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In this episode, the Stories Words Tell, I look at the history of some words and explore how this can make it more useful and helpful when we are trying to learn vocabulary.   If have a story to connect to the vocabulary, it sticks in our brains better, and it makes learning fun!     If you enjoy the episode, think about leaving a review and be sure to recommend the podcast to a friend!

In this episode, I talk to Susanne, an English and Spanish teacher from Germany, about how she developed her English and the things learners can do to improve outside the classroom. We discuss the importance of reading and listening, learning through things you genuinely enjoy, becoming more confident when speaking, and making English part of your everyday life. Susanne also shares her experiences learning Spanish and explains how her own language-learning journey influences her teaching today. A conversation full of practical ideas for anyone looking to improve their English on their own.

In this episode, I talk to Jörn about how he became a confident English speaker through using the language in real life. We discuss his experiences learning English at school, travelling abroad, working with international colleagues in Berlin, getting used to different accents, and becoming less afraid of making mistakes. Jörn also shares his advice for other German speakers: focus on communicating, don’t worry about understanding every word, and keep it simple.

I am currently learning French, and in this episode I discuss the strategies I am using and the reasons behind why I am doing what I am doing.   Join the discussion on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/englishbreakthroughforgermans

Why is dubbing so common in Germany—and has it affected how confidently Germans speak English? In this episode, I explore the history of German dubbing and some of the reasons it became so firmly established, from the growth of cinema after the Second World War to the size of the German-speaking market and the expectations of German audiences. I also share the story of watching the French film Amélie with my German flatmates—and my surprise when everyone suddenly started speaking German! We’ll look at: 🎬 Why Germany developed such a strong dubbing tradition 🇩🇪 Why dubbing is less common in Scandinavia and the Netherlands 🎙️ Why dubbed dialogue can sound different from the original 👄 The challenge of matching translated dialogue to lip movements 🌍 What can be lost—or creatively changed—in translation 🗣️ How watching films in their original language can support your English learning Join my Patreon learning community for additional listening practice, language tips and the opportunity to ask me questions: https://www.patreon.com/cw/englishbreakthroughforgermans #LearnEnglish #EnglishForGermans #EnglischLernen #LanguageLearning #GermanDubbing #Dubbing #LearnEnglishWithMovies

Discover five practical techniques to improve your vocabulary, pronunciation and speaking through reading: immersive reading, read and look up, shadowing, imitation, and summarising. Mike also explains why graded readers with audio are especially effective—and how to choose the right level for you. immersive reading  read and look up shadowing imitation summarise the page. Join my Learning Community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/englishbreakthroughforgermans

Caitlin reached approximately C1 German before she had even set foot in Germany. How did she do it? In this episode, she shares how she built German into her daily life through listening, speaking, reading, writing and pronunciation practice. We also discuss why you don’t need to understand every word—and why speaking badly is a necessary step towards speaking well.   Special offer! Join my Patreon for free now https://www.patreon.com/englishbreakthroughforgermans

Are you bad at remembering people’s names? It might actually have helped you develop better strategies for learning English. In this episode, I share my own difficulties with remembering names and the techniques I use as a teacher to learn them. We’ll look at why repetition, personal connections and retrieval practice work—and how you can apply the same principles to remembering new English vocabulary. You’ll learn three practical strategies to make useful new words stick.

Do you sometimes feel like you're just not good at learning languages? In this episode, I challenge that belief and explain why successful language learning is much more about strategy than talent. Using stories from my own life, a football analogy, and practical examples from my teaching, I introduce my Cognitive Engagement Strategies for Effective Language Learning. You'll discover why some common learning methods are less effective than you might think, and learn practical techniques that can help you make faster progress in English. If you enjoy the episode, I'd love to hear your thoughts. You can reach me at [email protected]. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, I reflect on my conversation with my friend Miles, who reached C1 German after more than 12 years of living in Germany. His journey wasn't easy, but it highlights some important lessons for anyone learning a language. We look at why talent isn't enough on its own, the value of graded readers, why pronunciation matters from the beginning, and why language courses need to be combined with plenty of reading and listening outside the classroom. I also share a personal update after a minor operation and some thoughts from teaching English to German professionals. If you're learning English and aiming for greater confidence at work or in everyday life, I hope you'll find something useful in this episode.

In this episode, I speak with my friend Miles, who moved from England to Germany and eventually reached C1 German after years of frustration, false starts, and self-doubt. We first met in a German class in Sydney more than 15 years ago. Back then, neither of us knew where our language-learning journeys would lead. Today, Miles works in Germany, holds a C1 certificate, and can comfortably participate in meetings, dinner parties, and everyday life in German. We discuss: Why he struggled for so long despite being intelligent and motivated The mindset shift that finally helped him make real progress The difference between passing a language exam and actually speaking a language Why confidence matters more than perfection The role of reading, graded readers, flashcards, and structured courses What German speakers should focus on when using English at work Why many learners are held back by shame and fear of making mistakes If you've ever felt stuck, frustrated, or convinced that you're simply "not good at languages", this episode is for you. Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/cw/englishbreakthroughforgermans

Have you ever spoken English and felt that your grammar was correct, but something still sounded a little strange? In this episode, I talk about one of the most important aspects of language learning that many learners overlook: collocations. Collocations are words that naturally go together. Native speakers don't usually build sentences word by word. Instead, they rely on thousands of ready-made combinations, phrases and language chunks that make communication faster, clearer and more natural. Using examples from my German lessons, we'll look at why sentences such as "Ich kämpfe mit Podcasts" or "In Deutschland gibt es keinen echten Kuchen" sound unusual to native speakers, even though the grammar is perfectly correct. You'll learn: • What collocations are and why they matter • Why learning single words is often not enough • Common vocabulary mistakes German speakers make in English • How language chunks help native speakers communicate so efficiently • Practical ways to notice and learn collocations more effectively If you'd like to sound more natural and communicate with greater confidence, this episode is for you. As always, the transcript is available free of charge on Patreon. -> https://www.patreon.com/cw/englishbreakthroughforgermans Enjoy the episode!

Last week I spent a week teaching an intensive English course at a Berlin Volkshochschule. After five days in the classroom, I was reminded of some of the biggest challenges facing English learners in Germany. In this episode, we talk about: • Why reading is easier than speaking • Why learners get overwhelmed by vocabulary • How to prepare for spontaneous conversation • The dangers of translating directly from German • Why language learning is more like sport or music than school subjects • The role of pronunciation reductions in listening comprehension • Why AI can never fully replace human interaction As someone who reached C2 in German as an adult and has spent 15 years teaching languages, I'll share practical insights that can help you take control of your English learning and become a more independent learner. Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/cw/englishbreakthroughforgermans

Many learners spend years studying grammar but still struggle to understand native speakers. In this episode, I explain why vocabulary may be the missing piece and share practical advice from one of the world's leading experts on language learning, Paul Nation. You'll learn: • Why vocabulary matters more than most learners realise • The role of repetition, frequency and context • Why graded readers can accelerate your progress • How I accidentally ended up in a B2 German course far too early • Why good grammar alone isn't enough for effective communication   Link to my Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/cw/englishbreakthroughforgermans

How do you actually learn vocabulary in a foreign language? In this episode, Mike shares funny and memorable stories from his own German-learning journey to explain why simply translating words from your first language isn’t enough to become fluent. You’ll learn about register, natural language use, and why reading plays such an important role in developing real intuition for English. Mike also talks about a recent trip to Bavaria, mountain hiking, hammocks, and what he’s currently learning from one of the biggest names in English language teaching.   Here is the link to this week's Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/posts/159303782?pr=true