What better way to gain real-world experience and enhance foreign language skills than to liaise bilingually with a partner company.

Years 9 and 10 German students are currently participating in the Enterprise German competition, or Unternehmen Deutsch.

Run by the Goethe-Institut, the program promotes collaboration by students with businesses connected to German industry. 

Students organise interviews with their selected partner company, conduct market research and develop a business concept and advertisement, all while networking with an online community of other schools.

Alexandra, Gabrielle, Lana, Elly and Monique seek advice from teacher Mrs Breanna Daiker.

St Rita’s German and Social Science Teacher, Mrs Breanna Daiker, said students had shown outstanding initiative.

“Although they were initially nervous at the prospect of reaching out to businesses and using German to interview them, they prepared themselves thoroughly and the confidence they have gained from this is phenomenal,” Mrs Daiker said.

Year 10 students Abbey, Anja and Verona reached out to Brisbane-based marketing company Brokat Studio, whose portfolio includes both German and Australian clients, quizzing them on their product and service needs.

“The team identified an opportunity in their Instagram marketing, so that became our proposed service; it was challenging to lead discussion with differing German fluency abilities, but we were able to translate later from the recorded interview, vastly improving our vocabulary in the process,” Verona said.

Anja, Abbey and Verona translate their recorded Zoom interview with the Brokat Studio team.

“We are now creating a July social schedule for their Instagram, highlighting the bilingual nature of the company. 

“I’ve gained so much from being involved in this competition, not only to my German language skills but more so the professional side of things; I feel a lot more confident in my ability to liaise with contacts in careers I might consider after Year 12.”

“I’ve gained so much from being involved in this competition, not only to my German language skills but more so the professional side of things; I feel a lot more confident in my ability to liaise with contacts in careers I might consider after Year 12" - Verona, Year 10

Year 10 student Elly said her group targeted Sydney-based Nutie Donuts, leveraging on current public restrictions to design a concept for a delivery service. 

“This project has really enabled us to branch out with our vocabulary and draw on the knowledge of fluent German language in a professional setting is really great,” Elly said.  

“We are always speaking casually to each other, but now feel comfortable writing a formal email or having a business conversation,” she said. 

Team member Alexandra said the group’s experience so far had taught them a lot about both business functionality and advertising.

“We have conducted research on Nutie’s product and market, created advertising collateral and business cards, determined how we can use social media to gain exposure and really put ourselves in the shoes of the consumer,” she said.

Year 10 students Abigail and Morgan chose Melbourne-based business Bretzel Biz as their partner company. 

Other groups highlighted additional project benefits such as brainstorming in German, boosting creativity, gaining inspiration from the online peer network and greatly improving their business knowledge. 

Mrs Daiker said partner companies had been very welcoming and encouraging, reminding the girls of the doors that can be opened through the asset of long-term language learning. 

“It is lovely to see the entire class realising more and more the real-life application that learning German has for them in the future.”

Students will continue to liaise with their partner companies, developing and presenting their business ideas as part of a final module.

Winners will be selected based on creativity, innovativeness, general effort and language skills.

Hannah, Felicity and Bonnie developed a concept that combines grocery delivery and service to the elderly.