More and more Brazilians are working remotely for German companies, usually in English—but those who do so without any German often feel an invisible barrier when it comes to truly integrating into the team and the company culture.
Where English Is Really Enough
Formal meetings, technical documentation, and official communication at German international companies are usually 100% in English—especially in the tech sector. That’s not the problem.
Where German makes a real difference
- Informal conversations on Slack/Teams—German colleagues often switch to German in digital hallway chats, quick messages, and inside jokes.
- Company culture—understanding cultural references, expressions, and team-specific humor requires more than just technical English.
- Career growth — promotions to leadership positions at companies headquartered in Germany often favor those who can interact in German with local stakeholders.
Remote work-specific vocabulary
- das Meeting / die Besprechung — meeting
- der Bildschirm teilen — share screen
- die Frist — deadline
- die Rückmeldung / das Feedback — feedback
A practical strategy for those short on time
Focus first on informal conversational German (the kind used in team conversations) before moving on to technical or formal German—that’s what truly builds connections with colleagues in everyday life, more so than rigid business vocabulary.
Develop natural conversation skills with native audio
DeutschBloom’s dialogues and expressions focus on real, everyday German—which helps with team integration much more than traditional corporate courses.
View dialoguesRelated articles
Your exam or your move won't wait for you to feel ready
People who prepare with the real Goethe mock exam show up on test day with no surprises. Test your level now on DeutschBloom, for free, and see exactly how far you have to go.