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.