The game is still afoot.

The game is still afoot.

NOTE: Business English etc.
can be found below the translation exercises.

Translate the Text into English: Übersetzen:

Susann, Andreas, Nadine, Heike, Reiner, and Simone.

Sie hat ein Haustier.

Die Maus frisst den Käse.

Die Spinne.

Die Spinne frisst eine Biene.

Die Katze und die Maus.

Eine Biene ist ein Insekt.

Es ist ein Schwein.

Das Schwein trinkt.

Ich habe ein Haustier.

Eine Ente frisst einen Apfel.

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English – English – English – English – English – English – English

Business English Word of the Week:

Geschäftsenglisch Wort der Woche:

A business word/phrase = Office politics – Geschäftspolitik.

Office politics refers to the informal social networks, personal relationships, and power dynamics within a workplace that influence decision-making and career advancement. While sometimes associated with negative behaviours like gossip or favouritism, it fundamentally encompasses how people build influence and navigate organisational hierarchies.

Sample Sentence:

“I never get involved in Office Politics when I teach English at a company.”

 

Law English Word of the Week:

Gesetz Englisches Wort der Woche:

A law word/phrase = Key aspects of proving something legally include:

• Burden of Proof: The requirement for a party to produce evidence to prove a contested issue.

The burden of proof is a legal or logical obligation that requires a party to present sufficient evidence to prove or disprove a claim. The party making an assertion bears the responsibility to validate it, meaning the opposing side is presumed innocent or correct until that burden is successfully met. Depending on the context of the dispute, the burden consists of two primary components and requires different levels of evidentiary weight.

 

Vocabulary for Contracts:

Wortschatz für Verträge:

A word/phrase for contracts = Key Functions of an LOI

• Aligns Expectations: Summarises the foundational terms of a transaction (e.g., price, deliverables, deadlines, or rent).

• Shows Commitment: Signals serious intent to proceed without locking either party into a final agreement.

• Saves Time & Cost: Prevents wasted resources by uncovering deal-breakers early in the process.

Vocabulary for Negotiations:

Wortschatz für Verhandlungen:

A word/phrase for negotiations = “I am just writing that into my diary.” Ich schreibe das gerade in mein Tagebuch.

English – English – English – English – English – English – English

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Word of the day: Wort des Tages:

Posture – die Körperhaltung. In an office negotiation, posture refers to both your physical body language (how you sit or stand) and your strategic approach (your attitude, demands, and behavioural stance). Both silently signal confidence and influence the balance of power during a deal.

Sample Sentence:

“His client put on a positive posture whenever he thought that he was winning a deal.”

 

Phrase of the day: Satz des Tages:

Something can be irksome or become irksome.

Irksome means annoying, irritating, or tiresome. It describes something that causes mild displeasure, often because it is tedious, repetitive, or monotonous.

To “be” irksome: The thing is currently causing annoyance.

To “become” irksome: The thing wasn’t originally a big deal, but it grew annoying or tiresome over time.

 

Idiom of the day: Redewendung des Tages:

 The week is like a jackknife.

This refers to “das Klappmesser“ (folding knife/pocket knife). In German, a jackknife translates literally to Klappmesser.

The Truck Accident

When a semi-truck loses control and folds into a V-shape, English speakers call it a jackknife. In German, they usually describe the action physically rather than using the noun.

Sample Sentence:

Hast du dein Klappmesser dabei? (Do you have your jackknife/pocket knife with you?

 

British English / American English Vocabulary:

Britisches Englisch / Amerikanisches Englisch Wortschatz:

British English = Tom is having a shower at the moment.

American English = Tom is taking a shower at the moment.

 

Special Grammar Tip of the Week:

Spezieller Grammatik-Tipp der Woche:

In most questions (but not all), we use ANY.

It does not matter if the sentence has a PLURAL or an UNCOUNTABLE NOUN.

We use ANY in NEGATIVE sentences.

We use SOME in POSITIVE sentences.

 

Pronunciation Tip: Aussprachetipp:

Birth (die Geburt) – berth (die Koje – on a ship/boat) = are both pronounced the same way.

So we will practice this in our lesson.

 

JOKES / PUNS:

Frogs wear open Toad sandals.

False Friends Tip of the Week:

Falsche Freunde Tipp der Woche:

German                    = zufrieden

Translation              = to be content / satisfied (saturieren)/pleased) die Zufriedenheit / “I am content with my” / „Ich bin mit meinem Leben zufrieden.“ (die Zufriedenheit) life.

False Friend (F.F.)   = Inhalt/das Inhaltsverzeichnis)

Meaning of F.F.        = content (of a book, for example)

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English – English – English – English – English – English – English

Wit, wit, wit – Food:

Witz, Witz, Witz – Ausbildung:

“Shake and shake the ketchup bottle. First none’ll come, then a lott’ill.”

Quote by Richard Armour.

NOTE: Frankly, I do not know why this is funny.

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English – English – English – English – English – English – English

 

Slang word of the day:

Slangwort des Tages:

Kumsche – come with me.

NOTE: I have never used this Slang expression.

 

Colloquial / Colloquialisms:

Umgangssprache / Umgangssprache:

Shrapnel – which means small change; lots of coins.

Sample Sentence:

“Oh dear, my wallet is full of shrapnel.”

NOTE: ‘shrapnel’ means in German = Schrapnell

i.e. small pieces of metal that fly in all directions when a bomb/missile explodes.

 

Cockney Rhyming Slang:

Cockney Reimender Slang:

Emmas = Emma Freud (an English author and columnist) = haemorrhoids – die Hämorrhoiden.

Sample Sentence:

“Cor, me Emmas are giving me jip today!”

 

Quote of the week: Zitat der Woche:

“Half the people you know are below average.”

Quote by Steven Wright.

 

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English – English – English – English – English – English – English

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