{"id":157663,"date":"2018-08-03T19:05:04","date_gmt":"2018-08-03T17:05:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/berlinstartupjobs.com\/?page_id=157663"},"modified":"2025-01-06T12:52:32","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T11:52:32","slug":"working-as-non-german-speaker","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/berlinstartupjobs.com\/de\/guide-working-in-berlin\/working-as-non-german-speaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Ich bin Ausl\u00e4nder und spreche nicht gut Deutsch:<\/em> Working in Berlin as a non-German Speaker"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI don’t believe there is anything in the whole earth that you can’t learn in Berlin except the German language.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2014 from Mark Twain\u2019s notebook, 1891<\/p>\n

Twain\u2019s observation may be old, but it still holds true. Even now, it\u2019s alarmingly easy to live and work in Berlin as a non-German speaker. Way too<\/em> easy, in fact. However, if you don\u2019t make an effort to learn at least enough German to be polite, then you consign yourself to an expat bubble and miss out on the full breadth of the Berlin experience. And while bubbles might be pretty in the moment, they\u2019re very prone to bursting. The nature of living in the city is that people come and go relatively frequently, so if you stay friends with only other immigrants, then you\u2019ll find yourself constantly attending farewell shindigs and having to make new friends all over again. Plus, you\u2019ll miss out on all that highly entertaining U-Bahn eavesdropping!<\/p>\n

Signing up for a German course<\/a><\/h3>\n

Make sure you sign up for a German course at one of the many excellent German language schools dotted across the city. Many people\u2019s first stop is the Goethe Institut<\/a>, and while the courses are world-class, they\u2019re a bit expensive for those on a budget. If your schedule allows, try to find a course at your local Volkshochschule<\/a> which are much more affordable, but often operate a class schedule that doesn\u2019t gel well with full-time work. There are also schools such as Expath<\/a> and Speakeasy<\/a> which cater specifically to people like you. There really are a mind-boggling array of German courses available in Berlin, so ask around for recommendations. And don\u2019t forget language apps like Duolingo<\/strong> or Berlin\u2019s own Babbel<\/a> that make it easy to get into a language-learning habit.<\/p>\n

However, until your German is up to scratch, you still need to get on with this living thing. Here are some ways to navigate life in Berlin in the meantime.<\/p>\n

Finding Services in English<\/h3>\n

The city of Berlin, at least in its central districts, is very geared towards anglophones. And in fact, if you speak English, there\u2019s not much that\u2019ll be closed off to you.<\/p>\n

Whether you need to visit a doctor, find a hairdresser, rent a flat, or file your taxes, there are many services across the city that will help you out. As always, it\u2019s best to ask friends for up-to-date recommendations but a swift Googling will also turn up some solid results.<\/p>\n

Life Admin<\/a> in English<\/h3>\n

Germany is big on bureaucracy, and legally, most of it has to be done through German. If, for example, you need to attend the B\u00fcrgeramt<\/em> to register your new apartment, or collect a driving license, etc, the Beamte or civil servants aren\u2019t supposed to speak to you in any language other than German. That doesn\u2019t mean that they won\u2019t, but don\u2019t expect to find someone who will bend the rules for you, or who can even speak English at all. Make an effort and be polite by learning off some stock phrases before you go in. Alternatively, bring along a German-speaking friend to do the talking for you.<\/p>\n

Most banks will have English-speaking representatives that can help you with your queries. Same goes for insurance, phone, and rental companies. In fact, even if you do speak a little German, it\u2019s probably better to perform these transactions through English to make sure you don\u2019t misunderstand anything. Just make sure to be polite and friendly throughout, and you\u2019ll be fine. If you need to file your taxes, it\u2019s worth paying an English-speaking tax advisor who\u2019ll do it for you and make sure you tick all the right boxes.<\/p>\n

Negotiating Work Contracts<\/a><\/h3>\n

Given the nature of the startup scene, many of these internationally-focused companies will be happy to provide you with a contract in English. After all, they can\u2019t ask you to sign something you don\u2019t understand. At the very least, you should be provided with a contract in two languages in parallel translation. Be mindful however, that in the event of a contract dispute, the German one will be where the buck stops, so make sure that someone checks it for you.<\/p>\n

Working in German Offices<\/h3>\n

While the lingua franca<\/em> of most startup offices is English, don\u2019t assume that this will be the case. After all, why would two Germans speak to each other in a language not their own? However, it\u2019s constantly surprising how mindful the locals are about including non-German speakers in the conversation, and you\u2019ll often get very lucky. Traditions can be a little different from country to country, too, so here are some small pieces of office etiquette to be mindful of.<\/p>\n