• 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.

24,840 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.

German at Work Post-Beginners 1: Deutsch am Arbeitsplatz

24,840 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 5 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Intermediate level

Find out more about how to join this course

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.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Meeting and Greeting

    • Einführung – Introduction

      Get started! See how you will consolidate your previous knowledge of German and learn to understand and use German within a work context.

    • Ich spreche Deutsch und Sie?

      Which languages do you speak? Learn how to talk about the languages you speak.

    • Grüß Gott und guten Tag

      Learn how to greet people in different countries in various situations and find out where they come from. As you get started, think about any German or Austrian greetings you know, and how formal or informal they are.

    • Das ist mein Kollege

      Learn how to give and understand basic information about people.

    • Was machen Sie beruflich?

      What do you do? What kind of work do other people do?

  • Week 2

    Days, times and dates

    • Eins, zwei, drei

      Improve your knowledge of numbers. Start with the basics, then move on to higher things.

    • Am Telefon

      Become more confident making phone calls in German.

    • Wie spät ist es?

      Learn to give and understand detailed information related to time – a vital skills when working, travelling or planning any kind of scheduled activity.

    • Wann machen Sie Mittagspause?

      Find out about work patterns in Germany and use relevant language to talk about your own work.

    • Welches Datum ist heute?

      Practise talking about dates.

  • Week 3

    Travelling

    • Wohin geht die Reise?

      Where are you going? Find out how to talk about your favourite destinations.

    • Können Sie das bitte bestätigen?

      Learn to ask and answer questions about accommodation and make reservations online.

    • Im Hotel

      Arriving at the hotel: checking in and finding out about services and facilities.

    • Unterwegs

      Travelling by public transport and exploring cafés and restaurants.

    • Gute Reise!

      Gute Reise – have a good trip! Are you ready to pack your suitcase and go on a sightseeing tour in Munich?

  • Week 4

    Work–life balance

    • Morgentyp oder Morgenmuffel

      What time of the day is the best time for you to work or study? When and how do you work best?

    • Sind Sie manchmal gestresst?

      A little stress is good, but too much is detrimental to our health and will affect work and study. Here you discuss why we sometimes feel stressed.

    • Zum Ausgleich

      How can you combat stress? What do people do to achieve a better work-life balance?

    • Freizeit

      What other ways are there to relax after a busy day or a stressful week? Find out more about sport and leisure in German speaking countries.

    • Schönes Wochenende!

      What do you do at weekends or on days when you are not working? What about an *Ausflug* – a short trip or excursion?

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

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

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Buy this course

$79/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Subscribe & save

$349.99 for one year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Start learning today

Free

Try this course - with limits

  • Limited to 4 weeks

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Learning on FutureLearn

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  • 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

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