My dream job (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
My dream job
Job vocabulary
Learning job titles in German is essential for discussing your future career plans. Pay close attention to whether each job is masculine (m) or feminine (f), as this affects the articles and adjectives you use.
Gender Matters in German Jobs
Always learn job titles with their gender! The gender of a job title determines:
- Which article to use (der/die)
- How adjectives change
- Which pronouns to use when referring to the job
Jobs and professions
| German | English | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| der Arzt / die Ärztin | doctor | m/f |
| der Banker / die Bankerin | banker | m/f |
| der Direktor / die Direktorin | director/head teacher | m/f |
| der Künstler / die Künstlerin | artist | m/f |
| der Lehrer / die Lehrerin | teacher | m/f |
| German | English | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| der Polizist / die Polizistin | police officer | m/f |
| der Tierarzt / die Tierärztin | vet | m/f |
| der Übersetzer / die Übersetzerin | translator | m/f |
| der Wissenschaftler / die Wissenschaftlerin | scientist | m/f |
Example sentences using job vocabulary:
- Ich möchte Lehrerin werden. (I would like to become a teacher.)
- Mein Vater ist Arzt. (My father is a doctor.)
- Sie arbeitet als Übersetzerin. (She works as a translator.)
Key career vocabulary
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Bildung | education |
| das Einkommen | income/pay |
| der Erfolg | success/achievement |
| die Fähigkeit | skill/ability |
| der Mitarbeiter/die Mitarbeiterin | employee |
| das Ziel | destination/goal |
| ermüdend | tiring |
| heiraten | to get married |
Notice that many career-related words like die Bildung (education) and der Erfolg (success) are abstract concepts that don't change between masculine and feminine forms like job titles do.
Expressing career aspirations
The phrase "Ich möchte ... werden" is crucial for talking about your future career plans. This translates to "I would like to become..." and is followed by the job title without an article.
No Article After "werden"
When using Ich möchte ... werden, never use an article (der/die/das) before the job title. The job title stands alone:
- Correct: Ich möchte Arzt werden.
- ❌ Incorrect: Ich möchte ein Arzt werden.
Worked Examples: Expressing Career Goals
- Ich möchte Arzt werden. (I would like to become a doctor.)
- Sie möchte Lehrerin werden. (She would like to become a teacher.)
- Wir möchten Wissenschaftler werden. (We would like to become scientists.)
Demonstrative pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns help you point out specific things when discussing jobs and workplaces. The main ones you need to know are dieser (this/these), jener (that/those), jeder (every), and welcher (which).
Declension of "dieser"
The word dieser changes its ending depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun it refers to:
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | dieser | diese | dieses | diese |
| Accusative | diesen | diese | dieses | diese |
| Dative | diesem | dieser | diesem | diesen |
The declension pattern of dieser follows the same pattern as definite articles (der, die, das). Once you master this pattern, you can apply it to other demonstrative pronouns like welcher and jeder.
Using demonstratives with jobs
When discussing job preferences, you'll often use these demonstrative pronouns:
Key question: Welchen Job würdest du lieber machen? (Which job would you prefer to do?)
Useful responses with demonstratives:
- Ich finde jede Arbeit ermüdend. (I find every job tiring.)
- Ich möchte in diesem Restaurant arbeiten. (I would like to work in this restaurant.)
- Dieser Beruf ist interessant. (This profession is interesting.)
- Welche Fähigkeiten brauchst du für diesen Job? (Which skills do you need for this job?)
Describing career goals
When talking about your dream job, use specific vocabulary to explain your motivations and preferences. This vocabulary will help you sound more sophisticated and express complex ideas about your future.
Useful expressions
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Mein Traumberuf wäre... | My dream job would be... |
| eine Karriere in... | a career in... |
| Ich würde gerne... | I would like to... |
| in der Zukunft | in the future |
| erfolgreich sein | to be successful |
Example: Describing Your Dream Career
Mein Traumberuf wäre eine Karriere in der Modeindustrie. Ich würde gerne erfolgreich sein und in der Zukunft viel Geld verdienen.
(My dream job would be a career in the fashion industry. I would like to be successful and earn a lot of money in the future.)
Picture description for speaking exam
When describing workplace pictures in your speaking exam, you must cover three key areas: people, location, and activity.
Structure your description
- People: Describe who you can see and what they're wearing
- Location: Identify where the scene is taking place
- Activity: Explain what's happening in the picture
Sample Picture Description:
Auf dem Foto gibt es zwei Frauen in einem Büro. Eine Frau trägt eine graue Jacke und eine Frau trägt eine schwarze Jacke. Sie tragen weiße Hemden. Sie lächeln und reden. Ich denke, sie machen ein Interview.
(In the photo there are two women in an office. One woman is wearing a grey jacket and one woman is wearing a black jacket. They are wearing white shirts. They are smiling and talking. I think they are doing an interview.)
Exam tips
Speaking Exam Success Tips
- Use a variety of tenses where appropriate
- Include opinions with phrases like Ich denke (I think) or Meiner Meinung nach (In my opinion)
- Aim for more than one-word answers in speaking tasks
- Practice describing different workplace scenarios before the exam
Translation practice
Translation Exercise
German to English:
- Ich möchte Wissenschaftlerin werden.
- Welchen Beruf findest du interessant?
English to German:
- I find every job tiring.
- My dream job would be a teacher.
Answers:
- I would like to become a scientist. / Which profession do you find interesting?
- Ich finde jede Arbeit ermüdend. / Mein Traumeruf wäre Lehrer/Lehrerin.
Key Points to Remember:
- Learn job titles with their correct gender - this affects all the grammar around them
- Use "Ich möchte ... werden" to express career aspirations (no article needed after werden)
- Master the declension of "dieser" as it follows the same pattern as definite articles
- In speaking exams, describe people, location, and activity when discussing workplace pictures
- Use demonstrative pronouns (dieser, welcher, jeder) to make your German more sophisticated and precise