Business German Language and Culture

Business German
Language and Culture
Jo Small
Introductions
Today’s trainer
Jo Small
https://twitter.com/Jo_Optima
http://uk.linkedin.com/in/josmall
Optima Training
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Established 2003
Language training
Culture training
Business training
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Education Director
Lived in Germany
Professional trainer
Education consultant
Introductions: Sich vorstellen
Wie ist Ihr
Name?
Mein Name ist
…..
You’ll:
 Use emergency German  Meet and greet clients
 Introduce yourself and your company
 Use social and business etiquette
 Build up email phrases
Sankt Nikolaus – 6th December
 Patron saint of children – not Santa!
 Santa = der Weihnachtsmann
 Clean shoes on 5th December Unsere Wohnung
Fasnacht
Bollenhut
Cultural Differences
Damit die Zukunft schneller kommt!
(So that the future comes more quickly!)
We apologise for any inconvenience work on our building site is causing you.
Paddington Bear
Mr Brown offers Paddington some cakes:
‘I’m sorry they haven’t any marmalade ones, but these were the best I could get.’
Paddington Bear
Mr Brown offers Paddington some cakes:
‘There’s nothing with marmalade.’
Begrüßungen (Greetings)
 Guten Tag (Tag) – Hello (formal)
 Guten Morgen (Morgen) ‐ (Good Morning)
 Hallo – Hello (informal)
Sich vorstellen
 Ich bin (I am)
 Mein Name ist ….. (My name is ..)  Freut mich (Pleased to meet you)
 Freut mich auch (Pleased to meet you too)
 Wie geht’s? (How are you?)
Culture Spot
 Whilst on a trip to Germany you meet up with Heiner, his wife and his two children.  How do you greet them all?
Sich vorstellen
Meet at least two other people in the room
 Appropriate greeting
 Introductions and handshaking
 How are you?
Culture Spot
 You are at a conference and meet a group of delegates. You already know two of them but three of them are unknown to you.  Who do you shake hands with?
Henning Wehn
The Germans!
Wie schreibt man das?
A:
Wie ist Ihr Name?
B:
Mein Name ist Small.
A:
Wie schreibt man das?
B:
S‐M‐A‐L‐L
Culture Spot – On the phone
 Direct language
 Smalltalk (or lack of!)
 Tschüs/Auf Wiederhören
Wie?
Wie ist Ihre Handynummer?
 Meine Handynummer ist 07946 440158
Wie?
Wie ist Ihre Telefonnummer?
 Die Vorwahl ist 01636 und dann 653030.
Die Visitenkarte
Technik für die Sinne
Klaus Tillmanns ‐ Verkaufsleiter
Welschensteinacher Str. 35
77790 Steinach
E‐mail: tillmanns@trautweingmbh.com
Tel: +49 (0) 76 41 4677 30
Culture Spot ‐ Companies
 Hierarchy
 Closed door policy
 Academic background
 Formality: names, forms of address
 Showing approval
 Work/Personal life
Getränke
Getränke
Getränke
Getränke
Getränke
Getränke
Culture Spot – Eating out
 Getting a table
 Service and tipping
 Stammtisch
 Inviting people out
Die Brezel
Der Wurst
Der Currywurst
Der Stollen
Bestellen (to order)
 Ich möchte – I would like
 Ich will – I want
 Ich nehme – I’ll take
 Ich hätte gern – I would like
 Vielen Dank – Thank you
 Bitte ‐ Please
Quiz
Selbstbedienung
Hauptgerichte
Vorspeisen
Beilagen
Heiße Getränke
Desserts
Vegetarische Gerichte
Ohne Alkohol
Happy Christmas
 Fröhliche Weihnachten (Merry Christmas)
 Weihnachtsgrüße (Christmas Greetings)
 Alles Gute zum neuen Jahr (Best Wishes for the New Year)
The big quiz!
1. How are you?
2. Pleased to meet you.
3. My mobile number is …..
4. I’d like a beer please.
5. Main course
6. Can I pay please?
7. Keep the change.
8. Do you speak English?
What we did!
What Next?
 Little and often!
 Use every opportunity.
 Get a good German dictionary.
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https://twitter.com/Optima_Training
www.linkedin.com/company/optima‐training‐uk‐limited