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Hier vind je tips, inzichten en inspiratie die je helpen je taalvaardigheid te verfijnen en met meer zelfvertrouwen Engels te gebruiken op je werk.

De artikelen op deze blog heb ik bewust in het Engels geschreven om je nieuwsgierigheid te prikkelen en je alvast een voorproefje te geven van de onderwerpen die ik met mijn klanten behandel.

Happy Reading & Happy Learning!

5 Idioms to Use When You’re Back at Work After the Holidays

Coming back to work after a long, relaxing holiday can be a shock to the system. The pace changes overnight. Yesterday you were having a leisurely breakfast, and today you’re checking your inbox and joining back-to-back meetings.

If you want to make small talk with colleagues, these five idioms are perfect for describing that transition from holiday mode to work mode. They’re short, versatile, and understood in both British and American English.

1. Get back into the swing of things = weer in het ritme komen

Meaning: Return to your usual rhythm after a break.
Example: It might take me a couple of days to get back into the swing of things after two weeks off.

2. Hit the ground running = meteen voortvarend van start gaan

Meaning: Start immediately at full speed and with high productivity.
Example: We’ve got a big project due, so we’ll need to hit the ground running this week.

3. Shake off the cobwebs = weer op gang komen

Meaning: Refresh your mind or body after inactivity.
Example: This morning’s planning meeting should help us shake off the cobwebs.

4. Ease into = rustig aan beginnen

Meaning: Start slowly and gradually build up pace.
Example: I’m easing into work mode after two weeks of sunshine.

5.Get back in the saddle = weer aan de slag gaan

Meaning: Resume a role or responsibility after a break.
Example: It may take a few days to get back in the saddle after the holidays, but we’ll soon be back on track.

Tip for small talk:
Pair an idiom with a quick question to keep the conversation going:

Just getting back into the swing of things. How about you?

I’m easing into my inbox. Did you travel anywhere nice?

Hopefully, after your much-needed and well-deserved summer holiday, you’ve managed to recharge your batteries. Now it might feel easier to get back in the saddle, and maybe even the perfect time to start polishing your English.

Feel free to contact me if you’d like more information about my courses and how I can help you gain more confidence in English at work.

Thank you for taking a moment to read this!

Until next time,

KEEP LEARNING!
Warm regards,

Monika Brabers

Get the full article here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W92zlC6ohM9bUldxPVVmYfS6IHKtbHiT/view?usp=sharing

Growth Mindset in Business English: Beyond the Buzzword

The term growth mindset is everywhere these days. It’s splashed across LinkedIn profiles, motivational posts, and company values. But let’s be honest, it’s often used as a buzzword rather than a lived reality.

For many established professionals, polishing their English is one of those things they know they “should” do… but don’t. Not because they lack intelligence or ambition, but because the barriers are real:

1. Inconvenience → finding time in a busy schedule feels impossible.
2. Fear → worrying that mistakes will damage credibility.
3. Overwhelm → not knowing where to start or which areas to improve.

The result?

They stay in their comfort zone, telling themselves, “I’m good enough.” But “good enough” rarely leads to growth.

Walking the Talk

A genuine growth mindset isn’t just saying you want to improve. It’s taking meaningful action. You have to walk the talk by setting clear goals, creating a plan, and following through.

Obviously, that’s easier said than done.

And that’s where an accountability partner can make all the difference. Someone who not only cheers you on, but also ensures you stay on track, stretch your knowledge, refine your vocabulary, and move away from your lexical teddy bears: the overused words like get, important, very nice, difficult. That’s how you begin to communicate with greater precision and confidence.

Going the Extra Mile

True progress comes when you’re willing to push past the moments when it feels uncomfortable or frustrating. Growth doesn’t happen by accident; it happens through consistent, deliberate action.

Mistakes? They’re not failures, they’re feedback. Every error is an opportunity to grow. Every interaction is a chance to practise. After all, the old adage is true: if you don’t use it, you lose it.

The Grit Factor

Grit, perseverance, and persistence aren’t glamorous. They are the quiet drivers of real improvement.

A growth mindset is not about boasting how “open to learning” you are. It’s about being humble enough to admit what you don’t know, and disciplined enough to keep learning.

From Words to Action: What Works in Business English

If you’re serious about taking your Business English to the next level, here’s what works:

1. Set clear, goal-oriented targets.
2. Track your progress and celebrate small wins.
3. Stay open: see mistakes and every interaction as learning opportunities.
4. Build sustainable learning habits:

• Daily practice and repetition.
• Consciously expanding your idiom and collocation toolbox.
• Speaking aloud and practising pronunciation until it feels natural.
• Listening to the BBC, CNN, or podcasts and mimicking pronunciation.
• Reading articles and books in English, then summarising your takeaways.
• Finding a real motivation behind your learning that pushes you through periods of difficulty and challenge.

Bottom Line

A true growth mindset in Business English is more than a slogan. It’s a commitment to take small, consistent steps that compound over time. With the right mindset, approach, and accountability, you can go from a competent to a confident communicator.

I’d be delighted and privileged to become your accountability partner on that journey. Let’s walk the talk together, go the extra mile, and make your English a tool that works for you, and not something that holds you back.

If you’re ready to take your Business English to the next level, let’s talk about how I can support you.

Thank you for taking a moment to read this!

Until next time,
KEEP LEARNING!

