Just Speak – Day 03 (Prepare, Prepare, Prepare)

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare: How to Get Ready for Conversations in German

Preparation is key to success, even for informal meetings. Whether you’re attending a parent-teacher meeting, catching up with a friend, or talking to a colleague, predicting the context and refreshing the relevant vocabulary can make you feel more confident and prepared. In this article, we’ll explore why preparation matters, how to predict conversation topics, and examples to help you prepare effectively.

Why Preparation Matters

When you anticipate the context of a conversation, you can:

1. Reduce Anxiety: You won’t feel caught off guard when you already know some key words and phrases.
2. Communicate Clearly: Preparing specific sentences ensures you can express yourself better.
3. Stay Focused: You’ll spend less time thinking and more time participating.

How to Predict Context

Ask yourself these questions:

1. What is the purpose of the meeting? For example, discussing your child’s progress at school.
2. Who will be there? Teachers, parents, or friends?
3. What topics might come up? For a parent-teacher meeting, you might discuss grades, behavior, or learning challenges.

Once you’ve identified the context, brainstorm potential questions and responses.

Preparing for a Parent-Teacher Meeting: A Practical Example

Imagine you’re attending a parent-teacher meeting. Here’s how you can prepare:

Step 1: Anticipate the Context

Possible topics include:

• Your child’s academic progress.
• Their behavior in class.
• Homework or upcoming projects.

Step 2: Refresh Relevant Vocabulary

Learn or revise these words:

• der Lehrer/die Lehrerin (Teacher)
• der Schüler/die Schülerin (Student)
• die Hausaufgaben (Homework)
• das Verhalten (Behavior)
• die Noten (Grades)

Step 3: Prepare Sentences to Say

1. Guten Tag, ich bin [Your Name], der/die Elternteil von [Child’s Name]. (Good day, I am [Your Name], the parent of [Child’s Name].)
2. Wie geht es meinem Kind in der Schule? (How is my child doing at school?)
3. Gibt es Bereiche, in denen er/sie sich verbessern kann? (Are there areas where he/she can improve?)
4. Wie kann ich zu Hause helfen, um den Unterricht zu unterstützen? (How can I support the lessons at home?)
5. Haben Sie Bedenken, die wir besprechen sollten? (Do you have concerns we should discuss?)

Step 4: Prepare to Listen

Be ready to hear and respond to sentences like:

• “Ihr Kind hat sich in Mathematik sehr verbessert.” (Your child has improved a lot in math.)
• “Wir müssen am Verhalten in der Klasse arbeiten.” (We need to work on classroom behavior.)

10 Sentences to Practice

1. Ich möchte mehr über die Leistungen meines Kindes erfahren. (I want to know more about my child’s performance.)
2. Gibt es Projekte, an denen er/sie arbeiten sollte? (Are there projects he/she should work on?)
3. Was sind die Stärken meines Kindes? (What are my child’s strengths?)
4. Könnten Sie ein Beispiel geben? (Could you give an example?)
5. Wie ist seine/ihre Beziehung zu den Mitschülern? (How is his/her relationship with classmates?)
6. Welche Ressourcen empfehlen Sie für das Lernen zu Hause? (What resources do you recommend for learning at home?)
7. Ich möchte sicherstellen, dass er/sie genug Zeit für Hausaufgaben hat. (I want to ensure he/she has enough time for homework.)
8. Vielen Dank für Ihre Arbeit und Unterstützung. (Thank you for your work and support.)
9. Wir freuen uns auf die Zusammenarbeit. (We look forward to working together.)
10. Gibt es weitere Treffen, die wir planen sollten? (Are there additional meetings we should plan?)

Vocabulary Booster

German Word	Type	English Translation
der Elternteil	Noun	Parent
der Lehrer/die Lehrerin	Noun	Teacher
der Schüler/die Schülerin	Noun	Student
die Hausaufgaben	Noun	Homework
das Verhalten	Noun	Behavior
die Noten	Noun	Grades
die Leistungen	Noun	Performance
die Stärken	Noun	Strengths
das Beispiel	Noun	Example
die Beziehung	Noun	Relationship
der Mitschüler	Noun	Classmate
die Ressourcen	Noun	Resources
lernen	Verb	To learn
unterstützen	Verb	To support
arbeiten	Verb	To work
besprechen	Verb	To discuss
sicherstellen	Verb	To ensure
die Zeit	Noun	Time
die Zusammenarbeit	Noun	Collaboration
das Treffen	Noun	Meeting

Final Thoughts

Preparation doesn’t have to be complicated. By anticipating the context, learning key words, and preparing simple sentences, you can walk into any conversation—even informal ones—with confidence. Remember, the more you prepare, the more fluent and natural your German will become. So take a deep breath, prepare, and go for it!