My First Week at Schmidt’s Automobil – And the Dreaded “Wie sieht dein Arbeitsalltag aus?”

Okay, deep breath. It’s been a week since I started my internship at Schmidt’s Automobil, a small car repair shop in Munich, and honestly, it’s been… intense. I’m here as part of a government-sponsored exchange program, and I’m supposed to be learning, growing, and, you know, making a decent impression. The biggest hurdle? Everyone keeps asking me about my “Arbeitsalltag” – my workday. And, let’s be honest, I’m terrible at describing it.

The Initial Question and My Panic

The first day, Herr Schmidt, the owner, a really friendly but no-nonsense man, asked me directly, “Also, Herr Müller, wie sieht dein Arbeitsalltag aus?” My immediate reaction was a mumbled, “Äh… ich repariere Autos?” (I… I repair cars?). It felt so clumsy, so vague. He just smiled patiently and said, “Das ist ein guter Anfang, aber es gibt mehr Details.” (That’s a good start, but there’s more detail.)

That’s when the panic really set in. I knew I needed to understand how to actually talk about what I do, not just give a basic answer. It wasn’t just about knowing the right words, it was about structuring my response in a way that a German speaker would understand.

Time Expressions – The Key to Understanding

German uses different time expressions to talk about routines than English does. I quickly realised this was a massive difference. In English, I might say, “I usually arrive at 8:30.” But in German, things are different.

• Jeden Tag: “Every day” – I said to Hans, one of the mechanics, “Ich helfe beim Ölwechsel jeden Tag.” (I help with oil changes every day.) – It sounds perfectly normal to him, but I was so relieved it wasn’t something dramatically different.
• Normalerweise: “Usually” – I realised I was using this way too much. It felt overly formal. I’d been trying to say, “Ich helfe normalerweise bei der Diagnose.” (I usually help with diagnostics.) which sounded incredibly stiff.
• Um…: This is crucial. “At…” “Ich beginne meine Arbeit um 8:00 Uhr.” (I start my work at 8:00 AM.) – Way better than just saying “Ich beginne meine Arbeit.”
• Am Morgen/Nachmittag/Abend: “In the morning/afternoon/evening” – “Am Morgen helfe ich beim Reinigen der Werkstatt.” (In the morning, I help with cleaning the workshop.)

My Typical Day (And How I’m Actually Describing It)

Okay, let me try to give you a realistic picture. My day usually starts around 7:45. “Ich bin um 7:45 Uhr da.” (I’m here at 7:45 AM.) Then, I help Herr Schmidt prepare the workshop for the day – cleaning tools, checking the inventory. “Ich räume die Werkstatt auf.” (I tidy up the workshop.)

Around 8:30, I start assisting with diagnostic tests. “Ich unterstütze Herrn Huber bei der Diagnose.” (I support Mr. Huber with diagnostics.) – He’s really patient and has explained a lot about the different systems in the cars. Yesterday, he explained the “Motorsteuergerät” (engine control unit) – it felt like learning a whole new language!

Lunch is around 12:30. “Wir essen zu Mittag um 12:30 Uhr.” (We eat lunch at 12:30 PM.) It’s usually a quick sandwich or a piece of bread with cheese.

The afternoon is usually spent helping with repairs – sometimes tightening bolts, sometimes checking fluid levels. “Ich prüfe die Flüssigkeitsstände.” (I check the fluid levels.)

I try to end my shift around 4:30. “Ich bin um 16:30 Uhr fertig.” (I finish at 4:30 PM.)

Mistakes and Corrections (And Lots of Red Faces)

I made a huge mistake last week. I was trying to explain my work to a customer, Herr Gruber, and I said, “Ich mache die Autos.” (I fix the cars.) He looked at me like I was completely insane! Apparently, “reparieren” is the correct verb. “Ja, aber Sie reparieren die Autos, nicht machen!” (Yes, but you repair the cars, not make them!) I felt so embarrassed.

It’s a constant learning process, and honestly, it’s been a crash course in humility. I’m learning to be more specific and to pay attention to the nuances of the language.

Next Steps: Practicing and Asking for Feedback

My plan is to keep practicing describing my workday. I’m going to focus on using the time expressions I’ve learned and to actively ask for feedback. “Können Sie mir bitte sagen, ob ich mich klar ausdrücke?” (Can you please tell me if I’m expressing myself clearly?)

I’m also going to try to use more full sentences, instead of just giving one-word answers. I know it’s going to take time, but I’m determined to get better at communicating my work routine in German. It’s not just about the work itself, it’s about building connections and feeling confident in this new environment.

“Ich werde weiter üben!” (I will keep practicing!)