What we can talk about (B2)...

telling and evaluating in retrospect the stages, turning points and decisions of your life

describing qualities in a nuanced way, comparing how you see yourself and how others see you

presenting a person who has shaped me and explaining why

childhood, youth, adulthood, old age: what characterises each phase, opportunities and burdens

what makes a good life, measuring happiness, weighing opinions

naming joy, anger, disappointment and fear precisely and giving reasons

gut or head, a pro and con list, giving advice

short- and long-term goals, how to reach them, what can get in the way

giving up a bad habit: alone or with help, advantages and disadvantages

ideals of beauty, pressure from the media, reasons and consequences

brand-name clothes for children and teenagers, peer pressure, quality

dealing with your own time, stress, setting priorities

describing forms of friendship (also online), evaluating advantages and disadvantages

nuclear family, patchwork family, single parents, flat share; describing and evaluating change

marriage, long-distance relationships, fixed-term marriage; discussing expectations and conflicts

the relationship between young and old, the role of grandparents, mutual prejudices

rules, limits, freedom; what parents may and should do

tasks of women and men in the family and at work, equality

children and career, part-time work, childcare

criticising and accepting criticism, finding compromises

reasons, consequences, suggestions against loneliness in the city and in old age

living together, noise, resolving conflicts, helping each other

explaining and comparing customs, evaluating their meaning today

expectations when visiting, suitable presents, differences between countries

responsibility, costs, animals in the city, pros and cons

flat share, multi-generation house, tiny house, owning or renting; weighing up

high rents, flat hunting, comparing ads, discussing solutions

comparing quality of life, moving out of the city, rural exodus

history, special features, what should be improved

green cities, car-free city centres, gentrification

subletting during the holidays: advantages, risks, giving advice

organising a move, getting information, settling in

the purpose of house rules, conflicts about quiet hours

structure, strengths, weaknesses, your own experiences

separate schools for girls and boys: exchanging arguments

should students rate their professors, or pupils their teachers?

teaching at home instead of compulsory schooling, advantages and disadvantages, taking a position

more learning in kindergarten or playing?

public or private education, fairness

side job, scholarship, loan, parents; evaluating the alternatives

expensive but good: giving advice

subject, place, university or university of applied sciences; weighing the criteria

presenting dual vocational training, comparing it with university

further education, lifelong learning, motivation

comparing online and face-to-face lessons

which subject is missing at school (finance, media, programming)?

the purpose of marks, pressure to perform, other forms of assessment

experiences, costs, benefits

sharing experiences, comparing ways of learning, giving tips

foreign languages already in kindergarten? Gathering arguments from texts

living with two or more languages, growing up bilingual

German in Austria, Germany and Switzerland; dialect at school and at work

why languages disappear, whether they should be protected

foreign words in German, enrichment or loss

gestures, eye contact, distance; misunderstandings between cultures

topics, taboos, starting conversations and keeping them going

forms of address, may you say du to teachers or bosses?

getting information, explaining your request, asking questions

formulating criticism, making complaints, reacting to criticism

presenting tasks, processes and responsibilities in a structured way

sector, products, departments, special features

job security, salary, career, communication in the company

events, people, motivation

internships, holiday jobs, goals; advising each other

how to go about it in a country of my choice: offers, first contact, documents

what matters, typical questions, clothes, preparation; practising parts of it

presenting your own career orally, explaining gaps

presenting a business idea: offer, target group, special features

features, benefits, advantages and disadvantages

working in a team or alone, mistakes and conflicts in the team

money, working hours or working atmosphere; motivation from the company

shift work, paying for or compensating overtime, flexible working hours

a lower salary for more free time?

open-plan, single office, open space; quiet versus exchange

advantages and disadvantages, rules, a conversation with colleagues about it

stress at work, pressure to perform, tips against stress

what makes work meaningful, work and identity

what makes a good boss, power and responsibility

conflicts, gossip, helpfulness, tips for getting along

the weekend, the company outing, conversations during breaks

customer complaints, a new colleague gives poor advice: clarifying solutions and responsibilities

a department moving, exchanging arguments for and against, finding a consensus

New Year reception, staff party, designing the break room: suggestions, costs, sharing out tasks

