Archive

Every essay, teardown, and grammar note — in one place.

A2
Sep 4 3 min read
Applying for a Job: The Phone Call and the Online Form
Phoning about an advertised job, asking for the deadline and where to send your file — plus what to say when the online form won't accept your documents.
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A2
Sep 4 3 min read
Registering at the RAV: German for the Swiss Job Centre
Registering as unemployed, the two registrations nobody tells you about, when the money arrives — and the advisor meeting where you ask what to improve.
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A2
Sep 4 3 min read
At the Strassenverkehrsamt: Your Licence and Your Car
Converting a foreign driving licence before the twelve-month deadline, and registering a car — including what a personalised number plate really costs.
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A2
Sep 4 3 min read
Registering and Deregistering at Your Commune in German
The fourteen-day rule, what to bring, what to do when one document is still missing — and the deregistration conversation when you move away.
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A2
Sep 4 3 min read
Renewing Your Residence Permit: German for the Migration Office
Asking to renew your permit, handling the missing document, and finding out what a certified translation costs and how long everything takes.
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A2
Sep 4 3 min read
Resigning in German: The Conversation and the Handover
Telling your boss you're leaving, holding your ground against a counter-offer, and planning the handover that decides how you'll be remembered.
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A2
Sep 2 3 min read
Asking for Time Off: Holiday Requests and Short-Notice Days
Requesting two weeks in July when July is a bad month, and asking for a single day off at short notice — with the one detail that makes your boss say yes.
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A2
Sep 2 3 min read
In the Team Meeting: Changing the Agenda and Disagreeing Politely
Getting your topic onto the agenda, saying a timeline is too tight, and turning a disagreement with a colleague into a solution.
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A2
Sep 2 3 min read
Reporting to Your Boss: Delays, Bad Numbers and Plan B
How to give a project update when the news isn't good, explain a delay without excuses, and respond to criticism of your report.
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A2
Sep 2 4 min read
The Job Interview in German: Experience, Salary and the Contract
Talking about your experience, naming a salary range, and negotiating the probation period and home office — the German you need in a Swiss interview.
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A2
Sep 2 3 min read
When the School Calls: Reacting to News About Your Child
The phone rings and it's your child's teacher. The four questions to ask, in order, so you know what happened, how bad it is, and what you need to do.
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A2
Sep 2 3 min read
School Camp and School Events: Signing Up and Joining In
Filling in the Schullager form, saying where an allergy goes, asking about the cost — and finding out whether parents are welcome at the summer party.
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