Let me tell you about Anna, a client of mine who’s truly passionate about her work. (To honour her privacy, I’m using a different name.)

Recently, Anna surprised me by volunteering to lead a tour of her company’s production plant for potential clients from the US.

She’s planning to give them an in-depth look at the company’s operations, explaining each step along the way.

Even though Anna’s a bit nervous about speaking in English during the tour (we only started working together about a month ago), she’s super excited to share her expertise with the visiting group. And of course, she’s not opposed to the idea of practising her English.

Anna’s dedication and willingness to step out of her comfort zone and take on new challenges is truly inspiring. It’s heartwarming to see her grow and succeed in such a short time.

If you’re also looking to take on new challenges and grow in your work, feel free to reach out.

I’m here to help you reach your potential, just like I’ve been supporting Anna

Have you ever stumbled upon an English word and racked your brain for the perfect German match, but couldn’t find a suitable German equivalent?

Don’t worry. You’re not alone. 

Let’s chat about two of them: “cheesy” and “binge-watch.”

Starting with “cheesy.”

When you hear it, you might dream of melting mozzarella or a gooey grilled cheese. But when Brits or Americans refer to something as “cheesy,” they don’t necessarily mean something that’s tasty. It’s more of a way of saying that something is kitschy or overly sentimental. 

Think about it. Was the last time you watched that romantic movie really heart-wrenching, or was it just “cheesy”?

Now, let’s look at “binge-watch.”

You’ve probably had this experience. Your new favourite show comes out on Netflix and before you know it, you’ve stayed up all night and watched two seasons in one go.

Congratulations! You’re officially a binge-watcher! Yes, that’s right: we don’t have an exact German word for that either.

Well, that wraps up our mini trek through translation tricky spots! 

Which other English expressions do you think are untranslatable? 

 

English is the world language par excellence. It’s the language of business, science and culture. Anyone who speaks English has access to a world of possibilities.

However, learning a new language can be a challenge. It requires time, effort and discipline.

But guess what? There’s a cool trick to make it easier!

The trick is to be curious.

When you’re curious, you’re motivated to learn something new. You’re willing to invest time and effort.

But how can you spark that curiosity?

Here are some tips:

• Find something that interests you. What do you love? What do you want to learn?
• Look for English content that deals with your interests. This could include books, films, music, podcasts or online articles.
• Try to learn English in context. When you read or hear something that interests you, it’s easier to understand.

For example:

• If you love music, listen to English songs or watch music videos.
• If you enjoy watching films, check out films or TV shows on Netflix.
• If you’re a bookworm, try English books or online articles.
• If you like staying up to date on current affairs, listen to English news broadcasts or podcasts.

When you spark your curiosity, you’ll learn much faster and more easily.

It’s New Year’s Day. Today is a great day to start a new routine.

Are you ready?

Welcome to 2024!

It’s not just any old year—it’s a leap year! That means we get an extra day of excitement at the end of February, as we drive into this unique and promising year together.

You know, leap years come with all sorts of quirky superstitions and fascinating traditions in different cultures. Some people believe the added day brings good luck, while others view it with a tinge of scepticism.

Imagine being born on 29th February—what do you think? People call those special babies “leap day babies” or “Leaplings,” and they only get to have a proper birthday party every four years.

But in Scotland, it’s thought that babies born on leap day might have a tough life ahead—how strange is that?

Now, here’s an interesting tradition from Ireland: women can propose to their partners on leap day. (Sounds a bit old-fashioned, doesn’t it?)

Some folks think it’s unlucky to get married during a leap year. They believe that marriages on leap day often end in divorce.

Whether you embrace these superstitions or debunk them, the most important thing is to stay optimistic and open to change.

So, let’s kick off this leap year with a big leap of enthusiasm and curiosity! Are you ready for an exciting journey through 2024?

Now, here’s a question for you: What quirky customs do you know for the leap year?