Obviously, the most spoken language in Germany is German, with more or less 95% of its population using the said language. It is advised that you try to learn basic German if you will be staying in the country for more or less a year, however, if you are a newcomer you should be able to get by using purely English in your first months.

Language Skills
Germans have a high proficiency rate in English with an EPI score of 63.77% measured by the EF English Proficiency Index. This places them at the 10th spot among 100 other regions when it comes to the ability to efficiently use English on a day-to-day basis. This mainly is because of their high standard of education in the country. English is being taught widely in school, and most professionals use this language when conversing with foreigners and expats. So don’t worry, if you’re about to dine in a restaurant, or you will be checking in at your hotel, you may freely speak to locals in English.

However, you may want to please your German friends by learning how to greet them in their first language. Should you be saying ‘Hello’ in a formal manner, you may try saying ‘Hallo.’  In the morning, you may also want to try saying ‘Guten Morgen’ as your morning greetings. To hear how these words are pronounced and to know a little more greetings, you may check out this link here.

Body Language
Although the body language of a local would depend if he or she knows you, a handshake with matching direct eye contact is standard. When greetings are done between two different genders, the men greet the woman first and wait for her to extend her hand before he is able to shake hands. However, among friends and family, it is normal to greet with hugs and kisses on the cheeks.

Always take note that a German mind has personal space and would prefer to be an arm's length away from one another. This distance between people is even farther if it is between different genders. You should take note that standing too close to a local may be frowned upon for it is like invading one's privacy, so be mindful of where you stand to respect a local’s space. Touching is also not a common sight in the public.  People don’t usually do public displays of affection and avoid too much physical contact. Touching someone on the shoulder or arm to drive a point is acceptable, however, it may be seen as a sexual advance if done by a man to a woman.

Most Germans may come out as very serious on the first meeting, don’t be bothered by it. As a business or friendly relationships progress, the locals become more welcoming and will communicate in a more animated way. Should you wish to take a photo of your local friend, always ask for permission, it is offensive for Germans to be taken by surprise by candid shots.

Topics for Discussion
Any topic about travel is a good conversation starter for Germans. The locals would love to hear about your good experiences in traveling around their country and would also like to hear about some travel destinations that may not be familiar to them. So go ahead and open up that last vacation trip you had with friends!

Some of the finest beers can be found in Germany, that is why the topic of beer can be a hit for any local. Try asking about the different types of beer available around their country or about go-to spots in tasting the finest beer in town. You’ll be surprised at how you can light up a conversation with your German counterpart when this topic is raised. But if you ask which city serves the better beer, just go check out this article here.

Germany is generally a progressive country with wonderful architecture and sceneries. You may open up a conversation by trying to admire the beautiful structures you’ve seen around the country and the Heritage sites you may have already visited. Just take note to avoid asking about World War II because it can already be a sore subject for the locals, like how “slavery” is to the USA, it may direct your conversation somewhere unpleasantly. Also, be mindful in criticizing anything that may be related to Germany or the German people, the locals are proud of their culture and will not take criticisms in a positive way.