German course

Lesson 212 of 240

New here? This is lesson 212 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Run the meeting in German

Priya chairs a short standup in the canal loft. Jonas holds his mug with a look that says keep this under ten minutes.

You'll open, set the agenda, ask for a short update, invite one last add, then sum up and send the notes.

Jonas uses du from day one. Keep the meeting moving, then close it cleanly.

By the end of this lesson

Open, chair, and close a short work meeting.

  • Dann würde ich sagen, wir fangen an.Right, I'd say let's get started.
  • Heute stehen drei Punkte auf der Agenda.Today we have three items on the agenda.
  • Bitte berichtet kurz, wo ihr gerade steht.Please give a short update on where you are.
  • Möchte noch jemand etwas ergänzen?Would anyone like to add something?
  • Ich fasse zusammen, was wir festgehalten haben.I'll sum up what we agreed.
  • Das Protokoll schicke ich euch direkt im Anschluss.I'll send you the minutes right after.

Scene — the canal loft

Tuesday morning in the co-working loft by the canal. Priya stands at the long desk with her laptop open.

Jonas holds a coffee mug and glances at the time. Two teammates sit with headphones off, waiting.

He wants this standup under ten minutes.

Priya stands at the long desk while Jonas holds his mug and two coworkers wait nearby with their headphones off.

Learn — open and close

Six lines take you from open to close: start, agenda, a short update, one last add, a recap, then the minutes.

You'll chair in du, the way the loft already talks.

  1. Jonas steps toward Priya with his mug and an open hand as the meeting begins.

    Dann würde ich sagen, wir fangen an.

    Right, I'd say let's get started.

    When to use it: Use this to open a short meeting once everyone is there.

    In a main clause the separable prefix an stands at the end.

    Say it: würde has a rounded ü, not a plain u.

  2. Jonas marks a place beside a blank notebook on the desk.

    Heute stehen drei Punkte auf der Agenda.

    Today we have three items on the agenda.

    When to use it: Use this to say how many items the meeting will cover.

    The verb stehen stays in second place, even after Heute.

    Say it: Punkte puts the stress on the first syllable.

  3. Jonas turns an open palm toward Priya and the seated coworkers, inviting short updates.

    Bitte berichtet kurz, wo ihr gerade steht.

    Please give a short update on where you are.

    When to use it: Use this when you chair and want a short status from the team.

    ihr is the team form; at the startup everyone uses du.

    Say it: The ch in berichtet is the ich sound, not the ach sound.

  4. Jonas looks around the group with a questioning gesture while Priya and Renate listen.

    Möchte noch jemand etwas ergänzen?

    Would anyone like to add something?

    When to use it: Use this before you close, so nobody is left unheard.

    Ask the whole room; do not pick one person by name.

    Say it: Möchte has a rounded ö in the first syllable.

  5. Priya brings her hands together over blank papers as she sums up the agreement, with Jonas listening.

    Ich fasse zusammen, was wir festgehalten haben.

    I'll sum up what we agreed.

    When to use it: Use this after the last point, before you send people off.

    After was, the verbs sit at the end: festgehalten haben.

  6. Jonas leans over his laptop and reaches toward the keyboard to prepare the minutes.

    Das Protokoll schicke ich euch direkt im Anschluss.

    I'll send you the minutes right after.

    When to use it: Use this to close and promise the notes right after.

    The verb schicke stays second, even though Protokoll comes first.

    Say it: schicke starts with sch, not a plain s.

Story — ten minutes

Watch Priya open a short standup. Jonas wants it under ten minutes.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The loft is already awake. Jonas stands at the long desk with his mug.
  2. PriyaGuten Morgen.Good morning.
  3. JonasGuten Morgen.Good morning.
  4. JonasWie geht's?How are you?
  5. PriyaGut, danke.I'm good, thanks.
  6. He glances at the time. The look says: keep this short.
  7. JonasGut. Aber bitte unter zehn Minuten, ja?Fine. But under ten minutes, please, yes?
  8. PriyaDann würde ich sagen, wir fangen an.Right, I'd say let's get started.
  9. PriyaHeute stehen drei Punkte auf der Agenda.Today we have three items on the agenda.
  10. JonasDrei Punkte? Dann wirklich knapp.Three items? Then really tight.
  11. PriyaBitte berichtet kurz, wo ihr gerade steht.Please give a short update on where you are.
  12. JonasDie Tests sind fast fertig. Der Recycle-Flow wartet noch.The tests are almost done. Recycle-Flow is still waiting.
  13. PriyaMöchte noch jemand etwas ergänzen?Would anyone like to add something?
  14. The others stay quiet. Jonas turns the mug in his hands.
  15. JonasNa ja, von mir nichts.Well, nothing from me.
  16. PriyaIch fasse zusammen, was wir festgehalten haben.I'll sum up what we agreed.
  17. PriyaAlso Tests zuerst, dann der Recycle-Flow.So tests first, then Recycle-Flow.
  18. JonasPasst.Works for me.
  19. PriyaDas Protokoll schicke ich euch direkt im Anschluss.I'll send you the minutes right after.
  20. JonasDanke. Dann sind wir durch.Thanks. Then we're done.

Practice — chair the standup

Eleven short tasks mix listening, gaps, swaps, and a build.

You'll chair with the new lines, not just recognise them.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Heute stehen drei Punkte auf der Agenda.Drop the English here
    Bitte berichtet kurz, wo ihr gerade steht.Drop the English here
    Möchte noch jemand etwas ergänzen?Drop the English here
    Das Protokoll schicke ich euch direkt im Anschluss.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    It is morning at the loft. Greet the team as you sit down.

  4. Fill the gap

    Please give a short update on where you are.

    Bitte ____ kurz, wo ihr gerade steht.

  5. What does it mean?

    Heute stehen drei Punkte auf der Agenda.

  6. Swap the word

    You are closing. Promise the minutes right after the meeting.

    Das Protokoll schicke ich euch direkt im ____.

  7. Pick the reply

    Jonas says:

    Die Tests sind fast fertig.

    The tests are almost done.

    And you reply with:

  8. Build the line

    I'll sum up what we agreed.

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  9. Find the mistake

  10. Pick the reply

    Jonas says:

    Wie geht's?

    How are you?

    And you reply with:

  11. Which one doesn’t belong?

Say it — run it yourself

Now you're Priya at the long desk. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. JonasGut. Aber bitte unter zehn Minuten, ja?Fine. But under ten minutes, please, yes?
  2. Priya (you)Open the standup now that everyone is here.

    Dann würde ich sagen, wir fangen an.

    Right, I'd say let's get started.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Dann würde ich sagen, wir fangen an.Right, I'd say let's get started.
Heute stehen drei Punkte auf der Agenda.Today we have three items on the agenda.
Bitte berichtet kurz, wo ihr gerade steht.Please give a short update on where you are.
Möchte noch jemand etwas ergänzen?Would anyone like to add something?
Ich fasse zusammen, was wir festgehalten haben.I'll sum up what we agreed.
Das Protokoll schicke ich euch direkt im Anschluss.I'll send you the minutes right after.
Next: lesson 213Say no kindly

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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your meeting lines ready for the loft.

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