When expanding your business, it isn’t rare for entrepreneurs to start learning a language for business matters.
In fact, business sometimes requires you to mingle with speakers of a foreign native tongue.
Investing in the German economy is a good take for business-minded people.
So let’s take a look at how you can learn German language skills for business.
Why choose Germany to start your business?
Germany is a global economic powerhouse, having the biggest economy in the EU and the fourth largest in the world.
It is home to a number of international organizations and is a popular place for technological innovation.
If you have any German business partners, studying the language will help you communicate with them more effectively and lead to successful professional connections.
Your excellent language skills can even attract other countries to do affiliate business with you.
An international company that knows the potential of your business environment through your communication skills will know how competent you are in terms of customer service and marketing brand new ideas.
Furthermore, many countries have partnerships with prominent German firms such as Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge, Siemens, BMW, Continental, and Bornemann, allowing students the opportunity to work for these organizations after completing their intern programs.
Business people who want to enter European countries should start looking at the German market
Why should you learn German for business?
Business German is useful for many reasons.
Business German courses help students learn the language faster because they are taught in a structured manner.
Students who take business German courses tend to improve their business skills quicker than those who learn on their own.
A standard business German course will teach you how to do certain activities, such as writing a letter or mailing an application form, using the appropriate tone, vocabulary, and style.
It will also show you any discrepancies in business communication between German and English, so you don’t get caught off guard.
Which German vocabulary words should you learn?
The business contexts of German business vocabulary is not so much different from their everyday conversations.
However, some of the words you’ll often learn for German business only uses the formal language.
Here are some of the common words you can use in many aspects of business German.
| English | German |
| Workplace | der Arbeitsplatz, die Arbeitsplätze |
| Office | das Büro, die Büros |
| Colleague | der Mitarbeiter, die Mitarbeiter |
| Boss | der Chef, die Chefs |
| Female Secretary | die Sekretärin, die Sekretärinnen |
| Assistant | der Gehilfe, die Gehilfen |
| employed | angestellt |
| unemployed | arbeitslos |
| Retired | die Rente, die Renten |
| freelance | freiberuflich |
| recruited | eingestellt |
| trained | ausgebildet |
| workaholic | arbeitswütig |
| employee-friendly | arbeitnehmerfreundlich |
| to hire | jdn. anstellen |
| to fire | jdn. entlassen |
| to quit | eine Stellung aufgeben |
| to freelance | freiberuflich arbeiten |
| to recruit | einstellen |
| to transfer | jdn. versetzen |
| to upskill | sich fortbilden |
| Allowance | die Spesen |
| Incentive | der Anreiz, die Anreize |
| Appraisal | die Abschätzung, die Abschätzungen |
| Salary / Stipend | der Gehalt, die Gehalte |
| Salary slip | der Gehaltsstreifen, die Gehaltsstreifen |
| Bonus | der Bonus, die Bonus |
| Tax | die Steuer, die Steuern |
| Bank account | das Bankkonto |
| Provident fund | die Altersversicherungskasse |
| Appointment letter | die Ernennungsurkunde |
| Resignation letter | das Kündigungsschreiben |
| Resume / CV | der Lebenslauf, die Lebensläufe |
| Qualification | die Ausbildung |
| Position | die Stellung, die Stellungen |
| Interview | das Vorstellungsgespräch |
| Phone call | der Anruf, die Anrufe |
| die E-mail, die E-mails | |
| Meeting | die Besprechung, die Besprechungen |
| Presentation | die Präsentation, die Präsentationen |
| Speech | der Vortrag, die Vorträge |
| Discussion | die Diskussion, die Diskussionen |
| Conversation | die Unterhaltung, die Unterhaltungen |
Learning more about the German business culture
So let’s talk a bit about what you’ll notice in German businesses.
First impressions like saying “how are you” are extremely important to Germans and may influence the result of your commercial relationship with your German opponent.
When doing business with a German, there are a lot of verbal and nonverbal communication difficulties to consider.
Germans place high importance on order, privacy, and being on time. They are frugal, hardworking, and diligent.
Germans value excellence in all aspects of business and private life, and their attitude to work is focused on completing the task at hand.
This, along with their well-defined frameworks, suggests that human interactions are secondary in corporate operations.
In Germany, there is a rigorous barrier between private and professional life, so developing deeper intimate interactions takes time.
Business partnerships with Germans are frequently centered on mutual benefit, with the entire task serving as the focal point.
The care dedicated to achieving goals may be seen in the precision of timelines, meeting preparation, and achievement of milestones. Adherence to timetables is often regarded as critical.
More tips about dealing with German businesses
Remember that, while your culture offers an appropriate framework for behavior and belief, your preferences and behaviors are culturally driven and may not be the “right” or only applicable ones.
- Develop sensitivity to a variety of verbal and nonverbal behaviors.
- Keep an open mind to different points of view and methods of accomplishing things.
- Keep in mind that there are no universal gestures.
- Anyone’s business success also relies on effective language skills.
If you are a fluent speaker and confident in your German language skills, you are more likely to seal business deals.
On the other hand, if you’re an English speaker with zero knowledge of vocabulary, phrases, or business words, it’s possible to learn German from English.
Beginner German for business
Apart from your business development purposes, learning a language gives you a broader life experience.
So how do you start your intensive training in your German skills?
You can try enrolling in one-on-one German language lessons online.
If you’re confident in your advanced language skills, you can also try starting your topics with your German business partners in German.