pay differences between women and men, reasons and measures

which jobs are respected and why, discussing a chart

comparing self-employed people and employees, describing a chart

work without pay, motivation, value to society

which jobs are disappearing, which are emerging

shopping centre or the shop around the corner, taking on roles

should shops open on Sundays? Taking on roles

convenience, returns, consequences for city centres

what we buy and why, buying criteria, a chart on buying decisions

flea market, second-hand shops, online marketplaces; where and why

fair trade, repairing instead of throwing away, planned obsolescence

its effect, advertising for children, influencers, evaluating slogans

car sharing, borrowing, swapping; advantages and disadvantages

saving, debt, pocket money, buying in instalments, paying cashless

delivery services, home help, comparing and rating services

a device is broken, guarantee, consumer rights, presenting a complaint

assessing business ideas, opportunities and risks of starting a business

production conditions, cheap clothing, the responsibility of buyers

describing areas such as exercise, nutrition and sleep, one in more detail, advantages and disadvantages

canteen, packed lunch, snack bar; evaluating alternatives

vegetarian, vegan, regional, organic; exchanging opinions

eating habits in your home country, presenting a typical dish

causes, food banks, dumpster diving, what can be done

which sport, how often, giving each other tips

major events, salaries, doping, football as a social issue

causes, consequences, relaxation, sleep, breaks at work

noise in everyday life, strain, what can be done about it

giving up smoking, alone or in a course, giving advice

doctor's visits, insurance, waiting times in different countries

home remedies, naturopathy, contrasting opinions

fitness, diets, cosmetic surgery; advising someone

which media, what for, which problems; exchanging tips

self-presentation, privacy, online friendships

being available all the time, a digital break, rules for phone use

internet and gaming addiction, signs, what helps

where I get my information, newspaper, TV, internet; credibility

recognising rumours and fake news, passing on information (reported speech)

books, newspapers, e-books; recommending reading to each other

series, cinema or at home

computers and presentations in class, interpreting a chart

use in everyday life and at work, opportunities, risks, rules

what companies and the state know about us, protecting personal data

technology at work, what changes, when technology fails

content, author, your own opinion

plot, actors, rating

musical style, venue, your own preferences

type of sport, place, how it went, result

free time as quality of life, how free time has changed

presenting and promoting unusual hobbies

music and emotion, music and learning, learning an instrument

the purpose of art, free or paid entry, evaluating modern art

presenting a World Heritage Site, protection versus tourism

the city's cultural offerings, funding culture

putting together a weekend or a programme for a group

out into nature, hiking, free time outdoors

destination, the country and its people, sights, impressions

package holiday, independent travel, holiday home, adventure holiday; comparing

travelling together or alone

a programme for a group of senior citizens in Austria, Germany, Switzerland or your home town

flying, train, bus; climate-friendly travel, cost versus time

consequences for places and people, limits for tourists

own car, car sharing, public transport; less stress without a car?

cycling city, speed limits, traffic jams, parking; pros and cons

reasons and consequences based on a chart

long journeys to work, moving or commuting

delays, cancellations, claiming compensation, making a complaint

the adventure of going abroad, work and travel, planning a stay abroad

which ones there are and what is being done about them

local and global consequences, who has to act

plastic packaging in everyday life, alternatives

recycling, reusable products, your own habits

at home and at work, renewable energy

water consumption, water as a scarce resource

evaluating forms of protest, civil disobedience, limits

air, noise, green spaces; making suggestions for improvement

extinction of species, the decline of bees, zoos, national parks

urban gardening, self-sufficiency, community gardens

presenting voluntary work, why people get involved

poverty in a rich country, food banks, local help

an ageing society, pensions, care in the family

people with disabilities, accessibility, equal opportunities

sport against violence, civil courage

political participation of young people, pros and cons

life in the EU, advantages and disadvantages, European identity

fundamental rights, freedom of expression, justifying your own position

smoking ban, alcohol, fireworks, gun laws: how much state?

