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Fit für den Job - Vom Schul-Englisch zum Business English

Name: Fit für den Job - Vom Schul-Englisch zum Business English
Rating: 4.7 (2 reviews)

Transform your school English into Business English in 30 days

Created byKerstin Wandel

Last updated 10/2025

English

What you'll learn

Grammar: Confident use of present progressive, simple past, past progressive and present perfect in the context of business English
Typically German: Recognizing and avoiding typical German mistakes in grammar, vocabulary and politeness
Speaking: Speaking confidently on the phone in English and using strategies when you don't understand
Intercultural competence: mastering small talk, avoiding blunders (Fettnäpfchen), talking about the past

Course content

4 sections • 40 lectures • 5h 46m total length

Über den Kurs und die Kursleiterin1:52
Dieses Video erklärt, was du von dem Kurs Cultural Conversation erwarten kannst.
Einführung zu Kurs und Material4:36
In this video I explain what we cover in the course Cultural Conversation, what you will find in the course material and what the learning app looks like.

Day 1 (1) - introduction to module 1 - get speaking!7:27
Business English Course Cultural Conversation, Modules 1-3 Video 01 – (Day 1, video 1)
Introduction to Module 1 & speaking exercises

This video is all about getting you to sepak English. In the beginning, you will get an overview over what we cover in Module 1 and then you will have the opportunity to reactivate your English by talking about your travel experiences and preferences. So, grab a learning buddy, a drink of your choice and have fun speaking!
Day 1 (2) - why other cultures behave "weird" in our eyes - layers of culture6:32
Business English Course Cultural Conversation, Modules 1-3 Video 02 – (Day 1, video 2)
This second video deals with layers of culture and why we feel like people from other cultures act strangely in our eyes. Based on Professor Helen Spencer-Oatey's theory of culture, we have a look at a pyramid-shaped model and get talking about why Germans (probably) do what they do. Get ready to get curious about other cultures.
Day 2 - small talk - What you should and shouldn't say11:12
In this video you will learn why it is important to be able to do small talk when learning English and which topics are suitable, and which you should rather avoid.
The main part of this video will be a text you can either read and then answer the questions about it or you can listen to it and use it as a listening comprehension exercise. You will also be given the opportunity to put into practice what you just learnt.
I. Understanding the text
Day 3 (1) - simple past: Why you need it, how to use it - German and English6:16
In this video I will explain the rules of the simple past to you. You will find the explanation on screen in German, but I will explain everything in English.
Day 3 (2) - simple past: Exercises - regular & irregular verbs9:34
Business English Course Cultural Conversation, Modules 1-3 Video 05 – (Day 3, video 2) grammar exercises
In this video we will go over four different exercises to practise the simple past of regular and irregular verbs.
simple past - regular and irregular verbs
simple past - regular and irregular verbs
Day 4 (1) - questions & negations in the simple past - explanation4:34
Business English Course Cultural Conversation, Modules 1-3 Video 06 – (Day 4, video 1)
How to ask questions and negate sentences in the simple past
This video explains the rules of questions and negations in the simple past. In order to do so, we will have a look at examples with auxiliary verbs and full verbs, which need the so-called "do-support."
Day 4 (2) - exercises: questions & negated statements in the simple past10:37
In this video you get the opportunity to put the rules you learned in the previous video into practice: When do you need the do-support, when is the sentence structure the exact same as in German? I will explain exercises no. 5, 6, and 7 of the workbook to you.
Day 5 (1) - explanation of "used to" to describe actions of the past + exercise4:47
In this video you will learn about a specific way to talk about things you often did when you were younger but don't do any more. We will have a look at the structure "used to", how to negate it and how to ask questions using it. To round it off, you will be given the opportunity to pratice this structure with an exercise.
Day 5 (2) - vocab exercise with a gap text5:59
In this video you will get the opportunity to reactivate the words you remember that have to do with weather and traveling so that you will be well-equipped to engage in small talk ... or work as a travel agent ;)
Day 6 (1) - can must, and may in the simple past - explanation6:16
This video explains how to use the auxiliary verbs can, may, and must in the simple past. We need to use the replacement forms to be able to, to have to and to be allowed to. We will have a look at the rules for positive and nagetive statements as well as questions in the simple past.
Day 6 (2) - exercises: can, may, and must in the simple past9:40
Day 7 - past progressive - when and how to use it13:13
In this video I will explain to you when and how to use the past progressive - "I was going" in contrast to "I went", for example. Also, you will have the opportunity to put your knowledge to the tet in a few short exercises.
Day 8 (1) - do this to show you are listening - introduction interjections8:11
In this video you will learn how my American housemate and I got terribly offended with each other and how that taught me that different cultures "listen" differently. You will learn about the importance of using interjections in English, which ones to use and which ones to avoid and get the opportunity for a first exercise regarding this topic.
Day 8 (2) - this really happened! Listen out loud9:14
In this video you will have the opportunity to practice listening like an English native speaker - by "interrupting" the story of my first flight to the US and use as many interjections as you can.
Day 9 (1) - how to learn new words fast and forever5:26
In this video you will learn about one method that can help learn new words and remember them well, and get the opportunity to put this into practice right away.
Day 9 (2) - words, looks, phrases - we do it so differently!8:45
In this video we will have a closer look at how German native speakers offend English native speakers without meaning to! Followed by a very short exercise for you to put into practice what you just learned.
Day 10 - use the interactive material of Module 1 creatively & recap12:48
In this video I will give you several ideas of how you can playfully keep improving your English.
The focus will be on speaking and responding to statements by using the interjections you learned previously. We will also look back on Module 1 and all the things we have learnt so far.

