Do you kiss the other or shake hands? The first minute or so sets the stage for the rest of your talk. As mentioned, Germans tend to pay close attention to formalities and you don't want to stick out in a negative way. A good introduction to the delivery of your presentation is extremely important. Auf Wiedersehen - Good-bye (quite formal) Tschüß - Bye (rather informal) Bis bald - See you soon Not adhering to these formalities, you risk sounding rude and impertinent. In German, there are far more stipulations when writing a formal letter. Unit on introducing yourself and others. 1. BBC Languages - Learn German in your own time and have fun with Talk German. You want to quickly gain the attention, interest, and respect of your audience. A lively introduction to the language in ten short parts. So please keep the following in mind when writing a letter. Easy! Audio, video and quizzes. It's slightly formal, but only slightly. The first impression you make lasts. You should start with an upbeat, positive mood. You may think that you won’t need to write a letter in German in the mid-2010s, but think again. The Opening For a formal email. Guten means “good” (it's the masculine accusative form of gut). Greeting someone in German is more than just knowing the right words. Guten Tag – “Good day” Guten Tag is the German “hello” that's best-known to English speakers. Learn German with this short introductory course. Always say good-bye when leaving a group of German speakers. Try rubbing your nose with a German (and share your experience with us for a good laugh - after you have gotten over the other one's shocked reaction). The most important aspect of letter-writing in German is to determine whether it will be a formal or casual letter. 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