German · Noten / Zeugnis
The teacher talks about choosing a school after primary school: what to say in German
The teacher talks about the choice of school after primary school.
💡
How it's done. After primary school children go to a Hauptschule, Realschule, Gymnasium or Gesamtschule; the teacher gives a recommendation (Empfehlung) and the rules depend on the federal state; visit the open days.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Ihr Kind geht bald in die vierte Klasse. Wir besprechen die Empfehlung für die weiterführende Schule.Eer keent get bahlt een dee FEER-teh KLAH-seh. Veer besh-PREH-khayn dee emp-FEH-loong fyoor dee VIGH-tehr-fyoo-rayn-deh SHOO-leh.
Your child will soon be in the fourth grade. We're discussing the recommendation for the secondary school.
They might also say:
Wir sprechen heute über die Schulempfehlung nach der Grundschule.
Veer SHPREH-khayn KHOY-teh YOO-buh dee SHOO-lemp-feh-loong nahkh dehr GROONT-shoo-leh.
Today we're talking about the school recommendation after primary school.
YOU REPLY
Was bedeutet das? Welche Schulen gibt es?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs? VEL-kheh SHOO-layn geept es?
What does that mean? Which schools are there?
Or say:Was sind die Möglichkeiten?
Vahs zeent dee MYOH-gleekh-kigh-tayn?
THEY SAY
Es gibt Hauptschule, Realschule und Gymnasium. Je nach Bundesland gibt es auch Gesamtschulen.Es geept KHOWPT-shoo-leh, REH-uhl-shoo-leh oont gyoom-NAH-zee-oom. Yeh nahkh BOON-deh-slahnt geept es owkh geh-ZAHMT-shoo-layn.
There are Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium. Depending on the federal state there are also comprehensive schools.
2
YOU REPLY
Welche Schule empfehlen Sie für mein Kind?
VEL-kheh SHOO-leh emp-FEH-layn zee fyoor mighn keent?
Which school do you recommend for my child?
THEY SAY
Ihr Kind lernt gut. Ich empfehle das Gymnasium, wenn es sich in Deutsch noch verbessert.Eer keent lehrnt goot. Eekh emp-FEH-leh dahs gyoom-NAH-zee-oom, vayn es zeekh een doych nokh fehr-BEH-sehrt.
Your child learns well. I recommend the Gymnasium if it improves in German a bit more.
3
YOU REPLY
Kann ich mir die Schulen anschauen?
Kahn eekh meer dee SHOO-layn AHN-show-ayn?
Can I look at the schools?
THEY SAY
Ja, viele Schulen haben einen Tag der offenen Tür.Yah, FEE-leh SHOO-layn KHAH-bayn IGH-nayn tahk dehr OH-feh-nayn tyoor.
Yes, many schools have an open day.
4
YOU FINISH
Danke für die Information.
DAHN-keh fyoor dee een-for-muh-tsee-OHN.
Thanks for the information.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Kind
keent
noun
child
geht
get
verb
goes
bald
bahlt
adverb
soon
Klasse
KLAH-seh
noun
class
besprechen
besh-PREH-khayn
verb
to discuss
Empfehlung
emp-FEH-loong
noun
recommendation
49 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report