{"id":14327,"date":"2026-09-15T11:29:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T09:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/languagepartners.nl\/?p=14327"},"modified":"2026-09-15T11:29:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T09:29:08","slug":"doing-business-with-germany-why-english-often-is-not-enough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/languagepartners.nl\/en\/blog\/german\/doing-business-with-germany-why-english-often-is-not-enough\/","title":{"rendered":"Doing business with Germany, why English often is not enough"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reading time: 5 minutes<\/em><\/p>\n

The first meeting with the German client went well, in English. The second too. But at the third meeting a competitor showed up who spoke fluent German, and the conversation took on a different temperature.<\/p>\n

Anyone who does business with Germany knows the phenomenon: it works in English, but it clicks in German.<\/p>\n

Why does German make the difference, even though Germans speak excellent English?<\/h2>\n

Because language in German business culture is more than communication: it is a signal of commitment. Speaking German says: we take this market seriously, we are not here for a one-off deal.<\/p>\n

Moreover, as conversations progress they inevitably move to a layer where the other party’s English becomes thinner: the technical department, procurement, the shop floor. Someone who can switch to German there hears things the English-speaking competitor misses.<\/p>\n

How much German is enough?<\/h2>\n

The goal is rarely C1. For most commercial and technical roles, a solid B1 to B2 already makes the difference: making small talk, following a tour, writing an email that has not gone through a translation tool.<\/p>\n

Dutch speakers also have a head start: the languages are close to each other, so the first levels come faster than with almost any other language. The pitfall is precisely that closeness: rudimentary German full of false friends does more harm than good in a formal business culture.<\/p>\n

\n

Want to offer business German to your team?<\/p>\n

See how our business German training<\/a> is structured: in-company, blended or individual, tailored to your industry.<\/p>\n

See business German<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

How do you approach this for a sales or technical team?<\/h2>\n

Build the training around real situations from your German practice: the trade fair stand, the phone call to procurement, handling a complaint. A small group with the same goal works excellently here, supplemented by specialist vocabulary from your industry. Which format fits is covered in our overview of training formats<\/a>; the choice between your own group and individual training is in the blog on in-company or individual training<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And start well before the peak season of your German business. A programme of fifteen to twenty weeks that starts in October delivers the difference on the trade fair floor in spring.<\/p>\n

Frequently asked questions about business German<\/h2>\n

How quickly does a Dutch speaker reach B1 in German?<\/h3>\n

With three to three and a half hours of training per week, most Dutch speakers reach B1 within fifteen to twenty weeks. The closeness to Dutch significantly accelerates vocabulary building.<\/p>\n

Is a conversation-only course worthwhile?<\/h3>\n

For employees who already have a foundation and specifically want to improve speaking skills, yes. For those starting from a low level, a more structured programme is more effective.<\/p>\n

Do you also work with technical or industry-specific German?<\/h3>\n

Yes. Our trainers tailor the content to the sector and daily work situation of the participants. Specialist vocabulary for technical industry, logistics or the legal sector is a standard part of tailored programmes.<\/p>\n

\n

Not sure which level your team needs for the German market?<\/p>\n

We are happy to think along about goal, level and training format. No obligation, proposal within two working days.<\/p>\n

Request advice<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

Next week: Legal English, why legal teams need a specialist approach. Previous blog: In-company language training or individual training: the HR decision<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reading time: 5 minutes The first meeting with the German client went well, in English. The second too. But at the third meeting a competitor showed up who spoke fluent German, and the conversation took on a different temperature. Anyone who does business with Germany knows the phenomenon: it works…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":14325,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[789],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-german"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBusiness German for Dutch Companies | Language Partners<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Germany is our largest trading partner, but speaking only English leaves revenue on the table. 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