punishments, second chances, sense of justice

women in leadership positions, quotas, role stereotypes

cameras in public spaces, control versus privacy

devices I can't do without, dealing with technology

presenting an invention that has changed life

robots in the household, in transport, in the working world; benefits and fears

expensive projects such as flights to Mars, taking a position

how we will live in 30 years, the future in books and films

fitness apps, self-tracking, data about your own body

truth, lies in everyday life, errors in science

children's university, making knowledge understandable

presenting an event, explaining its significance today

the fall of the Wall, life in the GDR, contemporary witnesses

the purpose of a culture of remembrance, public holidays

an experience that shaped me, remembering and memory

briefly explaining an important era

home as a place, people, language, a feeling; your own definition

reasons, expectations and reality, tips for life in the home country

first experiences, integration, what helped

describing experiences, explaining how to avoid them

talking about countries and people, questioning stereotypes

living together in a diverse society, a talk about it

growing up in two cultures, binational families

country, region, special features, landscapes

introduction, main part, conclusion; speaking freely, answering questions

exchanging arguments, responding to counter-arguments, summarising

adopting a given position and adding your own arguments

justifying your choice, describing, working out the message and topic, guessing

structure, key figures, development, comparison

arguing with data from a chart

reproducing the main message, examples, your own opinion

making suggestions, giving reasons, rejecting, finding a compromise

choosing a photo or an offer, disagreeing, reaching agreement

weighing options and giving well-founded advice

presenting your request, asking specific questions

explaining and passing on what someone else has said

describing the problem, making a demand, staying objective

a talk on a chosen topic (e.g. financing your studies, living healthily, keeping up friendships, food at work) with follow-up questions

a controversial question in a debating club, exchanging positions, summarising at the end

getting to know each other and giving advice, interpreting a picture, an exchange of opinions with assigned roles

presentation (book, film, trip, concert, sporting event), discussion of a newspaper text, planning together

presenting, discussing, negotiating, or a short talk and a joint task

talking about a topic, a conversation with colleagues, discussing possible solutions

seven tasks with fixed preparation and speaking time, statement, chart, advice

going through a complete oral exam once, with feedback on task completion, fluency, range, accuracy and pronunciation

evaluating experiences from a role play about unfamiliar rules

praising and criticising, handling an argument constructively in a role play

evaluating a survey, talking about happiness and work

your opinion on company outings and team training, suggesting alternatives

talking about annoying habits in a role play and negotiating a solution

a nap at work, pros and cons

handling difficult phone calls

inventing and telling a story

recommending a book, exhibition or performance, or advising against it

taking a position on texts about colours

dealing with fear, giving tips on making decisions

summarising information from several sources in a short presentation

presenting a minority in the German-speaking world

working out, weighting and presenting suggestions together

describing and presenting products, faults in products

presenting a university, getting information about studying

choosing books and giving reasons, discussing reading habits

presenting sports, describing a chart on sports activities

working out and presenting suggestions

how TV shows jobs, reality and fiction

presenting the form, your own short performance, discussing its effect

discounts, price comparisons, shopping sprees

what it offers, its rules, the importance of public places

collecting ideas for a service and presenting them convincingly

planning and presenting a project (e.g. against food waste)

having conversations at a fair, getting information and presenting yourself

why people quit their jobs, discussing advice guides

describing parts of a city, designing a city quiz

office, processes, colleagues

running a business, customers, ideas

standing up for your own interests when your child is ill; reacting to critical questions

full-time, part-time, fixed-term, temporary agency work, mini-job; advantages and disadvantages

presenting tourism, skilled trades, catering and retail as fields of work, in general terms

work and life in a big-city region

what employees may and must do, holidays, sick notes, warnings

digital tools, data protection in the company

international teams, working abroad

raising and settling conflicts at work

having your qualifications recognised, planning further training

swapping shifts, getting your wishes through

living with your family, your own room, moving out

contradicting quick-wittedly, standing your ground

after school: vocational training, university, a gap year, learning by trying

teenagers and the law, police and justice, what is allowed

planning, motivation, reaching your own goals

personality, feelings, psychology in everyday life

a time without your phone, experiences and opinions

values, worries and free time of your own generation

stars, influencers, role models for teenagers

hidden advertising, credibility, influence on buying decisions

economics as a school subject, student companies

choosing what to study, reporting on experiences

political participation of teenagers

cycling using the example of Münster, traffic in your own town

school canteen, packed lunch, snack bar: evaluating alternatives

should parents decide when teenagers go to bed?

fun or torture?

planning a school trip, comparing offers

games then and now, board game or screen

music, fashion, meeting places, scenes in the German-speaking world

conflicts between generations, having a say

fantasy, games, virtual worlds

values, faith, what matters in life

a question or thesis related to the German-speaking world, contrasting positions, discussion afterwards

ranking key words and talking about them