Day 11 - culture clash: names & titles - introduction to Module 26:05
In this video you will get an overview over what we are going to cover in all of module 2 as well as get the opportunity to read a text and / or listen to a text which explains how German and English speakers use names and titles a littel differently. This will help you to avoid some confusion when dealing with English native speakers.
Understanding the text - Culture clash: names & titles
Day 12 - correct impolite statements and write a polite dialogue7:13
In this video you will be practicing everything you have learnt about politeness so far in more depth by correcting statements that are considered rude and writing a polite dialogue yourself. We will then have a look at an example dialogue and see what makes it polite so that you can apply this information when you speak or write English.
Day 13 (1) - time of day - Uhrzeit - arranging appointments + exercise9:06
If you want to arrange or confirm appointments with someone, you need to be able to communicate dates and the time of day.
In this first video of day/session 13, we will have a look at how you can express the time of day in English. You will also learn about a difficulty in British English, which is especially difficult for German native speakers.
Day 13 (2) - how to say and write dates in both British & American English12:20
In this video we will deal with dates. There are a few differences in American and British English, which is important to know if you want to communicate or arrange appointments.
Day 14 - reactivate your knowledge about hobbies and skills and learn new words11:11
In this video we will not only do a few exercises to deal with the topic of hobbies and skills but also try and see how much you remember from school about the present tense - how do you ask questions and negate sentences - before we are going to deal with the grammatical rules.
Day 15 - questions in the simple present, simple past, and past progressive10:10
In this video we will have a look at the rules for forming questions. Because, no matter the job you are in, you will have to be able to ask questions! You will learn when to use the do-support and that - actually - the rules for both forming questions and negations are quite simple if you know this one thing.
Day 16 - present perfect - rules and examples in contrast to German "Perfekt"8:10
In this video you will learn an important difference in usage between the English present perfect and German Perfekt. Even though both tenses look alike they are used differently. If you don't know how to use this tense correctly you might get confused by or confuse English native speakers. We will round this introduction to the present perfect off by two very brief exercises.
Day 17 - exercises pres. perf.: never have I ever & what is on your bucket list10:50
In this video you will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge about the present perfect.
We will be practicing to form the present perfect, revise when we need to use it and also seize the opportunity to talk about things we have already done or would still like to do. This way, you can improve both your vocabulary and your grammar.
Day 18 - presenting yourself & others + vocabulary learning strategy9:13
In this video you will have the opportunity to put the grammar and words you have learnt into practice by practicing what you could ask someone else about their life and how to respond yourself.
I you want to talk about your own life or understand what someone else is telling you, you need to know words describing important life events. We will habe a look at 45 of those words and also recap how you can manage to remember so many (potentially) new words.
Day 19 - simple past or present perfect? Übungen / exercises7:53
In this video we will contrast the usage of the present perfect and the simple past in English.
I will give you the German translation when necessary and point out the differences between English and German. You will have the option to test your knowledge in a few short exercises.
Day 20 - speaking exercises "biographies" & recap module 212:03
In this video we will wrap up module 2 and practice speaking about biographical events. You will be given lots of ideas of how you can improve your English with random pictures.
Also, you have have the opportunity to learn more words to describe events connected with your work life.

