Practice A2 Speaking (Sprechen)

The Goethe A2 Sprechen Section

The A2 speaking exam is designed to test basic conversational ability. You don't need to discuss complex topics or give elaborate presentations. Instead, you need to show that you can communicate about yourself, your daily life, and everyday situations in simple but clear German.

The exam is conducted in groups of 2-4 candidates with one or two examiners. It lasts about 15 minutes. The atmosphere is designed to be supportive — examiners understand that A2 candidates are still early in their German learning journey, and they evaluate your ability to communicate, not your perfection.

Teil 1: About Yourself (Sich vorstellen)

You receive prompt cards with topics — for example, Name, Alter, Land, Wohnort, Sprachen, Beruf, Familie, Hobbys. You choose several cards and talk about yourself for about 1-2 minutes.

What to prepare:

Name: Ich heiße [Name] / Mein Name ist [Name]. (My name is...)

Age: Ich bin [Alter] Jahre alt. (I am ... years old.)

Origin: Ich komme aus [Land/Stadt]. (I come from...)

Residence: Ich wohne in [Stadt]. Ich wohne seit [Zeit] in Deutschland. (I live in... I have lived in Germany for...)

Languages: Ich spreche [Sprache] und lerne Deutsch. Ich lerne seit [Zeit] Deutsch. (I speak ... and I'm learning German.)

Profession: Ich bin [Beruf] von Beruf. / Ich arbeite als [Beruf]. (I am a ... by profession. / I work as a...)

Family: Ich bin verheiratet/ledig und habe [Anzahl] Kinder. (I am married/single and have ... children.)

Hobbies: In meiner Freizeit [Aktivität] ich gern. Mein Hobby ist [Hobby]. (In my free time I like to... My hobby is...)

Tip: Practice this until it flows naturally. You should be able to talk about yourself for 2 minutes without hesitation. Record yourself and listen back.

Teil 2: Everyday Conversation (Alltagsgespräch)

You and your partner receive cards with an everyday topic — for example, Einkaufen (shopping), Essen (food), Freizeit (free time), or Wohnung (apartment). You ask each other questions and have a simple conversation.

Common conversation topics and questions:

Essen/Kochen: Was isst du gern? Kannst du kochen? Was ist dein Lieblingsessen? (What do you like to eat? Can you cook? What is your favorite food?)

Einkaufen: Wo kaufst du ein? Wie oft gehst du einkaufen? Kaufst du gern online? (Where do you shop? How often do you go shopping? Do you like shopping online?)

Freizeit: Was machst du am Wochenende? Treibst du Sport? Gehst du gern ins Kino? (What do you do on the weekend? Do you do sports? Do you like going to the cinema?)

Wohnung: Wo wohnst du? Wie ist deine Wohnung? Hast du einen Garten? (Where do you live? What is your apartment like? Do you have a garden?)

Strategy: Listen to your partner's answer and try to react naturally: Das ist interessant! (That's interesting!), Ich auch! (Me too!), Wirklich? (Really?). This shows interactive ability, which examiners value.

Teil 3: Requests and Negotiations (Bitten formulieren)

You and your partner receive situation cards where you need to make or respond to requests. For example: "You want to go to the cinema with your friend. Ask when they have time, suggest a film, and agree on a time."

Useful request phrases:

Könntest du mir bitte helfen? (Could you please help me?) Ich hätte gern... (I would like...) Können wir am Samstag...? (Can we on Saturday...?) Wollen wir zusammen...? (Shall we together...?) Hast du am [Tag] Zeit? (Are you free on [day]?) Das passt mir gut. / Das geht leider nicht. (That works for me. / Unfortunately that doesn't work.)

What examiners look for: Can you make a clear request? Can you respond to your partner's request? Can you negotiate (suggest an alternative if the first option doesn't work)? Even simple negotiation shows communicative competence.

General A2 Speaking Tips

Keep it simple. At A2, short correct sentences are better than long incorrect ones. Ich wohne in Berlin. Berlin ist groß. Ich mag Berlin. is perfectly acceptable — you don't need complex subordinate clauses.

Prepare for common topics. The A2 speaking exam draws from predictable everyday topics. Practice talking about: daily routines, weather, food, shopping, family, work, hobbies, your city, health, and travel.

Don't panic if you make mistakes. Everyone makes errors at A2. If you realize you said something wrong, simply correct it and move on: Ich bin... nein, ich habe gestern eingekauft. (I am... no, I went shopping yesterday.)

Use the Sprechen exam as a conversation, not a test. Smile, make eye contact, and treat your partner and the examiners as people you're talking with, not judges evaluating you.

Build German Confidence on Deutsch Fox

On deutschfox.com, writing practice helps you internalize the vocabulary and simple structures that make A2 speaking feel natural. When you can write sentences about everyday topics without hesitation, speaking them aloud becomes much easier. The AI feedback on grammar and vocabulary builds the accuracy that transfers to your speaking performance.