Homophones are words that sound the same, but have different meanings. And if you’re not careful, they can make you sound a little… well, confused.

First we have ‘its’ and ‘it’s’.

‘Its’ shows possession, like “The dog hurt its leg.“

But ‘it’s’ is short for “it is,” like “Tom says it’s two o’clock.“

Next, we have ‘there,’ ‘their’ and ‘they’re.’

‘There’ refers to a place, like “There was nobody on the train.“

‘Their’ shows possession, like “I saw their new car.“

And ‘they’re’ is short for “they are,” like “Do you think they’re going to the theatre?“

Finally, don’t forget ‘your’ and ‘you’re.’

‘Your’ shows possession, like “Here is your seat.“

‘You’re’ means “you are,” like “You’re leaving today.”

REMEMBER: One wrong homophone, and you might cause a little confusion.

Keep it straight, and you’ll sound much more confident.

There’s always a moment that surprises me.

Like a week or so ago—when one participant said,
“I was nervous before we started… but now it feels natural.”

She didn’t need more vocabulary.
She didn’t need grammar exercises.

What made the difference?

She had a reason to speak. A small, safe challenge. Just a few minutes.
A question. A topic. And the space to try.

That’s how we build confidence. Not in theory—but in real conversations.

After the session, she messaged me:
“I didn’t think I could do that. I feel proud of myself.”

That’s why I run these sessions.

To help people go from silent to self-assured… From hesitant to bold.

💬 Want to join next time?

It’s free. It’s fun. It’s for the bold & brave.

Details here: https://english-trainer.de/speed-networking-with-christine/

Have you ever stopped to listen to how you speak in business meetings?

You might be using the “correct” phrases. But are you really connecting with people?

Phrases like “I shall revert shortly” or “Kindly advise” might sound polite, but they can also sound rather formal and slightly stiff. Like something someone’s great-grandfather would say.

Your global client, however, might not feel the same warmth in these words.

You don’t need to speak like Shakespeare to be professional. And you don’t have to sound like a native speaker to gain respect.

You just need to speak like you, using plain and modern English.

Hot tip: Instead of saying, “I shall revert shortly,” try “I’ll get back to you soon” or “I’ll be in touch soon.“

And instead of saying, “Kindly advise,” try “Please let me know” or “Please tell me.”

These phrases are polite but much more natural.

Speak clearly, connect better and leave the dust of old phrases behind.

A common question I hear from German professionals who dream of speaking English confidently is:

“Couldn’t I just practise speaking on my own with all the free resources out there?”

And the short answer is: “Yes, you absolutely can!”

But here’s the truth…

If more resources were all you needed, you’d already be speaking English confidently. The reason you’re not? It comes down to one mindset issue:

You believe you need to learn more before you start speaking.

I see this all the time.

Many learners gather:

• Grammar books
• Vocabulary lists
• Language apps
• Courses
• YouTube videos

They think once they’ve “learned enough,” speaking will be easy. (But is that ever the case?)

The problem is, that moment never comes. They’re not tackling the real issue: speaking regularly.

Here’s the truth: You already know enough to start speaking.

What you need is a system to practise consistently.

The good news? Becoming a confident English speaker isn’t complicated. The key isn’t more studying—it’s more speaking. And the sooner you start, the faster your confidence will grow.

When I first met Simon, I could feel the tension. He was nervous and uncertain. He works in a technical field—an arena packed with complex processes and specialised language.

His big fear?

“I don’t think I can hold a conversation in English.“

Sound familiar?

We all start somewhere. But I always say, “It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress.“

So, I decided to ease Simon in with a few simple questions designed to help him tap into what he already knew.

“Tell me about your background.”
“What kind of work do you do?”
“What are the main tasks you handle every day?”
“How did you get into your field?”

At first, Simon hesitated. It was natural. But as soon as he started sharing his experience, the walls began to come down. The nerves faded, and the words started flowing.

What happened next? We went deep into his world. The tools, the processes, the daily challenges. Simon wasn’t just holding a conversation; he was leading it.

What surprised him most was how his expertise was the key to unlocking a rich, engaging dialogue. No fancy textbook phrases, no memorised vocabulary. Just real talk from someone who knew his stuff.

By the end of the session, Simon wasn’t just getting by—he was becoming more confident. He was discussing his field with ease, in a way that felt authentic.

The key takeaway? Start with what you know. It doesn’t have to be perfect or polished—just true. Those moments of confidence, no matter how small, are the building blocks of real communication.

And guess what? You have that power, too. Start with what you know, and the rest will follow.