German · Real conversations
Work updates: German conversation practice
Explain progress and agree on a priority. Read the exchange, reveal the translations when you need them, then try your part before looking at the sample answers.
B1 · Read and rehearse
Your role: A colleague giving a short project update.
Goal: Explain progress and agree on a priority.
Read the conversation
Partner
Woran arbeitest du heute?
Show English translation
What are you working on today?
You
Ich arbeite am Bericht.
Show English translation
I'm working on the report.
Partner
Wie weit bist du mit dem Bericht?
Show English translation
How far have you got with the report?
You
Ich habe den ersten Entwurf fertig.
Show English translation
I've finished the first draft.
Partner
Guter Anfang. Kannst du die geprüfte Fassung heute schicken?
Show English translation
Good start. Can you send the checked version today?
You
Ich brauche mehr Zeit.
Show English translation
I need more time.
Partner
Wie viel mehr Zeit brauchst du?
Show English translation
How much longer do you need?
You
Wann ist die Frist?
Show English translation
What's the deadline?
Partner
Morgen Nachmittag. Wir müssen auch die Zahlen aktualisieren.
Show English translation
Tomorrow afternoon. We also need the figures updated.
You
Was soll ich zuerst machen?
Show English translation
What should I prioritize?
Try your part first
Partner says: What are you working on today? Your goal: I'm working on the report.
Reveal a sample reply
Ich arbeite am Bericht.
I'm working on the report.
Partner says: How far have you got with the report? Your goal: I've finished the first draft.
Reveal a sample reply
Ich habe den ersten Entwurf fertig.
I've finished the first draft.
Partner says: Good start. Can you send the checked version today? Your goal: I need more time.
Reveal a sample reply
Ich brauche mehr Zeit.
I need more time.
Partner says: How much longer do you need? Your goal: What's the deadline?
Reveal a sample reply
Wann ist die Frist?
What's the deadline?
Partner says: Tomorrow afternoon. We also need the figures updated. Your goal: What should I prioritize?
Reveal a sample reply
Was soll ich zuerst machen?
What should I prioritize?
Make it your own
- Change the task.
- Request a different amount of time.
- Clarify two competing priorities.
Keep the useful expression and change the detail. There can be several appropriate answers; the revealed replies are examples to learn from.
This rehearsal in other languages
A note on speaking German
Use Sie for formal address and du with people you address informally. Könnten Sie …? is a useful polite request. Keep noun capitals and the verb position shown in each complete sentence.
The examples preserve German accents and ß. Read a full sentence before replacing a detail: a subordinate clause can move the verb to the end, and case can change an article or pronoun.
