In episode 105, Social Luxembourgish at Work, we talked about why understanding colleagues at work can be difficult — fast speech, slang and idioms, the noise in the lunchroom, and all those cultural codes no one ever really explains.
I also shared practical tips on how to connect more easily with coworkers and how to open small talk conversations.
If you missed that episode, make sure to listen to it — you’ll find the link in the show notes
Today, we’re taking the next step.
We’re talking about why so many people at B1 level still struggle to actually speak Luxembourgish at work
So If you’re learning Luxembourgish at level B1 and you use it at work, this episode is for you.
Most B1 learners don’t need another vocabulary list. They need regular speaking practice with structure and feedback.
And today, I want to show you exactly what I mean.
Part 1 – Vocabulary vs. speaking
Let’s start with vocabulary.
At work, you might know words like:
d’Reunioun, e Projet, eng Frist, eng Entscheedung, meng Meenung.
You’ve learned them. You recognise them.
But in the meeting… you stay quiet.
Why?
Because knowing words is not the same as using them in a sentence.
So instead of learning more words, let’s use a simple speaking structure.
Here’s one you can reuse again and again:
Ech mengen, datt ___ wichteg ass, well ___.
Beispiller:
Ech mengen, datt dës Léisung wichteg ass, well se Zäit spuert.
Ech mengen, datt eng Reunioun pro Woch wichteg ass, well mir vill Fristen anhale mussen.
Or here’s another structure you can use regulary:
Mee mir mussen och ___ berücksichtegen (to take into account, to consider)
Beispiller:
Mee mir mussen och d’Käschte berücksichtegen.
Mee mir mussen d’Meenung vum Client berücksichtegen.
No new vocabulary. Just structure. That’s speaking.
Part 2 –Don’t let grammar stop you from speaking
At B1, grammar is important. It’s part of your level, and you are already using it.
But grammar should support your speaking and not stop you from speaking.
If you wait until every sentence is perfect, it’s very hard to speak.
And without speaking, real progress is difficult.
At B1, your goal is to speak, interact, and use Luxembourgish at work.
And in a multilingual country like Luxembourg, this effort really counts. When you speak Luxembourgish — even with small mistakes — you often encourage others to reply to you in Luxembourgish, instead of switching to another language.
So be kind to yourself. Don’t aim for perfect grammar all the time.
For now, let speaking come first. Aim for clear communication. Use the language. Interact.
Listen to these sentences:
- Ech sinn net ganz averstanen.
- Ech gesinn dat anescht.
- Ech verstinn Är Iddi, mee ech hunn eng aner Meenung.
And here are a few more you can use at work:
- Fir mech ass dat net déi bescht Léisung.
- Ech mengen, mir kéinten et anescht maachen.
- Ech sinn net sécher, ob dat machbar ass. – I am not sure whether this is feasible.
Simple. Clear. And they work.
Part 3 Mini speaking exercise
Now, let’s do something important. Not thinking. Not reading.
Speaking.
Let’s imagine that you work in an office. Try to answer this question out loud:
👉Wat war dee gréisste Problem, oder déi wichtegst Diskussioun an Ärer leschter Reunioun?
Just 2 or 3 short sentences.
Here are possible B1 answers:
- Dee gréisste Problem war d’Opdeelung vun den Tâchen
- Mir haten ze vill Diskussiounspunkten.
- Net jidderee konnt zu Wuert kommen.
Or another question to answer out loud:
Let’s imagine that you work with clients (for example in real estate agency)
👉Wat war déi gréisst Schwieregkeet an Ärem leschte Gespréich mat engem Client?
- Déi gréisst Schwieregkeet war d’Kommunikatioun mam Client. Hien hat vill verschidde Froen.
This is speaking practice. No worksheet. No vocabulary list.
Part 4 Ready-to-use reactions
Another big problem at work is when you don’t understand something. Many B1 learners stay silent.
Instead, you only need one or two safe sentences you already learnt in A2
Do you remember how to ask: Sorry, can you repeat that one more time please? I didn’t fully understand.
Entschëllegt, kënnt Dir dat nach eng Kéier erklären? Ech hunn dat net ganz verstanen.
That’s enough. You don’t need ten different phrases.
You need two that you actually use.
Part 5 Why regular speaking changes everything
So let me say this clearly:
If you’re B1, if you understand Luxembourgish at work,
but you don’t always dare to speak.
Then all you need is a structured, regular speaking practice.
That’s why I created the Speaking Practice Group B1:
a small group, maximum six participants, all B1 level – for a period of 8 weeks.
It’s online and focused on real workplace situations, role plays, with guidance, structure, and supportive feedback.
If this episode sounded like your situation,
then this Speaking Practice Group B1: might be exactly what you need. Join our priority waitlist
