“I do it last year,” he said proudly.
And I smiled, because I’ve heard that sentence a thousand times.

It’s the German brain doing gymnastics:
Ich habe das letztes Jahr gemacht → I have done it last year → I do it last year.

Totally logical.
Just not English.

Here’s the simple fix:
👉 Finished time → I did
👉 Ongoing time → I have done

✅ I did it yesterday.
✅ I have done it many times.

That’s all. No grammar book. No guilt.

So if you’ve ever said “I do it last year,” don’t panic.
You’ve just spoken fluent German-English.

And the best part?
Everybody still understands you.

🔥 Try this:

Notice one sentence today where you’d normally say ‘I have done’ – and check if it’s actually finished time.

When I asked Beatrice what she does, she paused.
“I’m a mentor for… side partners?” she said – half asking, half explaining.

That tiny pause – the “Is this how you say it?” moment – happens to so many German professionals when they describe their work in English.

It’s not a grammar problem.
It’s a confidence one.

Because when your German brain wants precision, your English brain is searching for flow.

In German, job titles often say it all.
In English, we frame what we do: who we help, how we help, and why it matters.

So instead of translating your title, focus on your purpose.
Start with who you help and how.

✅ “I help women grow their side business into a steady source of income.”
✅ “I help international teams communicate clearly in English.”

That’s it. Clear. Short. Natural.

Try this simple structure:

“I help [who] [do what] so they can [benefit].”

For example:
“I help German professionals speak clear English so they can lead meetings with confidence.”

Confidence in English doesn’t come from perfect grammar. It comes from clarity.

When you sound clear, you feel clear.

🔥 Your Spark for today:
Write one short English sentence that explains what you do. No jargon, no translation.

If it feels natural when you say it out loud, you’ve found your voice.

PS: Want to check if your sentence sounds natural?
Send it to me. I’ll happily have a look.

Welcome to this week’s Sparks Plus — your quick, practical boost for clearer, more confident English.
Six short sections, all easy to read and use right away.

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1️⃣ Quick Win

Fun and funny aren’t the same.

• Fun = something enjoyable
  ✔ The party was fun.

• Funny = something that makes you laugh
  ✔ The party was funny. Everyone wore costumes.

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2️⃣ Real-World English in Action

Denglish rescue:
A client said: I’m working since two hours on this presentation.

In English, we say:
✔ I’ve been working on this presentation for two hours.

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3️⃣ Christine’s Pick

VOA Learning English – Words and Their Stories
Short, clear audio stories that explain everyday English phrases and idioms. Perfect if you enjoy learning where expressions come from and how to use them naturally.
Explore it here.

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4️⃣ Reader Question

Q: Should I say explain me this?

A: No. In English, we say:
✔ Explain this to me.

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5️⃣ AI Prompt to Test

Copy this into ChatGPT and see what comes back:

“Give me 5 simple, polite ways to disagree in English at work. Keep them short and clear, B1/B2 level.”

Try it and see which one you’d actually use!

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6️⃣ Spotlight

Need to sound clearer and more confident in meetings?
My guide Real-World English for Meetings is especially for professionals who sometimes feel like the only non-native speaker in the room.
Inside, you’ll find phrases and strategies to help you:

• Speak up (even if you’re nervous)
• Ask for clarity without apologising
• Stay calm and clear, even when others speak fast

Get it here.

Not because you should use them, but because you’ll probably hear them.

📌 “Actions speak louder than words.”
👉 What you do matters more than what you say.
(Think leadership talks, feedback, teamwork.)

📌 “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
👉 Don’t make decisions based on appearances.
(Used for people, products or ideas.)

📌 “The early bird catches the worm.”
👉 Start early, succeed more often.
(Still popular in productivity chats.)

You don’t need to sprinkle proverbs into your English.
But knowing them means you won’t get lost when others do.

💬 Which English proverb have you heard most often?

Sometimes you need wisdom… and sometimes you just need a laugh.

😂 “Age is something that doesn’t matter, unless you are a cheese.” — Billie Burke
😂 “Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.” — Jim Carrey
😂 “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?” — Steven Wright
😂 “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.” — Dalai Lama
😂 “A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.” — Steve Martin

Life doesn’t have to be heavy to be meaningful. A little humour often makes the deepest truths stick.

💬 Which quote here made you smile the most?