8 expressions I wouldn’t teach my clients

by Christine Burgmer | Aug 19, 2026 | Sparks of English | 0 comments

8 expressions I wouldn’t teach my clients People often ask me, “Should I learn lots of idioms and funny English expressions?” My answer? Not at the beginning. Expressions like: hit the hay going to see a man about a dog in the departure lounge not...

The German word English speakers wish they had

by Christine Burgmer | Aug 18, 2026 | Sparks of English | 0 comments

The German word English speakers wish they had Have you ever had a moment where you know exactly what you want to say in German, but English just doesn’t seem to have the right word? Take ‘Fingerspitzengefühl.’ It’s a beautiful German word. It...

Why is the first word after “Dear” capitalised?

by Christine Burgmer | Aug 17, 2026 | Sparks of English | 0 comments

Why is the first word after “Dear” capitalised? A small detail. A common mistake. And something German speakers often notice when writing emails in English. In German, we write: “Sehr geehrter Herr Müller,vielen Dank für Ihre Nachricht.” The...

When “Autogramm” isn’t an autograph

by Christine Burgmer | Aug 14, 2026 | Sparks of English | 0 comments

When “Autogramm” isn’t an autograph Imagine this. You finally meet someone you admire. Maybe a famous author, a speaker or a business leader. You smile, hold out your pen, and say, “Could I have your autogram, please?” The person looks...

Native speakers don’t always speak “better” English

by Christine Burgmer | Aug 13, 2026 | Sparks of English | 0 comments

Native speakers don’t always speak “better” English Here’s something many English learners forget: Native speakers make mistakes too. They search for words.They restart sentences.They use simple expressions when they can’t find the...