A Spark a day.
One idea. Every weekday. Under a minute.SPARKS OF ENGLISH
Notes from the real world of English at work. The mistakes, breakthroughs and surprising moments that happen when English leaves the textbook and enters the meeting room.
You already speak the language. But under pressure, it does not always feel that way. That’s when overthinking and second-guessing tend to appear.
The Sparks are short prompts for exactly those moments – and now and then, something you can try out straight away.
Designed specifically for German-speaking professionals who want to speak clearly without checking every sentence before they say it.
After a few weeks, many readers notice they:
- Keep talking, even when the perfect word is missing.
- Respond faster when a conversation shifts unexpectedly.
- Stop losing precision in the moments that count.
_________
✦ Your welcome gift: “50 Quick Fixes for Clearer English”. So small details don’t slow you down.
What readers say
❝Einer der ganz wenigen Newsletter, auf die ich mich an jedem (!) Werktag aufs Neue freue.❞
Barbara Gölz
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Some Words Don’t Translate
But they still speak to us. Recently, I went looking for an English word that matches the German Sehnsucht. But none of them quite fit....
Lost for Words in Conversation?
You point to something… but forget what it’s called. In German, you’d say Dingsbums. Or maybe Dingsda.Or Dingens.Or even Dingskirchen. These little...
Grammar Rules Fogging Your Brain?
Try this one shortcut to see clearly. If you’re like many of my clients, grammar isn’t your biggest problem. It’s the overthinking that comes with...
Embarrassed by Your Accent?
This mouth workout builds boldness fast. You don’t struggle with words.You know what you want to say. But the moment you speak, you worry how you...
One Word Celebrates Pain. The Other, Pure Joy
We all know “Schadenfreude.”But what about “Freudenfreude”? Yes, schadenfreude made it into English.It’s that feeling of secret satisfaction when...
Rainy-Day Reading: A Kinder Way to Share
I often send my clients or colleagues articles, videos or interviews I think they might like. Nothing they have to read. Just things that might...
Germans Have a Name for Them: ”Messies”
But did you know… we don’t use it in English? Since the 1990s, Germans have used “Messie” to describe someone who lives in chaos — often collecting...
This Tiny Grammar Error Is Everywhere…
Plurals do not need apostrophes. The number of times I’ve seen signs like: "Fresh apple’s available now!" "Happy Hour: 2-for-1 cocktail’s!" "Book’s...
Your Textbook Missed This Cultural Detail
Most people are surprised when I tell them:We don’t usually say anything. Not in Britain, anyway. After living in Germany for so many years, I’ve...
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