Day 21 - German and English speakers do it differently: customer service7:43
In this video you will learn what we will cover in module 3 and have the opprtunity to listen to or read a text about customer service and how Germans and English speakers have a different apporach to customer service.
Understanding the text - Culture clash: customer service
Day 22 - exercise: simple past, present perfect, past progressive5:36
In this video we will do a short grammatical exercise and revise the rules for when to use the simple past, the past progressive, and the present perfect.
Day 23 - learn the international phonetic alphabet in 19 minutes19:33
In this video you will learn the international phonetic alphabet in under 20 minutes.
Often times when we spell a word we need to clarify which letter we mean. Especially over the phone, it's somtimes hard to hear the difference between certain letters.
While you can use any odd word to help your converssatinal partner to understand which letter you mean it is helpful to know the internaional phonetic alphabet. By the end of this video you will be able to spell any word using it :)
Day 24 - present progressive - when and how to use it & exercises12:46
In this video you will learn when you use the present progressive and how it is formed as well as contrast it with the present simple. In in two short exercises you can practice this topic.
Day 25 - understand English when you don't understand10:16
In this video you will learn and have the opportunity to practice two strategies that will help you understand English and communicate in English even if you don't know some words used or needed.
First, we will practice listening for the gist, which is, the most important bit. For this, you will be presented with a short audio dialogue.
Then, we will look at paraphrasing, which is, finding different words if you don't know a specific word. You will have the option to practice this with two different exercises.
Day 26 - Vokabel-Übungen Rätsel: Working on the phone4:31
In this video we will do two short exercises to practice some words and phrases which you will regulary need when you have to speak English on the phone.
Day 27 - phrases for working on the phone, part 19:11
In this video you will learn 25 phrases which are important to know if you want to have a professional phone conversation in English.
We will talk about what these sentences mean, in what kind of situations you can use them and also address some issues, which German speaking learners of English find particuarly difficult.
Day 28 - phrases for working on the phone part 27:55
In this video you will learn 24 more phrases which are important to know if you want to have a professional phone conversation in English. We will talk about what these sentences mean and in what kind of situations you can use them.
Day 29 - practice working on the phone with a role play7:09
This video it is all about getting practical! You will have the opportunity to put everything you learnt into practice by role playing different situations on the phone and yes - you can also do this on your own! Of course, you will also be given an example and this way revise the words and phrases you have learnt so far.
Day 30 - practice working on the phone10:45
End of course: how to use the interactive material and recap
In this video we will not only recap all the things you have learnt in module 3, but also you will be given lots of ideas on how you can keep practicing your English.
I will present to you a number of ways how you can use the interactive material of the course, which will help you keep improving your English.

