Question 1

I can communicate in English. Why do I still feel like a different person when I speak it?

Accepted Answer

Because knowing English and being able to express yourself in it are not the same thing. Ideas, humour, opinions and experience often do not come out as naturally as in your first language. Phil calls that the Expression Gap, and closing it is at the heart of the coaching.

Question 2

Who is Phil's Conversation for?

Accepted Answer

For adults and professionals at B1 level and above who want to participate more freely in real conversations, not just collect more language knowledge. Strong A2 learners who are ready to speak can discuss whether it is the right next step.

Question 3

Is the goal to sound like a native English speaker?

Accepted Answer

No. The goal is to sound more like you: clear, natural and understood, while keeping your personality, perspective and own way of speaking. Your accent is not something you need to erase to be taken seriously.

Question 4

How is this different from a conventional English class?

Accepted Answer

There is no standard class moving through a textbook. This is personal, conversation-based 1:1 coaching: your interests, situations, questions and ambitions set the direction.

Question 5

What is the True Voice Method?

Accepted Answer

The framework behind the coaching. It develops four connected areas: Flow (speaking with less friction), Accuracy (expressing your meaning more precisely), Confidence (trusting yourself when things are unpredictable) and Mindset (changing how you relate to your English). All four serve one bigger aim: authenticity.

Question 6

What happens in a typical session?

Accepted Answer

Sessions start with you: what has been happening, what is on your mind, or a situation you want to work on. From there you might explore a topic, play through a real-life scenario, try a focused exercise or revisit something from the previous week, finishing with useful observations and ideas for what to practise next.

Question 7

Will you correct my mistakes?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but in a way that protects your flow. Feedback is woven into the conversation and captured for review afterwards, so you keep speaking freely instead of being interrupted mid-thought.

Question 8

What does coaching cost?

Accepted Answer

Three packages: Starter CHF 579 (5 x 60-minute 1:1 sessions), Essential CHF 950 (10 sessions) and Active CHF 1'200 (10 sessions plus unlimited Active Audio). Each can be paid in 3 instalments (CHF 210 / 345 / 435).

Question 9

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

The first step is a 15-minute Expression Check by phone or Zoom, booked via Calendly, followed by a 30-minute trial conversation on Zoom. There is no sales pressure: you talk about where you stand and see whether working together fits.

Question 10

What is the Best Practice app?

Accepted Answer

Best Practice is the companion app for coaching clients. It holds your session summaries, practice tasks, vocabulary, audio feedback and progress between sessions, so the work continues between conversations.

Question 11

Where do sessions take place?

Accepted Answer

Sessions run online via video call, so you can join from anywhere in Switzerland or abroad. Phil is based in the Zurich area.

Question 12

What level of English do I need?

Accepted Answer

B1 and above is the sweet spot: you can already hold a simple conversation on your own, talk about your work and plans in short sentences, and follow answers. Slow is fine. Searching for words is fine.

Question 13

What struggles do clients describe before starting coaching?

Accepted Answer

In their own words: "I can't find the right words", "Professional terms escape me", "I translate everything in my head before I speak", "I lose my flow the moment it matters", "I go blank when I have to speak spontaneously", "I'm afraid of making mistakes", "I hold myself back", "I feel limited, like a simplified version of myself" and "I'm not me in English". It often shows up in meetings, steering committees, presentations, small talk, or when conversations go deeper. Usually the knowledge is there; it just isn't reachable under real conversation pressure. That is what 1:1 coaching works on.

Question 14

Why do I freeze or go blank when speaking English in meetings?

Accepted Answer

Pressure can make speaking harder when you are managing your message, grammar and fear of mistakes at once. Missing vocabulary can add to this. Rehearsing real meeting situations in a supportive space helps you practise useful language, recover from pauses and keep speaking.

Question 15

How do I stop translating from my native language to English in my head?

Accepted Answer

Mental translation happens when you search for single-word equivalents instead of whole thoughts. You break the habit through spoken improvisation around familiar topics, using descriptive phrases instead of exact translations. Guided conversational rehearsal trains your brain to connect meaning directly to English without the mental detour.

Question 16

Why do I feel less competent or less like myself when speaking English?

Accepted Answer

This is the Expression Gap: your professional depth and personality in your first language outpace the vocabulary immediately available in English. You simplify your thoughts to stay safe, which feels frustrating. Coaching bridges that gap so your English reflects your actual intelligence, nuance, and natural presence.

Question 17

Why do my English words disappear when I get nervous?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes you need new words; sometimes words you know become harder to reach when you feel nervous. Both deserve attention. In supportive conversations, you build useful vocabulary and practise recovery strategies, such as paraphrasing and buying time, so a missing word does not stop you.

Phil's Conversation Podcast: English conversation and confidence