaining it’s too hot. And if it’s not too hot, we’re grumbling it’s too cold. 

It’s a constant cycle of weather dissatisfaction! 😂 

So, next time you find yourself starting a conversation with “Lovely day, isn’t it?” remember, it probably won’t last.

But that’s okay, because it gives us something to talk about. 

Out of curiosity, what’s your favourite type of weather?

PS: This post is meant to be taken lightly and with a dash of British humour. No offence intended.

Forget idioms! You don’t need them to sound natural!

Why? Because idioms can be tricky, even for native speakers! They’re like secret codes, not everyone knows them.

For clear communication, use plain English! Simple words are powerful.

For example, take the saying “to get on like a house on fire.” Does it sound good or bad? It’s actually positive, but if you don’t know the idiom, it can be confusing!

So, how can you sound natural and confident?

• Speak clearly and direct English.
• Use interesting words, but avoid confusing expressions.
• Practise and have fun with English. 

Sure, idioms can impress native speakers… if you use them perfectly! Getting them wrong can lead to confusion or even funny misunderstandings.

Focus on clear communication. Simple English is powerful English.

Want help in making your English clear and effective? Let’s chat!

Feeling overwhelmed and ready to exploded? 

Here’s a helpful trick for improving your English and calming down!

It’s called the Unsent Letter technique. A technique even Abraham Lincoln used!

Write down everything that’s bothering you. Pour out all your thoughts and feelings onto paper or a computer screen.

Let your vocabulary grow as you describe your frustrations in detail, and add some humour or sarcasm if you like!

Here’s why the Unsent Letter is so powerful:

• Freedom of Expression: You can say whatever you want without worrying about causing a conflict.
• Improving Your English: Writing unsent letters is a great way to practise your English in a passionate and authentic way. Try using fancy words and different sentence structures!
• Clarity: Putting your thoughts into words can help you understand your feelings and the situation better.
• Relaxation: Expressing your frustrations can help you feel lighter and more relaxed, allowing you to tackle your day with a clear mind.

Ready to give it a go? 

Here are some prompts to help you get started:

• What specifically is making you upset?
• How are the actions of others affecting your emotions?
• What do you really want to say to someone (even if you shouldn’t)?

Remember, these letters are never meant to be sent! 

Once you’ve written everything down, you can tear up the letter, recycle it or delete it. 

The goal is to release negative feelings and move forward feeling calmer and more in control.

So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, grab a pen or open your computer and try writing an unsent letter. 

Are you wiling to give it a try?