English Breakthrough for Germans is a podcast for German speakers who want to become more confident English users.
I'm Mike, an Australian language teacher living in Germany. I reached C2 level in German myself and have spent the last 13 years teaching English and German to adults.
In each episode, you'll get comfortable English listening practice through stories from my own life, experiences from the classroom, and practical insights into how successful language learning really works.
If you've ever thought:
"I understand English, but I can't speak spontaneously."
"I know the grammar, but I can't find the words."
"I've been learning for years, but I still don't feel fluent."
then this podcast is for you.
I believe that language learning is not a talent. The learners who succeed are usually the ones who discover effective learning strategies and practise consistently.
You'll learn how to improve your vocabulary, listening, and speaking skills, become a more independent learner, and take control of your own progress.
If you're ready to break through your plateau and make real progress in English, you're in the right place.
Podcast by Mike Budden
mike@mikeblanguages.com
Interview with Susanne: How to improve your English on your own
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.
21 Sept 2026
Keep It Simple: Jörn’s Approach to Speaking English
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.
11 Aug 2026
My strategy for learning French
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
4 Aug 2026
Why is Movie Dubbing so Popular in Germany?
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
28 Jul 2026
5 Techniques to Improve Learning from Reading
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
21 Jul 2026
How Caitlin reached C1 German in Australia
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
14 Jul 2026
Bad at Remembering Names? It Might Help You Learn English
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.
7 Jul 2026
The Habits of Successful Language Learners
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!
30 Jun 2026
The Truth about Reaching C1 - Reflections from last week's episode with Miles
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.
23 Jun 2026
From frustration to C1. What changed? An interview with Miles from Oxford.
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
16 Jun 2026
Your Grammar Is Fine. So Why Does Your English Still Sound Weird?
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!
9 Jun 2026
What English Learners in Germany Struggle With Most: What I Learned from a Week at the VHS
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
2 Jun 2026
The Secret to Learning Thousands of Words
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
26 May 2026
Vocabulary Mistakes to Avoid
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
19 May 2026
How to be fluent in a language — Part 2
Click here for my Patreon page — https://www.patreon.com/c/englishbreakthroughforgermans
In Part 2 of this episode, I talk about what happened after I moved to Berlin in 2011 and how my German really started to improve. I explain how reading books, listening to audiobooks, watching films with subtitles, and reading aloud helped me become more fluent.
I also share why Harry Potter became such an important part of my language learning journey and why I believe that sound and listening are more important than grammar explanations alone.
At the end of the episode, I explain why I think these strategies work so well and how you can apply them to your own language learning.
12 May 2026
How to become fluent in a language - Part 1
How do people actually become fluent in another language? In Part 1 of How to learn a foreign language, I explain how my own German-learning journey began — from school classes in Australia to discovering Berlin and immersing myself in authentic German content. I talk about why subtitles, repetition, and natural interaction are so important for language learning, and I recommend several children’s shows that helped me improve my listening skills naturally.
5 May 2026
Reflections from an international teaching conference
In this episode of the English Breakthrough for Germans podcast, I shares key insights from an international English teaching conference in the UK.
If you’ve ever felt stuck learning English, this episode is for you. Instead of focusing only on grammar and vocabulary, Mike explores what actually helps learners become fluent and independent.
You’ll learn:
Why I believe many students don’t reach their language goals
Why listening is so important
How reading aloud can improve your speaking
Why your accent doesn’t matter as much as you think
Mike is an Australian language teacher based in Berlin, with over 12 years of experience teaching English and German. He also shares practical strategies from his own journey learning multiple languages.
28 Apr 2026
4 reasons why I am starting this podcast.
Are you a German speaker who is stuck in your language learning journey? Join me in this first episode of the English Breakthrough for Germans podcast as I explain four reasons why I am starting the podcast.
Contact English Breakthrough for Germans
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of English Breakthrough for Germans?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
