• The Open University

German at Work Post-Beginners 1: Deutsch am Arbeitsplatz

Develop your understanding of the German language and consolidate your communication skills for the workplace.

24,509 enrolled on this course

A station platform on a German underground railway, with a clock and train indicator board and several passengers walking beside a bright yellow train.
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    5 hours

Find out how to speak German effectively at work

Language skills are vital in our interconnected economies. People who use their knowledge of other languages and cultures in the workplace can open up professional opportunities.

German is the most widely spoken native language in Europe, and German-speaking countries benefit from strong economies and low unemployment.

This course will help you to consolidate your German communication skills for the workplace by focussing on practical language use.

You’ll develop your linguistic competence (at level A1/A2) and deepen your cultural understanding.

You’ll already have a basic knowledge of German.

What topics will you cover?

  • Meeting people
  • Talking about numbers, dates and times
  • Transport and travel arrangements
  • Work and leisure

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Apply intercultural communication skills, for example, using formal and informal language appropriately
  • Demonstrate an understanding of basic spoken and written German, for example, conversations and emails
  • Contribute in German in a range of work-related situations
  • Apply vocabulary, phrases and grammatical structures accurately

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for people who already know some German, for example from school or evening classes.

Who will you learn with?

I'm a Lecturer in German at the Open University with a keen interest in how we learn other languages - also through interaction online. I'm from Frankfurt (am Main!), I love travelling and sunshine.

I’m from Austria and have been teaching German at the Open University for many years. As part of my work I teach in different settings, including online. I also enjoy reading and going to new places.

Who developed the course?

The Open University

As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.

  • Established

    1969
  • Location

    Milton Keynes, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

Endorsers and supporters

funded by

European Union flag, above the sentence: With the support of the European Union Programme "EaSi 2014 - 2020"

supported by

Your First EURES Job 5.0 logo

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Join the conversation on social media

You can use the hashtag #FLLearnGerman to talk about this course on social media.