Welcome! In this short lesson you'll practice natural German phrases for talking about work, your job, hours and asking for help. Have fun—this is practical language you can use at the office or in small talk.
Level A2: This lesson focuses on common workplace questions and answers: ask someone 'Was machst du beruflich?', say your job ('Ich arbeite als ...'), where you work ('Ich arbeite bei ...'), your hours, and how to ask for help. CEFR-aligned and ready for real conversations—perfect for practicing quick, useful phrases in Lesson 54.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Ask and answer basic questions about jobs and workplaces (Level A2).
Say where you work, your role and your working hours.
Ask for help at work and talk about breaks and days off.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
Was machst du beruflich?
What do you do for work?
Meaning: What do you do for work?
When to use: Use this informal question to ask a colleague or friend about their job. For formal situations use 'Was machen Sie beruflich?'.
Tip: Confusing formal/informal: don't use 'du' with people you should address as 'Sie'.
Was machst du beruflich? Ich bin Programmierer.
What do you do for work? I'm a programmer.
Wenn du neu im Team bist, fragst du: „Was machst du beruflich?“
If you're new to the team, you ask: 'What do you do for work?'
Ich arbeite als ___.
I work as a ___.
Meaning: I work as a ___.
When to use: Use this frame to say your profession or role. Often no article is needed: 'Ich arbeite als Lehrer.' Adjust gender if necessary.
Ich arbeite als Programmierer in einem Start-up.
I work as a programmer in a start-up.
Ich arbeite als Ärztin im städtischen Krankenhaus.
I work as a (female) doctor in the city hospital.
Ich arbeite bei ___.
I work at ___.
Meaning: I work at ___.
When to use: Say this to indicate your employer or workplace (company, organization). For places like school or university you might also use 'in' or 'an'.
Ich arbeite bei Siemens seit drei Jahren.
I have worked at Siemens for three years.
Ich arbeite bei einer kleinen Firma in meiner Stadt.
I work at a small company in my town.
Ich arbeite im Bereich ___.
I work in ___.
Meaning: I work in ___.
When to use: Use this to name your field or department, e.g. 'im Bereich IT' or 'im Bereich Marketing'.
Ich arbeite im Bereich Marketing und mache Social Media.
I work in marketing and do social media.
Sie arbeitet im Bereich IT-Sicherheit.
She works in IT security.
Ich suche einen Job.
I'm looking for a job.
Meaning: I'm looking for a job.
When to use: Say this when you are searching for employment. A slightly more neutral alternative is 'Ich suche Arbeit.'
Nach dem Abschluss sage ich oft: 'Ich suche einen Job.'
After graduating I often say: 'I'm looking for a job.'
Ich suche einen Job in Teilzeit neben dem Studium.
I'm looking for a part-time job alongside my studies.
Ich fange um ___ mit der Arbeit an.
I start work at ___.
Meaning: I start work at ___.
When to use: Use this to tell when your shift or workday begins. For times say 'um acht', 'um 9 Uhr' or 'um halb neun'.
Ich fange um 9 Uhr mit der Arbeit an.
I start work at 9 o'clock.
In der Woche fange ich um halb acht mit der Arbeit an.
On weekdays I start work at 7:30.
Ich habe um ___ Feierabend.
I finish work at ___.
Meaning: I finish work at ___.
When to use: Use 'Ich habe um ___ Feierabend' to say when your workday ends. Common spoken phrase in Germany.
Ich habe um 17 Uhr Feierabend und treffe dann Freunde.
I finish work at 5 pm and then meet friends.
Heute habe ich erst um 19 Uhr Feierabend.
Today I don't finish until 7 pm.
Ich habe am ___ frei.
I have a day off on ___.
Meaning: I have a day off on ___.
When to use: Say this to indicate a day off: 'am Montag', 'am Freitag' or a date like 'am 12. Mai'.
Ich habe am Montag frei, lass uns etwas planen.
I have Monday off, let's plan something.
Am 1. Mai habe ich frei und mache einen Ausflug.
On May 1st I have a day off and will take a trip.
Kannst du mir bei dieser Aufgabe helfen?
Can you help me with this task?
Meaning: Can you help me with this task?
When to use: Use this to ask a colleague or friend for help with a specific task. Formal alternative: 'Können Sie mir bei dieser Aufgabe helfen?'.
Tip: Using the formal 'Können Sie' with close colleagues can sound too distant; match tone to the relationship.
Kannst du mir bei dieser Aufgabe helfen? Ich komme nicht weiter.
Can you help me with this task? I can't get further.
Wenn du beschäftigt bist, sag einfach: 'Kannst du mir bei dieser Aufgabe helfen?'
If you're busy, simply say: 'Can you help me with this task?'
Ich mache gerade Pause.
I'm on break.
Meaning: I'm on break.
When to use: Say this to explain you're taking a short pause. Another natural option is 'Ich bin gerade in der Pause.'
Ich mache gerade Pause, können wir in zehn Minuten sprechen?
I'm on break, can we talk in ten minutes?
Jetzt mache ich gerade Pause und esse etwas.
Right now I'm on break and eating something.
Ich arbeite Vollzeit.
I work full-time.
Meaning: I work full-time.
When to use: Use this to describe that you work full-time. You can also say 'Ich arbeite in Vollzeit.'
Seit Januar arbeite ich Vollzeit in der Firma.
Since January I have been working full-time at the company.
Er arbeitet Vollzeit und hat wenig freie Zeit unter der Woche.
He works full-time and has little free time during the week.
Ich arbeite Teilzeit.
I work part-time.
Meaning: I work part-time.
When to use: Use this to say you work part-time. Also possible: 'Ich arbeite in Teilzeit.'
Ich arbeite Teilzeit, weil ich studiere.
I work part-time because I study.
Sie arbeitet Teilzeit und kümmert sich um die Kinder.
She works part-time and looks after the children.
Um wie viel Uhr ist das Meeting?
What time is the meeting?
Meaning: What time is the meeting?
When to use: Ask this when you want the meeting time. 'Meeting' is common in German workplaces; 'die Besprechung' is an alternative.
Um wie viel Uhr ist das Meeting morgen?
What time is the meeting tomorrow?
Kannst du sagen, um wie viel Uhr ist das Meeting heute?
Can you say what time the meeting is today?
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna and David chat in the office kitchen about jobs, hours and a meeting.
What is David's job?
Anna
Was machst du beruflich?
What do you do for work?
David
Ich arbeite als Lehrer. Ich arbeite bei der Stadt.
I work as a teacher. I work for the city.
Anna
Arbeitest du Vollzeit?
Do you work full-time?
David
Ja, ich arbeite Vollzeit. Ich fange um 8 Uhr mit der Arbeit an.
Yes, I work full-time. I start work at 8 o'clock.
Anna
Um wie viel Uhr ist das Meeting heute?
What time is the meeting today?
David
Um 15 Uhr. Ich mache gerade Pause.
At 3 pm. I'm on break.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which phrase asks someone informally 'What do you do for work?'
How do you say 'I work at [a company]'?
Which phrase means 'I'm on break'?
How do you ask 'What time is the meeting?' in German?
Anna asks David: 'What do you do for work?'
Anna fragt David: '____ beruflich?'
Lisa says: 'I have a day off on ___.' (She names the day.)
Lisa sagt: 'Nächste Woche bin ich nicht da. ____' (Sie nennt den Tag.)
The invitation says: 'Please reply: What time is the meeting?'
In der Einladung steht: 'Bitte antworten: ____'
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
