Yes, many Germans speak English. No, that won't get you through the Bürgeramt, your rental contract, or a parents' evening at school. Here's what the language reality really looks like, and how to get ahead of it.
In Berlin tech offices and Munich startups, you can work in English for years. But German public life runs in German: government offices answer in German, official letters arrive in German, doctors' receptionists book appointments in German, and your landlord's contract has no English translation. The moments that make you feel established (or helpless) are almost all German-language moments.
There's a social reality too. Colleagues will happily switch to English for you, but friendships, neighborhood life, clubs (the famous Vereine), and your children's school community happen in German. Expats who stay in the English bubble often describe feeling like permanent visitors, even after years.
Accepted certificates come from Goethe-Institut, telc, and the DTZ (integration-course exam). See our exam prep page for which test fits your case. Requirements change and individual cases vary, so always confirm with your embassy or Ausländerbehörde; in your consultation we'll map what applies to you and build it into your plan.
Whether you're six months out or already registered in Cologne, your plan starts from your real situation: your move date, your family, your job, and any certificate deadlines on your visa path.
See how it works →We rehearse your actual upcoming moments: the Bürgeramt appointment, the doctor call, the parent-teacher chat. Then you go do them for real, with support before and a debrief after.
Plan my German →Cultural navigation and confidence are built into every session. Lisa's signature workshops cover the emotional side of starting over that no textbook touches.
Explore the workshops →Book a free 15-minute consultation. We'll look at your timeline, your level, and the exact German your new life in Germany will ask of you.