Requirements

You should have had about 4 years of English at school.
The reference language & culture is German, which you will need to solve some of the tasks.
Our focus is on speaking, not on writing emails and memos

Description

Not your typical Business English Kurs

You've had about four years of English at school, enjoy the language and need a review (Wiederholung) of basic grammar?

You would like to take the next step in your career, but do not have the vocabulary or confidence to move confidently (selbstbewusst) in an international environment?

You would like to gain confidence in speaking and learn what is really important when dealing with native English speakers (englische Muttersprachler)?

The English courses you've found so far sound too fancy (hochgestochen), take too long or are too impersonal?

Then "Cultural Conversation" could be right for you.

This is what you will learn

In 30 days or sessions, you will not only learn the most important English tenses and grammar rules (and only the most important ones!), but above all improve your speaking skills. You will master small talk, be able to communicate politely and respond confidently to customer requests (Kundenanfragen). By dealing with cultural differences, you will avoid misunderstandings and be able to act confidently in an international business environment. Our main focus in the last module will be on making professional telephone calls in English.

Interactive learning methods make learning fun and motivating. You will actively use your English and overcome your fear of speaking. I will guide you via video lessons - almost as if you were having lessons in person - and use my broad expertise to help you achieve your goals effectively. I'll also give you some tips and tricks on how to improve your English on your own with ease.

Work time: 30-45 minutes per day or session for the videos plus your own practice time

The course is in English, but I include a lot of vocabulary in German and you will find the grammar explanations in German both on the screen and in the accompanying PDF workbook.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE REFERENCE LANGUAGE IS GERMAN. SO WORD LISTS WILL BE ENGLISH-GERMAN AND ALSO A NUMBER OF EXERCISES ARE BASED ON GERMAN.

Contents

Module 1 - Culture

small talk: travelling
simple past & past progressive
regular & irregular verbs
interjections (a kind of shout-out to show that you are listening)
polite questions

Module 2 - Biographies

Collecting data - introducing yourself and others
Questions in the simple present, past tense & present perfect
Politeness - don't be too German! :)
Making appointments: Dates & times

Module 3 - Telecommunication

speaking on the phone in English
typical phrases and behavior
active listening
What if I don't understand something or can't express something?
present progressive

The course instructor & author

The course was written and is led by me, Kerstin Wandel, an experienced course leader and native German speaker with many years of experience in adult learning.

I was previously a secondary school teacher (Gymnasiallehrerin) of English and Latin and have worked for many years in senior positions in business and hospitality (Gastronomie), as well as teaching communication and German as a foreign language to adults.

I lived and worked in the beautiful city of York in the North of England for four years and lived with British and American people for 10 years. I therefore have a sound understanding of the needs of German-speaking learners and a wealth of experience of working and living in an intercultural environment.

Who this course is for:

You've had about four years of English at school, enjoy the language and need a review of basic grammar? Would you like to take the next step in your career, but lack the vocabulary and confidence to move confidently in an international environment? Would you like to learn at your own pace in your own four walls, independent of specific course times and the sensitivities of others, while still gaining confidence in speaking and learning what is really important when dealing with native English speakers? Do the English courses you've found so far sound too highbrow, take too long or are too impersonal? Then "Cultural Conversation" could be something for you.
Then this course is NOT right for you ...If you can talk about your last trip, experiences or upcoming projects and advise clients in English without having to search for vocabulary. ...If you want to learn how to write professional emails, memos or minutes (Protokoll). "Cultural Conversation" focuses on improving your speaking skills. ...If you find it difficult to learn on your own. I do take you through the course step by step, but as you can do it all at your own pace, whenever it suits you, you need to be able to motivate yourself. And I'll do my best online to make this as easy as possible for you!

Fit für den Job - Vom Schul-Englisch zum Business English

What you'll learn

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Course content

Einführung2 lectures • 6min

Module 1 - Culture17 lectures • 2hr 21min

Module 2 - Biographies11 lectures • 1hr 44min

Module 3 - Working on the Phone10 lectures • 1hr 35min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: