relocating to germany..jobs...

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lawrenceots

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I'm thinking about somehow going to germany and staying/working there for a while..really just so I can be closer to my gf, so probably looking at the farthest being Cologne. Not sure how to go about it really...What to do or how to go about it. Obviously need a job over there, but don't know where to start!

Does anyone have any suggestions or advice?
 
Do you speak German?

I was gonna say speak to 'Kady...........
 
There are lots of Brits working over there and it's a great place to live.

The Germans themselves can take a bit of getting used to, but as long as you make an effort to learn the lingo and the regional customs then you should be fine.

Employment if you don't speak German might be a bigger problem however, as you would be mainly restricted to looking in the Ex Pat community, and those places are highly sought after.

Make sure that you plan properly and don't just head out there on a whim!
 
good point...I don't speak much german!

Yes I'll give Rob a pm and see what he thinks maybe...

he did mention having a look for student places a while back..
 
lawrenceots said:
good point...I don't speak much german!

Yes I'll give Rob a pm and see what he thinks maybe...

he did mention having a look for student places a while back..
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You might have a bit of a problem PM'ing him!!!

There are a couple of other guys on here in the NR-Wf area, but I can't remember who they are I'm afraid.
 
Worked for 3 years in Germany, Hamburg and Frankfurt mainly and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well worth trying to pick up the lingo, the basics are pretty straightforward to learn.
 
Lawrence,

I lived out there with the RAF for around 9 years & life is much easier if you attempt to speak German.

If you are serious about trying to live there, then get to a local college & try & find a good language course. School taught German is not what you need tbh!

The only way to learn the language quickly, is to get on a course where you spend 99% of the time talking German. You need to overcome embarrassment, talk very basic language & build up. This is how we learn to speak our own language :shrug:

I took German at school many moons ago, but learnt most of my German on a colloquial course. For vocabulary, always learn the prefix Der, Die & Das with the word, because like most languages when you ask “why” the reply is “because it is” :bang:

It is an amazing place to live & if I was given the opportunity I would live there again.

Mick
 
I didn't realise Rob has 'gone'! Just found the thread, still a bit in the dark though- real shame many will miss him. :(

Thanks for the advice - all taken on board and will be doing some more research. :)
 
My girlfriend is from near Hannover and if I could speak German I'd definitely consider living there. I've spent a lot of time there and it's a better quality of life to England in my opinion! As others have said, to work there you really need to learn German and you'll need it for day to day life as well. Many of the younger generation speak English but the rest don't as much and it's going to make life very difficult if you can't converse with them. By the way, I came across another member on here who's an ex pat living in Germany, his username is Naboo32, may be worth asking him some questions as he's lived there for 8 years. (Hope that's OK Andy!)

*Edit* My other advice would be to start speaking German with your girlfriend all the time as it increases your vocab my a mile. I said above "if I could speak German" whereas I meant if I could speak FLUENT German, because I do speak enough to get by in daily life, just not enough to work there. Also, good book you should buy if you're going to learn is The German Handbook by Paul Webster. I use a student forum where there's a German Learners society to practice my written German and that book was recommended, and I've found it very useful.
 
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You could give NAAFI a try. they are all over the place in Germany. You also need to look at the health care side of things as that could be a huge factor into things. not much help i know but as everyone else said you NEED to learn German. if you do not mind me asking is your GF German?

http://www.jobsatnaafi.co.uk/
 
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I have just booked some german lessons (with my grans neighbour who is a retired languages teacher, so a better rate hopefully!). Yes she is german - but speaks English better than I do - almost! :P
 
lawrenceots said:
I have just booked some german lessons (with my grans neighbour who is a retired languages teacher, so a better rate hopefully!). Yes she is german - but speaks English better than I do - almost! :P
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Good for you! At first you'll probably have to learn verb tables over and over but one you remember the verb endings it gets easy as lots take the same endings.

Eg to go = Gehen

I go - ich gehe (take the n off)
You go - du gehst (take of en and add st)
he/she/it goes er/sie/es geht (remove en add t)
We go - Wir gehen (same as the "infinitive"..the word before and endings are added)
You (more than one person) go - ihr geht (same as er/sie/es)
You go (theres formal and informal forms of 'you', which you'll learn) -sie gehen (same as infinitive)

And those endings work for the majority of other verbs. To cook...kochen...he cooks? Take off the en and add t "er kocht! Of course there are lits of exeptions but thats your basis for verb endings! End of lesson one :D
 
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My wife and I have worked on media projects a few times every year for the last few years in Germany.
Various venues including Regensberg, Nurnberg and Saarwellingen. We've always found the German people very polite, respectful and great English speakers, though If living there I'd make serious effort to learn the language.
There's a world of difference in the quality of life there. Very little grafitti and litter, never saw speed cameras/humps and if I were younger, I'd relocate there too.
The only downside seems to be the same economic downturn as the UK, but if you have the skills and contacts, go for it :)
 
Thanks for the tips! :) I've kind of got the basics (I mean the very basics!) through a few apps I got - pretty useful. I've only been around Aachen and some of the surrounding areas, but it is a brilliant place. I don't exactly have qualifications (only in 2nd year at OU - still many points to go! :() or contacts... decisions..oh well first start lear german - rest from there! :)
 
I've just cottoned onto this thread, although I haven't been a member on here for that long.

Anyway, if you contemplating moving to Germany then the following website will probably be of help to you:

http://www.toytowngermany.com/forum/

It is for English speakers in Germany and is a very active with many members.

Good luck.

John.
 
Mickwreay said:
always learn the prefix Der, Die & Das with the word, because like most languages when you ask “why” the reply is “because it is” :bang:
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hehe good advice. I remember when learning French having to learn masculine vs feminine.
"Miss why is it feminine?"
"Because it is"
This occured atleast 5 times per lesson.
 
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