Warm regards,
Monika Brabers

Fluency & Beyond:  Why Your Mind Goes Blank in English Meetings 

You’re sharp, experienced, and confident in your job. In meetings in your own language, you negotiate, persuade, challenge, and clarify with ease.

But then the English meeting starts…
And suddenly your brain doesn’t cooperate. The words disappear. You freeze. You say less than you wanted to or worse, nothing at all.

Does it sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many highly skilled professionals experience this same “brain freeze” in international meetings. Let’s explore why this happens and what you can do about it.

Why does your brain freeze in English meetings?

Even though you know your job and your message, switching to a foreign language under pressure can feel like your brain hits the pause button. Here are 5 common reasons:

1. You don't (yet) have enough of the right vocabulary

It’s not just about knowing English, it’s about knowing the right expressions for meetings.
When you’re searching for words mid-sentence, your confidence drops and the freeze kicks in.

2. You’re overwhelmed and afraid of making mistakes

Perfectionism is a powerful blocker.

Many professionals hold themselves to a high standard, and when you don’t feel 100% ready, it’s safer to say nothing than to risk making an error.

3. You fear being judged

Even though your colleagues are probably more focused on your ideas than your grammar, the fear of “sounding less professional” in English can be enough to paralyze your voice.

4. Speaking in another language is an emotional event

It’s not just technical. It’s personal. Expressing yourself in a second language can feel vulnerable, especially in front of native speakers.

5. Your brain’s fight-flight system is activated

Your amygdala — the part of your brain responsible for detecting threats — doesn’t know the difference between a real danger and a high-stress meeting.
It senses fear and says: “Let’s shut down.” That’s the freeze response.

So… what can you do about it?

The good news? You can train your brain and regain your voice. Here are 5 practical steps that work:

1. Practice useful language with a coach

Role-plays, mini-dialogues, and targeted vocabulary practice in realistic situations help you prepare your brain to respond. It’s like training for a match, not just watching it.

2. Read aloud (yes, really!)

It may sound old-fashioned, but reading business texts or your own meeting notes out loud helps reinforce vocabulary and pronunciation.
The brain remembers better when it hears itself speak.

3. Understand your brain’s fear response

Just knowing about the fight-flight-freeze mechanism can reduce its power. When you feel that blank moment coming, remind yourself:
"Ah, that’s my brain reacting — not a sign that I don’t know enough."

4. Accept that it happens

Freezing up is normal. Many non-native professionals experience it, even after years of speaking English. You are not the only one.

5. Prepare intentionally, not just content-wise

Yes, prepare what you want to say, but also how you want to say it. Write down useful phrases, practice transitions, anticipate questions. Language fluency grows through conscious preparation and repetition.

A quick reminder

You wouldn’t walk into a big meeting in your own language without preparing. So why do it in English?

It’s not about fluency. It’s about readiness.

And finally…

If your brain goes blank in meetings, it doesn’t mean you're bad at English. It means you're human. And your brain is just trying to protect you.

If you’re ready to take your Business English to the next level, let’s talk about how I can support you.

Thank you for taking a moment to read this!

Until next time,
KEEP LEARNING!

Warm regards,
Monika Brabers

Stop Saying “Very”: How to Sound More Professional in Business English

When using English at work, the words you choose can either elevate your message or hold you back. One common habit that many professionals share is the overuse of the word “very.”

You might often use very good or very interesting or very nice.

But here’s the truth: while clear, these expressions can make your English sound basic, and that’s not the impression you want to give in meetings, emails, or international presentations.

Why It’s Time to Say Goodbye to “Very”

Using “very” again and again makes your language repetitive. And in business contexts, that repetition can come across as weak or even unprofessional. Instead, fluent speakers often choose stronger vocabulary and natural word combinations to express themselves clearly and confidently.

For example:
The presentation was very interesting. → say: The presentation was insightful.
We’re very happy with the outcome. → say: We’re highly satisfied with the outcome.

These alternatives are clearer, more polished, and reflect a higher level of English, which is exactly what professionals need.

During my one-to-one zakelijk Engels cursussen voor professionals, we practice using powerful adverb + adjective combinations. These are commonly used in international business environments and help you sound more confident and competent.

Here are two examples you can start using right away:

Highly:highly skilled, highly likely, highly motivated, highly successful

Fully: fully automated, fully recovered, fully understand, fully unaware, fully operational

These combinations are frequent in professional English and instantly boost the clarity and fluency of your communication.

In my Business English training sessions, we go beyond only words. Using my book, Boost your Business English for Advanced learners - available on Amazon - we focus on:

1.the right word combinations (collocations)

2.common idioms in business contexts

3.impactful sentences for persuasive presentations, networking events, trade fairs, brainstorming sessions, client interactions, strategy meetings, sales pitches, performance reviews, team-building activities, small talk, and polite business communication

4.business cultures: their differences and similarities

5.cross-cultural communication: its pitfalls and powerful benefits

Together, we refine your English so your words reflect your professional expertise.

Ready to sound more confident and move beyond “basic” English?
Book a free, no-obligation trial session available both in person and online. Each session lasts 90 minutes. Choose the package that fits your goals and schedule: 10, 15, or 20 sessions, held biweekly.

Let’s refine your vocabulary, boost your confidence, and expand your international impact. One powerful sentence at a time.

Thank you for taking a moment to read this!

Until next time,
KEEP LEARNING!

Warm regards,
Monika Brabers