B1 – Intermediate
Germany is famous for making cars and is seen as a world leader in car design and technology. For more than 100 years, it has been home to top car brands like Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. The car industry in Germany focuses on high quality and new technology, including electric and self-driving cars. Germany’s central location in Europe, along with its skilled workers and good infrastructure, helps make it a strong player in the world car market.
Although Germany is a global leader in the car manufacturing industry, its car makers are currently facing challenges.
Listen to this audio and read the transcript about the problems that German carmakers have.
https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/german-carmakers-have-problems-level-3/
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “job cut” mean? “Volkswagen, Germany’s largest employer, is facing the possibility of making significant job cuts due to declining car sales.” Use this term in your own sentence.
- What is “acknowledge”? “The company acknowledges that it must find ways to reduce costs.” Use this verb in a sentence.
- What does the phrase “lay off” mean? “Volkswagen denied reports that it was planning to lay off up to 30,000 workers, which would be around a quarter of its workforce in Germany.” Use this phase in your own sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What are of the causes of the problems that German carmakers have?
- What was your reaction that according to reports, Volkswagen was planning to lay off up to 30,000 workers?
- How does the government in your country help companies that are struggling?
- Share your opinion about the sales of electric cars dropping in Europe.