English Breakthrough for Germans

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.
 
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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
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#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.
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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.
 
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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 mike@mikeblanguages.com.
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